08/05/2008 14:02

Tank Lanning

So the Crusaders are in a league of their own and have a relatively fun run in to both a home semi and final. Not so pretty for the rest, though. Several sides will quite literally be scrumming over the remaining three semi-final spots. It makes for rugby fan heaven!

The way I see the weekend panning out...

Friday, 09h35 - Hurricanes v Force - My prediction: Hurricanes by 12
The Force will be looking to do the 'Kiwi double' after giving the Chiefs a dose of semi-final heartburn last week, but I think Nathan Sharpe's men are going to find Wellington a whole lot less hospitable than their home town of Perth. Yes, it will probably be a little more tricky than against the Lions, who they dispatched with ease last week, but I see the likes of Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane and Rodney So'oialo taking my much loved 'Canes team to a relatively comfortable win.

Friday, 19h10 - Bulls v Brumbies - My prediction: Bulls by 10
Possibly the trickiest prediction of the weekend! The Brumbies' log position has them taking this at a canter, but after a severely morale destroying loss to the Stormers last weekend that saw their semi-final aspirations disappear, the boys from Canberra might find the going tough against an outfit that is finding some sort of form in Pretoria - fresh from a morale skyrocketing win over the high riding Waratahs. I am learning my lesson from last weekend and suggesting a fiery display from the old guard of Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Bakkies, Pierre Spies and Bryan Habana to take the home side to victory.

Saturday, 09h35 - Highlanders v Blues - My prediction: Blues by 12
The Highlanders celebrated their win over the Cheetahs last week like they had just won the World Cup. This against a side that has managed just one win in the tournament! The Blues are all over the show, but looked fairly convincing against the Reds, and with a sniff of a semi-final spot still wafting their way, I am calling Troy Flavell's men to fire it up and take this one in Dunedin.

Saturday, 11h40 - Reds v Crusaders - My prediction: Crusaders by 12
Chris Latham is back and David Croft pulled a sneaky and emotional retirement out the hat during the week. The Reds, while enjoying a pretty awful season, have shown that they do have the ability to pull it together on the odd occasion. And playing at home against the big boys of the tournament, something tells me they will be giving it a real go. But, alas, poor Brisbanites, I do not see it cutting the mustard against a team that are starting to look like the own the entire show!

Saturday, 15h00 - Sharks v Cheetahs - My prediction: Sharks by 14
My oath, but do the Sharks need Kings Park to be kind to them this weekend. Fresh from one of the more awful tours of all time, the Durban boys have gone from home semi-final contenders to semi-final spectators. The bottom line is that they need help from other sides to make the last four, but against the Crusaders last weekend, they at least looked like they belonged in that arena. A derby against Naka Drotske's boys, who looked pretty sharp against the Highlanders at times last week, is where it needs to come good again, and I think it will.

Saturday, 17h05 - Lions v Chiefs - My prediction: Chiefs by 8
One win from 11 starts, and fresh from a mauling in Wellington. This against a side fifth on the log who, although pipped to the post by the Force last week, are the only side to have beaten the Crusaders this year, all in an echo generating white elephant of a stadium in Doornfontein. Unless a few Sharks fans make the trip up, that is, because they will be rooting for a Lions win - big time. No brainer? Probably, but it is going to fantastic to see Jaque Fourie back in action, and together with the return of Willem Alberts and Jano Vermaak, the Lions might just compete - for the first half, that is. Chiefs class to come through in the end though.

Saturday, 19h10 - Stormers v Waratahs - My prediction: Stormers by 3
Biggest game of the weekend, for sure! And I cannot wait to be part of the jam-packed stadium come kick-off on Saturday evening. I doubted the Stormers last week, and although they got a lot of help from Steve Walsh, who was obviously aiming to get lucky in the Cape nightclubs after the game, they still did the business against a dangerous Brumbies side. The 'Tahs will be smarting after taking one from the lowly Bulls last weekend, and obviously looking to bounce back to secure that much sought after semi-final spot. It is, in effect, a quarter-final, and it does not really get bigger than this in the league stages. Some classic matchups in several positions, but Tuqiri v Naqelevuki should prove pretty mouth watering - providing the rain stays away. The home side to take it in a brutally tough tight one.

Five classic encounters on Saturday, making for close on 10 hours of rugby to get through. Tough for any human, so I would suggest focusing on the Sharks and Stormers games. Perhaps a light lunch somewhere social, the Sharks game with a cold Black Label or eight, a breather round the braai for the Lions game, and then plenty of something strong in a dark drink for the classic finale of the weekend! Special...