The Second Week

The most important round of the year of to date... this week will answer a lot, and I mean a lot of questions that have been bubbling around the water coolers this week. The most important of which is are the Reds genuine title contenders - obviously most of us all ready know this - but those elitests in the Sydney Media will get a wake up this weekend.

Also the Blues and Tahs - are they actually good??? The Chiefs and Cheetahs are they actaully bad??? Can we write off the Force? (as we have all ready done for the Brumbies and Highlanders).

I don't think some questions will be answered - i.e. the quality of the Sharks and the Stormers, who the Lions are etc. but that's just because of poor fixtures.

Anyways - Week 2 preview here we go (the week of the away team???)

Reds Vs Hurricanes

Game of the round - there I said it. The last time the Reds won in the cake tin they had Eales and Horan playing like maestro's - so finding out how they are going to win this time will be very exciting (can you say Barnes and Mcmenimen). However the Canes will be up for it big time after their rubbish performance last week so expect a very good Canes side.

Reddies by 10. (and a bonus point)

Cheetahs vs Forces

Yawn - I am not really all that interested. Was thinking Force for a while this week - you know that whole team in disaray lifts on the park type thing - but without Cam Shepard I am going safe and betting on last weeks unluckiest team.

Cheetahs by about 2

Bulls vs Saders

What should be a good game, but could very easily be a blow out. If the Bulls play it smart it could be awesome, lots of scrums on the free kicks etc and just grinding, no mistakes football.

Unfortunately the Saders can also play that style. So simply Carter is better then Hougard and the Tahs loosey's and back three are better.

Saders by 8

Chiefs vs Tahs

It pains me, immensely, to say it but I think the Tahs will win this. The only hope for the Chiefs is on the counter with their back division - but with Mesaga on the bench I am not rating them.

The Lachie Turner show will march on.

Tahs by 12

Brumbies vs Highlanders

The wooden spoon play off in week 2 - very exciting. At least expect this to be a decent forwards battle for the first 60 minutes - after that its the side that is still running who wins.

Highlanders finished strongly last week so lets go with them.

Highlanders by who cares... (well probably these two sides as a loosing BP could help them in the long run)

Sharks vs Stormers

Should be a decent match - at least people keep telling me the Stormers should be all right. I am backing the Sharks purely based on the fact that they should be better (full disclosure: I have Michalak and Barritt in my fantasy side).

Sharks in a close one 5 pts.

Lions vs Blues

The only question is can the blues travel???

yes

Blues by 15.

Team Of The Week 1

Ahh the fun of picking the best players each week. Really I should just put down Reds players from 1 thru 15 but not even I am that one eyed.

Probs the best performances from week one were Lachlan Turner, and Nick Evans - Admittedly I didn't actually see the whole games of the ones played in the Republic so can only comment on highlights - but I do like that Brad Barritt.

To the team then: (Note I make no attempt to spell these names correctly...)

15: Lachlan Turner - Tah's
14: Digby Ioane - Reds
13: Isa Toeava - Blues
12: Brad Barritt - Sharks
11: rockcockoo - Blues
10: Evans - Blues
9: Brendon Leonard - Chiefs (based on reports it should ahve been De Preez but I didn't see it)
8: Mose tuila - Crusaders
7: Rocky Elsom - Tahs
6: Huge McMenimen - Reds
5- Troy Flavell - Blues
4: Jason Eaton - Canes (the beard maketh the man)
3: Rodzilla - Reds (its the name of the blog)
2: Hore - Canes (I thought he played all right)
1: Tony Woodcock (Blues)

A lot of Blues in that team but I am still reserving judgement on their title credentials. We will see.

Week (Yawn) One

Well were all a weekend older, and the Reddies are mid table, but that's about all there is really to report from Week One of the 2008 Super 14's.

The advent of the ELV's had us all very excited, but as one journalist put it "it seems the teams spent too much time learning the new rules and not enough time on basic skills". The turnovers were atrocious- which sort of killed the spectacle a little bit.

So quickly the good teams appeared to be the Crusaders, The Reds and the Sharks (they will be very hard to beat in South Africa so will make the finals).

The better then expected teams were the Blues and the Tahs - not ready to have the Blues as title contenders yet - but if there games keep unfolding the way theirs did - i.e. running over there opposition in the final 25 then they will beat a lot of teams. Do the lions fit in here? I didn't see there game and can't really say as they were only playing Sth African opposition but maybe they will be mid table.

The worse then expected teams were the Canes and the Chiefs. How bad were the Canes is the question (just like how good are the tahs?) if they had clicked it looked like they could have torn the tahs apart - but Nonu was there only good back... time will tell (I'm picking against them this week).

The terrible teams as expected were the Brumbies - it is going to be an enjoyable year watching those muppets go deep into the depths of a really bad loosing season. Mid year Mortlock will sign onto a Japan team and what's left of the morale in that club will be gone.

Anyways, that's about it in terms of a wrap up. Watch out for the Reds against the Canes will be a good one.

The Real Christmas Day, Desperation in January, The Top 4 and F+L on the Rugby Trail 08

Those of us for whom Rugby is a religion know that the real Christmas Day is in fact the 2nd Friday in February.

No, I am not trying to convince you that Jesus was in fact born in February. We all know that he was but a man, a mere mortal who walked the earth (I have read the New New Testament ie The Da Vinci Code) – whereas the start of a Super Rugby Season, well that transcends all human being. It is a point in time where every team starts with a clean slate, and every team has an opportunity, though some greater than others, to vie for the title of the greatest provincial side in the world. It is also the time when pundits across the world start with a likewise clean slate in tipping competitions, fantasy leagues and even with bold predictions of the “next big thing”

And so, like so many rugby tragics across the world, I began crossing days off my calendar when the 2007 Rugby Season officially ended on Saturday 6th October – the day the music died. The less said about that awful day the better, but if it showed us anything it was coffee club coaching doesn’t work and that successful teams have hands on coaches, but enough about that…for now. So like an eager kid who had been good all year (or pretended to…) I have been awaiting the big day – crossing off days, scouring web sites for the scant dribble of rugby news that comes in over Dec / Jan, meticulously honing my Test Rugby side and generally jamming in as much quality time with the missus so I am free to spend as much time watching and attending rugby as possible, as well as the compulsory post-game dissections, which generally take place in dark bars for up to 10 hours after the game. I have even attended trial games, and anyone that knows this punter will know my distaste for the worth of trial games and hence my desperation to see quality rugby (though that might have something to do with the Tahs going undefeated through trials and the Mighty Reds going through winless)…and here it is – rugby at its finest…

But enough nostalgia – to the tips, teams and sensations for 2008…

Rather than an illustrious ramblings that my fellow blogger seems to think necessary I will keep each team to 3 simple points that will define their season…it seems some of us can get to the point much easier than others…that’s the long term effect of Uncle Charlie for all you kids out there…

The Top 4

Sharks
- Strong, almost unchanged team
- Best scrum half in the world
- Michalak on his day can change games – what a signing
Crusaders
- Strong team that seems to have a continual flow of emerging talent, filling the gaps that sporadically appear
- Best coach in the world
- I’m going to hate watching the first and second fly half combination – but only cause they are not Australian
Reds
- Berrick Barnes is the Saviour of Australian rugby…that is gospel
- The tight five (minus Van) with another years experience under their belt
- Their depth is as shallow as Paris Hilton, two major injuries and its curtains…how can you go from Godzilla to the Slob (aka Ben Coutts – tuck your shirt in jerk!!!)
- Digby Ioane to be a try scoring sensation – top try scorer of the S14 (I get 4 points for the Reds)
Blues
- The recruitment of Nick Evans, a real fly half (Carlos Spencer should have been pumping gas all his life) is a massive bonus
- An equally big bonus is the slick heals of Dave Smith
- A solid formidable forward pack which a good mix of age, experience and youth

Mid Table
Bulls
- Good, but not as good as last year
- They will miss Matfield for the first half of the season and I think he will come back a little tired
- They only really won last year because of some huge last minute escapes...
Hurricanes
- Their offloading ability must surely be rewarded with the ELVs
- They have great loose forwards
- They have great loose forwards (that’s not a misprint, there isn’t much more to say)
Force
- I actually though they were coming along well until Henjak-gate
- I still cannot get excited about their forward pack, all they seem to aim to do is create a holding pattern and throw the ball to Gits
- Surely the number of traitors in the team point to an absence of real heart
Waratahs
- Every year I read how the Tahs are going to be a force in the finals and every year they finish out of the medals – stupid Sydney media
- Kurtley Beale is currently one of the most over-hyped players in the game…not mature enough to control a game
- They have the two worst props in the world
Chiefs
- The Tahs of NZ rugby – for so long have promised so much and delivered so little
- The loss of Marty Holah will impact more than most appreciate
- Stephen Donald – would have been the perfect Northern Hemisphere flyhalf, which isn’t a bad thing, but it doesn’t work in the S14
Stormers
- Not a great team, but with Rassie Erasmus coaching will be certain to perform well in the Republic

Cellar Dwellars
Brumbies
- Lost too many players
- Laurie Fisher is a muppet
- Watch Saia Faingaa to produce a massive season
Highlanders
- Lost even more players than the Brumbies and they weren’t as good to start with
Cheetahs
- Lost a lot of good players and were on the way down at the end of last season
Lions
- They were hopeless with Pretorius…without him?

And that’s about it, except to say that its only just begun…

The next 9 months will be an intense, tortuous journey through the thoughts, actions and inevitably twisted journies of two rugby tragics…things will get very very messy indeed, it will go from Super 14 articles of journalistic integrity to pure gonzo drunken ramblings from Under 10 suburban rugby games…be ready for anything – its all about Fear and Loathing on the Rugby Trail ‘08 baby

Buy the ticket - take the ride...

Super 14’s 2008 Preview

Finally, after long months sitting in the darkness, with the blinds drawn, knees drawn up to my chest, trying, trying to forget the pain, Oh the pain, Marseille, people what a nightmare. Did it really happen? Or was it just some booze and drug induced haze carrying over from the craziness of Cannes???

Either way, we’re far enough down the track now that I have finally begun to come out of my funk, the early days were tough, more rocking softly and sucking my thumb then actually living, but now I am walking and talking, part of my soul is still missing – ripped from me like a destroyed horocrux, but I can see a path to the future, a way forward dam it – that way forward is Super 14’s, the ELV’s and a new era in Reddies Rugby.

Yes it is time, forget the 07 Wallabies and turn your entire focus to the might of Rodzilla and his band of commie friends. Yes – it is better to be Red then Dead…

It should be a bumper season. New Zealand and Australian teams were embarrassed last year they will be out for revenge, and of course the Saffie’s are supposedly World Champions (I stopped paying attention), and of course the fact that there are only 13 games for each team will ensure that as always the season is a full bore sprint to the finals.

Lets look at some predictions, recent predictions (Ireland to not be rubbish in the RWC) from yours truly haven’t been as accurate as they could be. But I feel I have a fair line on the field this year – of course I have been away from super 14’s for a year, and I have no experience with the ELV’s but its not going to stop me …

I’m looking forward to a hot year – should be two certainties for the finals but the last few weeks will be a great battle to see who takes the last two finals spots- will be awesome.

Semi Finalists

The Crusaders

It’s a simple story, with Carter and Brett they are actually stronger then last year. Deans will also be on a mission to bring home the Super 14, Bledisloe, and Tri Nations all in one year. Expect it to happen. There forwards are still good, the untold story of the last few years has been that the Blues and Canes have slowly been building more AB depth then the Saders’, but, the saders are now laughing as they didn’t loose as many players in the RWC player drain.

As ever they won’t be as exciting as some of the other teams in the outside backs – but they will be painfully efficient and will not make the mistakes other sides will be banking on to score on the breakouts. I can’t see them missing the top four.

The Sharks

Unruckiiily beaten in the last act of last years final the Sharks will be back strong again this year. There biggest loss – James has been cancelled out by Freddie ‘slight of hand’ Michalak and the loss of Percy will be cancelled out by the ongoing emergence of Fran Steyn. Other then that they have other exciting players like Barritt and JP Pietersen who will help them retain their levels of last year.

They were awesome when they beat the Reddies last year so I see it continuing at the moment.

The Canes

One of my favorite teams who have never managed to finish the job (lousy fog…) this year though they are hot. Awesome back row, hot mid field and genuine try scorers – The ELV’s should help them a lot. I expect them to be one of the better sides – although they really need the likes of Cory Jane to continue their hot form from last year.

They should really spank a couple of teams and inexplicably loose to a couple of others, but they will still scrape into the semi’s – then who knows?

The Reddies

Last to the top 4 inside of one year – its hard to believe I know, but they will get there – just. The best front row in world rugby, McMeniman will be one of the best in the world in time and Roe and Croft are two of the most underrated players in Australian rugby. The Pack will be one of the best around… barring injuries.

The back line also has its strengths – Barnes and Cordingly will be legendary, Siale and Turini will be solid in defence (a traditional weakness), and the outside backs will be hot – we’re talking Latho, Ioane, Schiffers, and eventually Caleb Brown.

With the pack going forwards we will be in it against the top sides and with our backs we will destroy some sides – it will come down to the final week (for about 5 teams) but the Reddies will do the Tah’s and take the 4^th spot in the semi’s – beautiful.

The Other Contenders 5 - 10

Chiefs

A good side that is continuing to get better they have all the pieces but just never seem to do the job. There back lines is a strength- Donald now has great experience now, and the back three is so good (sic) they can leave Mesaga out. Expect Muliani to be back to centre in a hurry.

I just can’t see them beating the better teams so will be in with a shot come the last week, and miss it by inches.

Blues

Another team that will come unbearably close. But there player diaspora will cost them badly down the stretch. I love Nick Evans but he is a better full back I think. They will score tries – no doubts about it – and will be brutal in counter attack. Nucifora is a really good coach as well.

But if you have the Reds making it you can’t have the Blues so another mid table finish for them.

Force

The Force could be either really good, or terrible – it all depends on Henjak-gate and what happens at Half Back. They have good depth, a solidish pack and some excellent finishers in Shepard and Mitchell. If they can start well in the republic, then find a victory or two in New Zealand they could easily be the front runners for the entire competition. Same as the Blues though – only four teams can make the semi’s and John Mitchell is a big enough wanker to some how guide his team to ruin again.

Bulls

The big bad bulls – can not be discounted although I expect the ELV’s wont be there favorite rules. Habana is always a key (see the final) but I just can’t see them making it past the rejuvenated New Zealand teams when they are on the road.

Stormers

There are a lot of reasons to like the Stormers – and its not just De Villiers smile… Awesome back rowers, probably the best in the competition. Plus some good looking backs and a new lease of life with a new coach. They will defiantly win some games this year, how will they go on the road?

Hopefully this year produces one of those awesome tours from hell from one of the saffer sides where they are on the road for 5 or so weeks and somehow manage to win a couple – great viewing (rounds 4-8 for the stormers).

Unfortunately this type of tour will also mean they cant make the finals.

Waratahs

Hate em, Hate their Coach, hate their media coverage, hate the Butcher of Bordeaux – I just can’t have them. The only positive is Beale should start 5/8 all year and turner should score some tries, getting them mathematically into the mix at the end, but that will be all.

Horrible front row, weaker second row then before, Palu in the back??? Please. Sheenan and Valentine are rubbish – I’ve never heard of their centres and somehow Norton Knight isn’t in the team – they will win a few but they won’t be top 4.

The Rest (who cares)

Brumbies

Suxley is there best player – therefore no chance. Should be a semi decent pack but that’s about it. Finally we should be rid of Laurie Fisher. Mabye the young 5/8 will be exciting, but so was Beale and Cooper last year and that resulted in 13^th and 14^th.

Cheetahs

Yawn – don’t really know much about it. Have Adrian Strauss in my fantasy side – but they won’t be doing much better then mid table at best.

Lions

No Pretorius = no chance – a way better team with him but he’s not there is he???

Maybe a late charge to unsettle some teams momentum.

Highlanders

No chance – will be cannon fodder for the Reddies first up and then just slide peacefully off into the night.