Strap yourselves in for the run house

Two rounds to go and there may be loads to struggle for on the Tremendous Rugby ladder, and out personal tipping panel.

Final week supplied six winners to a few of our panellists, however The Crowd, and and Tony missed a beat.

This week it appears a harder spherical to brush with the panel cut up on two matches of the six.

Christy Doran

Chiefs, Brumbies, Waratahs, Blues, Reds, Highlanders

Two rounds to go and a little bit of floor to make up on The Crowd.

The Chiefs and Hurricanes will likely be a belter.

Strap your self in as a result of New Zealand derbies don’t get significantly better, and it’s excessive stakes too. The Hurricanes might nonetheless very a lot end prime and push for a house ultimate in the event that they proceed on their successful methods.

However I’ve gone for the Chiefs.

I didn’t assume they have been a lot puff towards the Rebels every week in the past, however the Hurricanes with out Asafo Aumua aren’t almost as robust up entrance and in large video games, that’s the place matches are gained and misplaced.

Plus, the Chiefs’ backline is scorching. Severely scorching. Chiefs by 5.

The Rebels welcome again Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway and if I’m Kevin Foote I’m protecting it tight and attempting to do a quantity on the Brumbies’ scrum. That’s the Brumbies’ weak point at current.

In the event that they don’t get actual ascendency on the scrum, they’re no likelihood.

Whereas Jake Strachan is a succesful, versatile participant, the Rebels’ assault has relied on Carter Gordon over the previous two years to drag the strings.

His absence (concussion) might show telling.

It’s a dance of the desperates in Auckland between Moana Pasifika and the Waratahs. After Darren Coleman’s future was sorted earlier within the week, I’ll again the Waratahs to play for his or her coach and rise up.

The Crusaders have solely gained a few matches all yr and the Blues are prime of the desk. It needs to be a cut-and-dry recreation, proper? Nope, the Crusaders haven’t been miles off the tempo and have merely missed their polish.

With Codie Taylor and Fergus Burke to play their second matches of the yr, the Crusaders will likely be higher.

However I’ll tip the Blues figuring out {that a} win places them inside an inch of ending on prime of the standings.

The Power are enjoying for his or her season. They’ve acquired to win each matches I believe to make the highest eight.

Will they?

I don’t assume so. The Reds’ front-row is again collectively and two of their beginning front-rowers didn’t go to Suva for his or her last-up loss to the Drua.

Reds to win.

The Highlanders have misplaced a few key gamers however they’ve grown a bit over the previous month. The Drua then again are surprising away from house.

Enjoying beneath the roof might assist their want to throw the ball round.

I don’t assume there’ll be a lot between them.

Highlanders, simply.

Nick Wasiliev

Hurricanes, Brumbies, Moana Pasifika, Blues, Reds, Highlanders

It’s crunch time, the ultimate fortnight.

Given the personnel change from final week, it’s clear to me the Canes have focused this match to get the win.

Whereas they’ll fancy themselves towards the Highlanders at house subsequent week, a win right here doubtlessly kills off any likelihood for the Brumbies to leap over them into second, and lock in that house semi ultimate run.

It’ll be a contemporary, robust squad, up towards a Chiefs facet that had plenty of questions requested of them by the Rebels.

The Brumbies ought to anticipate an ambush right here. Given the Rebels are on the street for doubtless the rest of the season, they’ll goal this recreation. Canberra has not been a cheerful looking floor, however they’ll sense alternatives.

Corey Toole of the Brumbies (L) celebrates scoring a strive with Ollie Sapsford of the Brumbies and Ryan Lonergan of the Brumbies (R) in the course of the spherical one Tremendous Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies at AAMI Park, on February 23, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Picture by Daniel Pockett/Getty Pictures)

I’m going with the house facet, however it’ll be a better recreation than anticipated.

Am I actually doing this? Actually, yeah – and never due to final yr. I believe the Tahs can have a mountain to climb to complete this season on a excessive mentally – after which there may be that entrance row.

Regardless of having not gained since Spherical 8, I additionally assume Moana have put some good performances on the market, like towards Fiji and a weaker Canes facet, and they might know this match is their final roll of the cube for an unlikely finals berth.

The motivation is there, and their squad has stunned me this yr.

It’s all or nothing for the Crusaders now, and who else would they arrive up towards however the prime of the ladder Blues. It’ll be an ideal conflict, however the Blues will get house reason for their insane depth.

The Power have a woeful document on the street, however they’ve grabbed a couple of wins at Suncorp of their time, and with finals on the road and them one of the best positioned of the chasing pack, they should throw every part at this match.

Reds needs to be favourites – it’s all momentum for them now and a win right here can be useful come finals. 

Highlanders needs to be pleased with this season – it has been a notable enchancment they usually’ve exorcised some Kiwi demons. They’ve acquired a very good alternative to place the finals equation past doubt, they usually’ll be helped by the Drua’s horrible away document. Come on Fiji, show me incorrect.

Hamish Bidwell

Chiefs, Brumbies, Moana Pasifika, Blues, Reds, Highlanders

A slight toss of the coin. Would favor the Hurricanes gained, however Hamilton isn’t that pleased a looking floor for them.

Possibly the match of the spherical. I’ll take the Brumbies, narrowly.

Been a protracted, exhausting season for Moana Pasifika. Be good to see them get some reward for his or her efforts.

One other humorous week in Christchurch, given Rob Penney’s reside mic second. Blues by loads.

A second, doubtlessly even, tussle between Australian groups. I’m assuming the Reds can have an excessive amount of class.
Can’t see another outcome than a Highlanders win.

Tony Harper

Chiefs, Brumbies, Moana Pasifika, Blues, Reds, Highlanders

Sorry and embarrassed. Bitter and unhappy. Sure, that was Darren Coleman, however yours really is aware of precisely what he’s going by having slumped into wood spoon place on The Roar tipping panel.

Issues elsewhere have distracted me prior to now few weeks – a lot as poor outdated DC has been hammered by accidents, particularly in his pack.

Jake Gordon’s tried to bail early, Mosese Tuipulotu missed out on a Valentine’s Day card from the coach and the coach has been punted.

Not less than DC stood up and was gracious because the exhausting questions have been fired in – which is greater than you possibly can say for C-bomb Crusader Rob Penney. Possibly the Tahs actually are coach killers.

Anyway, I can’t see both of these groups successful this week. The Tahs ought to be capable of however are in such disarray you work they’re already on the seaside, or down the snow or wherever else they’ll spend the finals.

Within the opener ‘Joyride’ Barrett will steer the Canes near Chiefs, however their stability in an unchanged workforce can have the sting.

The Brumbies are pushing for the highest two, and this gained’t cease that.

Within the preview pod Christy tipped Moana Pasifika however lo and behold has modified. I’m not like that man.

It’ll be one other c-bomb of a day for poor Penney towards the Blues, the Reds will simply have sufficient for the Power at house and Sunday arvo beers will style candy watching a cracker that the Highlanders will edge.