Tips and Predictions for round 12 Super 12 2005

This is it! We have now reached the final round for the 2005 Super 12 and there are three certainties and three other teams that will fight it out for the last spot in the semi finals. The Waratahs, Crusaders and Hurricanes have certain places in the semi finals and the Bulls, Highlanders and Blues will be fighting for the other place.

The Crusaders and Waratahs will also both like to win well to ry and ensure that they will host the final – if they both win their semi finals.

The Bulls only need a win and they have the luxury of watching the Highlanders and Blues complete their matches before they play. They may even – you never know – not even have to win their last match against the Stormers.

Crusaders v Hurricanes
The Crusaders would love to win this one and pick up a full compliment of five points to try and end on top of the log, but they are used to this position and are the most consistent team every year. They basically always end up in the top two positions in the Super 12 and knows exactly what they want to do.

The Canes would love to win and also pick up a full compliment, as they are only five behind the Crusaders and could cause some interesting calculations if they actually managed to do it.

Even though the onslaught from the Hurricanes will be ferocious, I don’t think they are quite in the class of the Crusaders and bar anything that the red and blacks don’t hold back, the Crusaders should run in comfortable winners with at least 10 points.

Waratahs v Blues
This will be a very difficult match for both these teams as the Waratahs would want to win to ensure that they stay on top of the log and the Blues need a win to have the slightest chance n the tournament. The Blues are also the first of the tree final contenders to play and they will thus be the first to know if they are in with a slim chance. The Tahs have been so good this year, I cannot really see the Blues win this match, but Tahs dare not underestimate the Blues. The tries that are scored by Rocokoco and Howlett will always be remembered and if they get enough ball, all hell can break loose. I do, however, not think that the Waratahs have come thi far for nothing and they should have more than enough ammunition in their arsenal to beat the Blues by 15.

Chiefs v Highlanders
If the Highlanders want to have a little hope to stay in the competition, they must win against the Chiefs and win well. They have the potential to do so and although the Chiefs are playing at home, I expect the Highlanders to do what their supporters are all hoping for and win. The Chiefs just do not have enough to beat the Highlanders, but stranger things have happened. I think the Highlanders will win this one by 5.

Reds v Brumbies
The Reds and the Brumbies will be going through the motions to complete this match. The Reds are one of the bottom-loggers and the Brumbies are the walking wounded. They had a dismal season and would definitely like to end it in style by beating the hopeless Reds in the last match. They should have too much flair for the Reds and should take this one by 8.

Bulls v Stormers
This is the match that is going to determine the fourth place in the semi final. The Bulls are currently hanging in there and if the Blues and the Highlanders both loose, they are safe. If any one of the two teams win, the Bulls need a victory against the Stormers. This is where the catch is. On the general performance this year, the Bulls must be the favourites to win, but we all know what the Stormers are capable of. They are not historically the best SA franchise in the Super 12 for nothing and they have an extremely talented backline. One that has not been firing on all their cylinders, but talented never the less.

The Bulls have the big pack that can destroy teams in the lineouts and scrums and that should be where they are going to target the Stormers – their suspect pack.

The last bit of history is one that was changed by a number of other teams this year and that is that the Bulls have yet to beat the Stormers in the Super 12. This is going to be a very hard contest, but my feeling is that the Bulls are not going to win this match and go down by 3 against the Stormers. All is not lost for the Bulls though and if the Highlanders slip, the Bulls are home and dry in the semi final.

Cats v Sharks
Playing at Ellispark is not unknown for the Sharks, but ask many teams, it is hell. It is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world with a near perfect climate for rugby and a spectacular surface. The problem is that it is also 7500 ft above sea level and that tend to rip at your lungs when you play on that historic field.

These are some of the problems that the Sharks will face when the take on the Cats to determine who will end at the bottom of the log! This can be a very good match to watch, but I do not expect a big crowd because the match is of no importance. I think that we will end up in tie – a nice result for the final Super 12 log match!