The Crusaders have the bye this week, while there are several top players like Keven Mealamu, Andries Bekker and Alando Soakai being rested. Last week Adam Thomson and Matt Giteau were late withdrawals, hopefully that doesn't cost managers again.
The Highlanders will be fired up after losing to the Lions last week and playing their last game at Carisbrook. It will be interesting to see what impact the jersey change has on the result. The Force don't roll over and this will be tight in the winter dew.
Players to watch: Kade Poki, Lima Sopoaga (bargain), Adam Thomson, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd.
Teams: Highlanders vs Western Force
Time: 03/06/2011 19:35
Venue: Carisbrook
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
The Stormers have been impressive on the road and unless something extraordinary happens, they shouldn't have any problems dispatching the hapless Rebels in Melbourne. Andries Bekker is not starting this one.
Players to watch: Ged Robinson, Hugh Pyle, Gareth Delve, Schalk Burger, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie.
Teams: Rebels vs Stormers
Time: 03/06/2011 21:40
Venue: AAMI Park
Pick: Away team by 13 & above
The Bulls vs Waratahs game is the most crucial of Round 16, but I think the Bulls are in better form and will get home thanks to their home advantage. While the Waratahs aren't flashy, they rarely roll over.
Players to watch: Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Polatau-Nau, Kurtley Beale.
Teams: Bulls vs Waratahs
Time: 04/06/2011 05:10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Pick: Home team by 13 & above
Can the Hurricanes do what the Highlanders couldn't, and beat the Lions? With Aaron Cruden coming of age (finally) and their midfield starting to fire, they should be too strong at home to tame the Lions. But the Lions will have gained confidence last week and will test the Hurricanes up front.
Players to watch: Aaron Cruden, Ma'a Nonu, Victor Vito, Wickus Van Heerden, Josh Strauss.
Teams: Hurricanes vs Lions
Time: 04/06/2011 17:30
Venue: Westpac Stadium
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
This local derby could be a banana skin for the Blues. They have decided to rest Keven Mealamu and dumped Stephen Brett for this match. The Chiefs have been finishing this season strongly and have a history of upsetting the Blues, but I think the Blues have too much to play for.
Players to watch: Luke McAlister, Rene Ranger, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Liam Messam, Hika Elliot.
The Reds are the top team in the competition and they play one of the most disappointing teams in the competition. You never know with the topsy turvy nature of Super Rugby, but you would be a brave or desperate man to put money on the Brumbies.
Players to watch: I have stacked my team with the high flying Reds, their stars like Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, James Horwill, Scott Higganbotham, Sai'a Faianga. They don't tend to rest players. Brumbies - Matt Giteau and Stephen Moore.
Teams: Reds vs Brumbies
Time: 04/06/2011 21:40
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Pick: Home team by 13 & above
I am picking an upset win for the Cheetahs in this match. They were unlucky against the Bulls last week and are playing at home. The Sharks will be a tough nut to crack up front especially.
Players to watch: Ashley Johnson, Sias Ebersohn, Robert Ebersohn, Adrian Straaus, Patrick Lambie, Bismarck Du Plessis. JP Pietersen.
Teams: Cheetahs vs Sharks
Time: 05/06/2011 03:05
Venue: Free State Rugby Stadium
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
Round 16 Super Rugby Teams
HIGHLANDERS vs FORCE, DUNEDIN, FRI 09:35
Highlanders - 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Mo Schwwalger, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Subs: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Alando Soakai.
Force 1. Kieran Longbottom,2. Nathan Charles,3. Tim Fairbrother,4. Sam Wykes,5. Nathan Sharpe (Captain),6. Matt Hodgson,7. David Pocock,8. Ben McCalman,9. Mark Swanepoel,10. James Stannard,11. David Smith,12. Rory Sidey,13. Patrick Dellit,14. Alfie Mafi,15. Cameron Shepherd Reserves:16. Ben Whittaker,17. Matt Dunning,18. Tom Hockings,19. Richard Brown,20. Chris Cottee,21. Mitch Inman,22. Nick Cummins</p>
REBELS vs STORMERS, MELBOURNE, FRI 11:40
Rebels - 15 Richard Kingi, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mark Gerrard, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Julian Huxley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Subs: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Kevin O’Neill, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Peter Betham, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Andries Bekker 19 Nick Koster, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Juan de Jongh.
BULLS vs WARATAHS, PRETORIA, FRI 19:10
Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane/Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretoruis, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Waratahs - 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Soseni Anesi, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dean Mumm (c), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Paddy Ryan, 17 John Ulugia, 18 Pat O’Connor, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Hugh Perrett, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Atieli Pakalani.
HURRICANES vs LIONS, WELLINGTON, SAT 07:30
<p><strong>Hurricanes: </strong></p> <p>1. John Schwalger ,2. Andrew Hore (c) ,3. Neemia Tialata ,4. Jeremy Thrush ,5. James Broadhurst ,6. Faifili Levave ,7. Jack Lam ,8. Victor Vito ,9. Piri Weepu ,10. Aaron Cruden ,11. Hosea Gear ,12. Ma’a Nonu ,13. Conrad Smith / Jayden Hayward ,14. Alapati Leiua,15. Cory Jane </p> <p>Reserves :16. Dane Coles ,17. Jacob Ellison,18. Jason Eaton,19. Mark Reddish ,20. Chris Eaton,21. Jayden Hayward / Julian Savea,22. Richard Buckman </p>
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (c), 12 Butch James, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar,5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Michael Killian.
BLUES vs CHIEFS, AUCKLAND, SAT 09:35
Blues: Lachie Munro, Joe Rokocoko, Jared Payne, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Luke McAlister, Alby Mathewson; Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino (capt), Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Chris Lowrey, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Stephen Brett, Sherwin Stowers.
<p><strong>Chiefs</strong> 1. Ben May,2. Hika Elliot,3. Nathan White,4. Craig Clarke,5. Romana Graham,6. Liam Messam,7. Tanerau Latimer,8. Fritz Lee,9. Brendon Leonard,10. Stephen Donald,11. Sitiveni Sivivatu,12. Tana Umaga,13. Richard Kahui,14. Lelia Masaga,15. Mils Muliaina (Captain)</p> <p>Reserves:16. Aled de Malmanche,17. Toby Smith,18. Culum Retallick,19. Matt Vant Leven,20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow,21. Mike Delany,22. Dwayne Sweeney</p>
REDS vs BRUMBIES, BRISBANE, SAT 11:40
Reds Team 1. Ben Daley,2. Saia Faingaa,3. James Slipper,4. Rob Simmons,5. James Horwill,6. Scott Higginbotham,7. Ben Coridas,8. Radike Samo,9. Will Genia,10. Quade Cooper,11. Digby Ioane,12. Ben Tapuai,13. Anthony Faingaa,14. Luke Morahan,15. Ben Lucas
Reserves : 16. James Hanson,17. Greg Holmes,18. Adam Wallace-Harrison,19. Jake Schatz,20. Ian Prior,21. Will Chambers,22. Dom Shipperley
Brumbies – 1. Jono Owen , 2. Stephen Moore , 3. Ben Alexander , 4. Ben Hand , 5. Mark Chisholm , 6. Mitchell Chapman , 7. Julian Salvi , 8. Ita Vaea , 9. Patrick Phibbs , 10. Matt Giteau , 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper , 12. Christian Lealiifano , 13. Tyrone Smith , 14. Henry Speight , 15. Pat McCabe
Replacements:16. Anthony Hegarty , 17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa , 18. Peter Kimlin , 19. Henry Vanderglas , 20. Nic White , 21. Robbie Coleman , 22. Andrew Smith
CHEETAHS vs SHARKS, BLOEMFONTEIN, SAT 17:05
Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Riaan Smit.
Sharks – 15. Louis Ludik , 14. JP Pietersen , 13. Stefan Terblanche , 12. Meyer Bosman , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Patrick Lambie , 9. Charl McLeod , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 7. Willem Alberts , 6. Keegan Daniel , 5. Gerhard Mostert , 4. Steven Sykes , 3. Eugene van Staden , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 1. John Smit (C)
Replacements , 16. Tendai Mtawarira , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Alistair Hargreaves , 19. Jacques Botes , 20. Frederic Michalak , 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter , 22. Adrian Jacobs