Now Robbie Deans believes the Reds can beat the Bulls in the opening weekend of the Super 14! This after Deans had said that the Springboks are better than the All Blacks. The last time the Reds played at Loftus, they got hammered 92-3. Granted that the Reds beat the Bulls 40-8 last year in Australia but there is just no way I can see the Reds, who are probably the weakest Australia team winning at Loftus. Now I do not know what is going through Deans’ mind but I thought that him saying the Boks were better than the All Blacks was laughable now that the Reds can beat the Bulls at Loftus is ridiculous.
Not only has Deans said the Reds can win but he also thinks that all four Australian teams can win in the first week of the Super 14. The Brumbies visit the Highlanders, the Force host the Blues and the Waratahs go to Wellington to play the Hurricanes. Now my predictions: I may agree with Deans that Brumbies could just beat the Highlanders but only just. The Force to beat the Blues in Australia is possible but my money is on the Blues for this one – so don’t agree with you Robbie. Then the Waratahs going to play the Hurricanes is going to be a cracker of a game and yet again I am not agreeing with Mr. Deans as I see the Canes edging the Waratahs.
So Springbok fans who have been going on and on about how right Deans is about the Boks being better than the All Blacks, do you believe Deans when he says the Reds will beat the Bulls at Loftus? I can not wait to hear your thoughts on this one!
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16 comments
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
given that the sharks smacked the bulls in last nights preseason match, it may be possible, but doubt its probable…..especeially at loftus….
im with the canes edging the tah’s, but thats because they’re my team, but if they play properly, they should beat the tahs….
the force are exactly that, a force. that ryan cross dude with giteau at flyhalf is a danger, add our zim comrade pokock who dominated mccaw last year, then you do have a recipe for a victory, but the blues do have fire power even without rudi wolf or ali williams…it’ll be another tight one
brumbies to take the highlanders? mmm dunno, after the brumbies beat the canes in preseason, the initial indication is that they should take it, especially as the highlanders got a smack by the saders as well in preseason….its a pity the highlanders will be missing that vainikolo chap, he was a dnagerous weapon for them last season
they’re all pretty close to call and it takes a brave/insane man to say that it’ll be an aussie clean sweep….given that the tight 5 of the kiwi & SA teams should dominate the aussies….
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
just seen the blues thumped the highlanders in a high scoring game, so i wouldnt right off the blues just yet, and with the highlanders taking a 15point lead at half time against the blues shows that they too have some firepower to give when the show starts next weekend….cracking stuff!!!
Ron says:
Feb 5, 2009
But it was a weak Bulls team that got hit by the Sharks last night so we can not look too much into that.
I think a lot of people are underestimating the Force, they have a backline with the names and I cant wait to see that James O’Connor kid after seeing him against the Barbarians.
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
oh really? i didnt see what the team was, did you watch the game at all? i still think the bulls will be relatively strong, not quite super 14 champs but definitely competitive….especially at home….
cant recall that o’conner kid but as you say, the force will be foreful again this season, they were unlucky last season to not make more of what they had, that tom carter centre dude is also class, and im sure that they’ll be competing for top 4 again this season….
Ron says:
Feb 5, 2009
Nah I didnt watch the game but just reading reports. How can you not recall O’connor BP??? The guy who was kicking for posts against the Barbarians and hardly put a foot wrong the whole game. He was playing at full back and there were shades of Matt Burke in him.
With him, Gits, Cross and Drew Mitchell in their backline, it could be entertaining.
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
ah dude i was watching it at wembley and it makes it harder to recognize okes and stuff, especially if they’re newbies…but i did see gregan with no hair, and i recall that new kid from WP, he was going for broke to get some air time, lots of crash balls and stuff….okes had gas in that game, thought it was decent. dude i didnt even see mccaw on the field until like the last 10mins, schalk was dominating and steyn is just a kak steyn. baabaas couldve won had they had a decent 10 to control a lethal backline…..instead he just bashed it up every opportunity he got….what a tool….good thing he’s not at 10 for the sharks otherwise JP would be sitting on the bok bench from ‘lack’ of form, basically caused by not seeing any ball from the stingey flyhalf…!
Guru says:
Feb 5, 2009
Robbie Deans is not far off here. Okay, an Aussie clean sweep is a stretch of imagination but a Reds victory is not that far off. Given the Bulls best team lost to the Cheetahs, it only makes Dean’s prediction that much more realistic. I am not saying i see it panning out that way but Ron, that prediction is not as wayward as you suggest hey. The Bulls are so unpredictable. You did mention the 40-8 drubbing they recieved in Aus last year. May i also add that the very following week, the Reds were disciplined by the Sharks. Just shows you how volatile the bulls can be. Robbie Deans has every reason to believe that an upset is possible.
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
as coach of the reds it’d be foolish not to say that you believe your team can win…..i dont think i’ve ever heard any repectable coach go into a game saying ‘alright gents, lets try keep the scoreline below 50 and we’ll be happy with that’… haha
but yes, the reds did cane them last year, at home, only to be taken by the sharks the following week…but deans didnt coach them last season so who knows what is about to happen in queensland…..
the loss to the cheetahs doesnt mean anything, coz that’d be implying that the cheetahs will finish above the bulls in the log….which i doubt very much
Ron says:
Feb 5, 2009
Where is the faith in your beloved Spingboks Guru? I know you are not a Bulls fan but as a Bok fan you must fancy the Bulls chances as they house quite a lot of your ‘star’ Springboks: Matfield, Botha, du Preez, Habana, Ndugane, Spies, Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, Gurthro Steenkamp, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg. Surely if the Boks are as good as you say they are and a lot of them play for the Bulls, the Bulls should have no problem beating the Reds. Right?
Guru says:
Feb 5, 2009
LOL…..you correctly stated that I am a Bok fan and not a bulls fan….NOT BY A MILE!!!!
From the list of 11 players you mentioned Ron, there are only 3 players that will be in the starting XV come the Lions series. They may all be boks but their form and current status is very different.
There is something special about that bok jersey my friend, no matter how badly a player may perform, just let him don the green and gold and all hell breaks loose!
Ron says:
Feb 5, 2009
Only 3…no Guru! Victor and Bakkies are certain, Spies is most likely going to be the number 8 as for some reason Pdv does not pick Kankowski. Fourie du Preez will be number 9 and your darling Habana at 11 so that is 5 Bulls out of 15 and if i remember well from what Mrs Brock taught me that is 33% of the Springboks.
And going to your point about how special the green and gold is – no matter what – how special was it in 2003 under Coach Rudolf when EVERYONE got a jersey?????
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
haha that blaz handed out bok caps like they were jelly tots and then lets not even start on camp staal whats it called…! haha
why pdiv isnt a fan of kankowski i dont know, i even rate him, got gas for a forward and can generally beat flanks from the base of the scrum….doesnt need brute force…maybe pdiv is trying to get back to more traditional bok forward-power as opposed to using some pretty talented backs…altho, i guess you cant use the backs when you havent got a fly half to control them….
back to the bulls tho….Ron is pretty much on target with those 5 players….ndungane could be on one of the wings, and he’;s not in bad form either. gurthro is a possible bok starter this year as well, coz seriously, mujati is a pie thief…..great player for a zim team, but not sure how he made the bok team….
Guru says:
Feb 5, 2009
Gents, Ricky will start at 9. FDP has too many injuries and I do not see him lasting the whole S14. Besides, PDV has shown that he clearly favours Ricky at 9. It is very debatable whether Spies will start simply because Kanko has shown himself to be more versatile. I really do not see PDV sticking to Spies for much longer, especially is the Sharks number 8 carried on putting such stirling performances. So I will stick to my guns, the only starters on that list are Bakkies, Victor and Habana.
Regarding Rudolf, that’s history gents. For now be very prepared for perfomances such as the 33-32 victory over the AB’s ain Duneden, and the 50point drubbing of the Aus and the Poms. The time has come for the Bok to regain its ascendency!!!!!!!!!!
BP says:
Feb 5, 2009
well the reds just sunk the force and the tahs just beat the brumbies, make of that what you will but i dont think a reds win against the force was expected, even tho 3 main players were subbed before the reds comeback. sometimes i think these preseason games give a false impression of whats gonna happen…but, time will tell…
kambas says:
Feb 10, 2009
BP, just seen your picks on super bru, stormers by 3??? ballsy buddy. whats the rationale behind that pick if you would be so kind to let us into your thoughts..
BP says:
Feb 10, 2009
haha kambas, you’re a sharks fan….so i dont expect you to entertain the idea of a stormers win, but i think its a home game for the stormers and they have a pretty strong side, the sharks havnet had the best warm up games, and their win against a second string bulls team is little to go on….stormers are fairly strong at home and if the schalk is playing i reckon he’ll be all the difference. jean deysel tho is a good player as well…so i think it’ll be tight and come down to kicking, steyn isnt my favourite palyer, but pienaar at 10 is a good start for them…we’ll see