Prescience? Or just mad skills?

In my pre-season articles "Super 14 Pretenders and Contenders", I had 3 teams in the "Contenders" category: Bulls, Waratahs, Crusaders. And sure enough - who are our semi-finalists? The Stormers, I had in the "Hopefuls" category, along with all the other semi-final scrappers. I said then that they had no excuses - and they didn't make any. For me, the Stormers have been the highlight of the season. They have finally produced on the talent and promise that South Africa's richest rugby region exhibits.

And - not to blow my own trumpet too loudly - I even called the remarkable rise of the Reds:

"I'm backing the bravado of youth and the discipline of McKenzie to restore the glory of once proud Queensland - just not this season. This season, they'll escape the wooden spoon and surprise us all with a mid-table finish"


Now if only my weekly picks were as accurate...

Week Fourteen: Predictions

Andrew: 68/85 (80%)
Kynan: 59/85 (69%)

Andrew's Predictions

Crusaders vs Brumbies - Crusaders by 15
Waratahs vs Hurricanes - Waratahs by 7
Sharks vs Force - Sharks by 10
Blues vs Chiefs - Blues by 12
Reds vs Highlanders - Reds by 10
Cheetahs vs Lions - Cheetahs by 15
Stormers vs Bulls - Stormers by 15

Kynan's Predictions

Crusaders vs Brumbies - Brumbies by 1
Waratahs vs Hurricanes - Hurricanes by 7
Sharks vs Force - Sharks by 13+
Blues vs Chiefs - Blues by 13+
Reds vs Highlanders - Reds by 13+
Cheetahs vs Lions - Cheetahs by 13+
Stormers vs Bulls - Stormers by 13+

Week Fourteen: Kynan's Team

NO POOFTAHS - Facebook S14

*New buys in italics

FR Kevin Mealamu (BLU) - $1,142,500
FR Tatafu Polatu-Nau (WAR) - $1,257,500

LK Michael Paterson (HUR) - $955,000
LK Andries Bekker (STM) - $1,572,500

LF Colin Bourke (CHF) - $647,500
LF Juan Smith (CHE) - $1,142,500

HV Stephen Brett (BLU) - $1,107,500
HV Quade Cooper (RED) - $1,317,500


CT Berrick Barnes (WAR) - $1,155,000
CT Ma'a Nonu (HUR) - $1,210,000

OB Digby Ioane (RED) - $1,162,500
OB Joe Rokocoko (BLU) - $1,315,000

Team Value: $13,985,000
Cash in Bank: $37,250

I burned five trades just for the fun of it... just to show the leaders what it feels like. Also, I'm hoping I can make up some ground on them by selecting people they probably won't, people who will not make the semi's. So Colin Bourke, Kevin Mealamu, Stephen Brett, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane and Joe Rokocoko - this is it! This is your last chance to be of worth to me! Make it a good one... please. I'm so far behind right now. I need a miracle!

Hopefully they're avid readers of this blog and will take my desperate plea to heart.

Week Fourteen: Team Announcements

CRUSADERS vs BRUMBIES, CHRISTCHURCH, FRIDAY 09:35

Crusaders – 15 Colin Slade, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.

Subs: 16 Dan Perrin, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Willi Heinz, 21, Tim Bateman, 22 Jared Payne.

Brumbies – 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Salesi Maafu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.

Subs: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Brackin Karauria-Henry, 22 Andrew Smith.

WARATAHS vs HURRICANES, SYDNEY, FRIDAY 11:40

Waratahs – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Pat McCutcheon, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Dan Palmer.

Sub: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Chris Thomson, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Rory Sidey.

Hurricanes – 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Bryn Evans 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.

Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Nick Crosswell, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Jason Kawau/Willie Ripia, 22 David Smith.

SHARKS vs FORCE, DURBAN, FRIDAY 19:10

Sharks – 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Andries Strauss.

Force – 15 James O’Connor, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 David Hill, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Ben McCalman, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Pek Cowan.

Subs: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tom Hockings, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Mark Bartholomeusz.

BLUES vs CHIEFS, AUCKLAND, SATURDAY 09:35

Blues – 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger / Luke McAlister, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino/Peter Saili, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa
2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Tom Chamberlain, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 George Pisi.

Chiefs – 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Save Tokula, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Trent Renata, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Toby Smith.

Subs: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Tristan Moran, 18 Kevin O’Neill, 19 Luke Braid 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Siale Piutau, 22 Tim Mikkelson.

REDS vs HIGHLANDERS, BRISBANE, SATURDAY 11:40

Reds – 15 Ben Lucas, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Jake Schatz, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries (vc), 4 Radike Samo, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 James Slipper.

Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Jack Kennedy, 18 Ezra Taylor, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Ed Quirk, 21 Brando Va’aulu, 22 Richard Kingi.

Highlanders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Chris King.

Subs: 16 Peter Mirrielees, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 James Paterson.

CHEETAHS vs LIONS, WELKOM, SATURDAY 15:00

Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman/Corné Uys, 11 Corné Uys/Wilmaure Louw, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Wian du Preez.

Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

Lions – 15 Carlos Spencer, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c), 5 George Earle, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Charles Emslie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Subs: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Gert Muller, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jonathan Mokuena, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Michael Killian, 22 Bernardo Botha.

STORMERS vs BULLS, CAPE TOWN, SATURDAY 17:05

Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.

Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Tim Whitehead.

Bulls – 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Deon Helberg, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Bakkies Botha (c), 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Jaco Engels.

Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Okkie Kruger, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stefan Watermeyer.

Dream Team: Round Thirteen

FR Jason Rutledge (HGH) - 440
FR Tom McCartney (BLU) - 430

LK Victor Matfield (BUL) - 420
LK Michael Paterson (HUR) - 300

LF Ben Mowen (WAR) - 520
LF Francois Louw (STM) - 490

HV Kurtley Beale (WAR) - 700
HV Sarel Pretorius (CHE) - 570

CT Berrick Barnes (WAR) - 565
CT Jackson Willison (CHF) - 510

OB Hosea Gear (HUR) - 600
OB Bjorn Basson (CHE) - 485

5 try bonus 200

Total Points 6,230