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.