Okay... Super 12 Rugby tipping time again. I set the pace for myself last week getting all bar one correct, what a fluke! Here goes... Round 12 tips

Tonight I'm tipping the Crusaders over the Hurricanes in Wellington - the Crusaders are on a roll
Tomorrow - the Brumbies over the Chiefs in Hamilton - I could live to regret that tip!
Blues over the Highlanders in Auckland - Blues at home...
11.00pm (AEST) tomorrow night - the Bulls over the Cats in Pretoria
and last but not least the Stormers over the Sharks in Durban - based on previous form.

For those Queenslanders heading to the 'big clash' tomorrow night - I might see you there - Go Reds!

:)

Ah yes, the slanging has been going on and on.. and on this week between the Reds and the Waratahs in the build up to the 'big clash' on Saturday night in Brisbane. I hope all the carry on leads to bums on seats at Suncorp stadium - if nothing else I suppose it gives the media something to write about :) And to think I thought rugby was all about playing the game....

Meanwhile, the press is still hyping up the Gregan/Kelleher scenario for the Brumbies/Chiefs clash. Yes, we all remember Georgie leaning over and saying 'Four more years' to Kelleher in the RWC semi-final last year, but guys, that was LAST year - let's get on with it. No doubt, we'll all be craning our ears to hear any verbal sledging going on between the two this weekend - and if we don't hear any, then that will surely be the fault of the commentators for prattling on and not letting us hear? heh. I hope it's a good match!

The Tah's and Wallaby hooker, Brendan Cannon is sure one tough cookie! If you've had your head in the sand for a week, last Saturday night he had a glass shoved into his face at a nightclub post game and had to undergo plastic surgery on his face. At this point, I don't know if it has been decided whether or not Cannon will play in the Tahs/Reds clash on Saturday. Certainly, he'll want to play for his team, let's hope the most sensible decision is made at the end of the day.

Back shortly with Round 12 - the last Super 12 round - tips...

It's a busy week in Super 12 news... the judiciary outcome of the Levi/Harrison biffo on the weekend is that Levi is suspended for one week, and Harrison was cleared on the misconduct charge, leaving him free to play with the Waratahs against the Reds in Brissie on the weekend. No doubt the Tahs will be pleased with that result!

The Brumbies are firing up for this weekend's clash against the Chiefs. The Brumbies need to win so that they can get a home ground semi-final. The Chiefs on the other hand, need a bonus point so that they can get into the playoffs for the first time. Little wonder there's some pre-game bantering! The Brumbies have made it clear that they'll be targetting Byron Kelleher in the game. Well, that makes common sense doesn't it, he is the outstanding guy on the paddock for the Chiefs. The Brumbies apparently plan to try and rattle Kelleher with some on field chat. All part of rugby I suppose!

Good news for my fellow Stephen Larkham fans - he's knocked back the super lucrative overseas offers and decided to re-sign for another two years with the ARU :)

And finally, worth a mention for NZ and Australian rugby fans, English prop Phil Vickery requires back surgery and won't be making the tour over our way later in the year. You know, I'd really like the Poms to be at full strength when they play us, but these things happen. Let's wish him well with his recovery.

I couldn't update yesterday - my isp was down :/ I hope you all noticed that my tipping was pretty damn good this week, if I do say so myself, and since I'm saying so I guess that I think my tipping was pretty damn good this week :) Confused yet?

The Waratahs game Saturday night was the only blot on my tipping sheet. And boy did they stuff up badly! Up 28-7 the Tahs (28) went down by a point to the Highlanders (29) in Sydney. How does that work boys? Shocking!

Matt Burke had one last chance on the whistle to put the Tahs back in the lead.. his penalty kick from between the posts and 30 metres out could have been kicked over by my grandmother. Well, actually that's a lie because my grandmother has been pushing up daisies for decades, but you get my point don't you? Three points served up on a platter, but Burke's kick hit the posts and it was all over red rover. Should I also mention that the Highlanders were a man down for most of the second half after Levi was sent off for an elbow attack on Justin Harrison? If you are a NSW supporter and didn't see the game you probably didn't want to know that little tidbit...It's back to the drawing board for the Waratahs - chokers!

Maybe there was something in the air in Sydney on Saturday night - post match night club socialising turned ugly for Brendan Cannon who was apparently attacked by some guy with a glass. Cannon had to have plastic surgery for the cuts on his face!

As a post note - Both Levi and Harrison will be facing the ARU judiciary this week - they resumed biffing each other at the end of the game. Thanks guys - that's a great example to be setting for all the rugby playing boys watching the game.. not!

Over in Christchurch, the Crusaders had their own woes when Mose Tuiali'i was sent off for an attempted head butt, but the Crusaders rose to the occasion and beat the Stormers 24-9 booking themselves a place in the semis.

It looked like a cold night in Canberra when the Brumbies played the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes got off to a very good start but the Brumbies kept a cool head, and got up 46 to the Hurricanes 25. Jeremy Paul had a blinder, and so did Mortlock and Rathbone. How good was that little chip kick from flanker George Smith as he tore up the sideline? Nice going guys!

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the Reds got up over the Cats over in South Africa. I confess that I couldn't bear to watch the game.. heh..but the Reds must have done something right on the night winning 47 -23. All too little too late though...

So, where does all this leave everybody? Well, the Brumbies are still on top of the ladder, but they face third placed Chiefs over in NZ next weekend. The Crusaders are now in second place on the ladder and they play the Hurricanes this Friday. The Waratahs aren't out of the hunt yet, but they play the Reds at Suncorp stadium in Brisbane this Saturday night. The Reds will no doubt be bolstered by their two wins over in South Africa, and I'm sure we'll see a lot of sledging going on between the Tahs and Reds this week - popcorn time :)) The Stormers are sitting in fourth spot, and they face the Sharks next weekend - they'll be going for a big win and a bonus point no doubt!

Time to go update the points table.. have a good one!