Super Rugby 2012 reaches the penultimate weekend of matches with two local derbies featuring the Stormers vs Sharks in South Africa and the Chiefs vs Crusaders in New Zealand. The local nature of these matches makes them even more difficult to pick because the home advantage is less significant as it could be. The crazy thing with both of these matches is that the lower ranked away teams have been in better form over the last month since the June International Rugby window.

Game One is on Friday night New Zealand time and could be the last game we see in New Zealand this Super Rugby season. The Crusaders won this match the last time these two teams played after potentially receiving the better refereeing decisions and Sonny Bill Williams going alone at the end and turning the ball over. This match will be a cracker, although the Crusaders with their big game experience and their strength up front likely to give them an advantage. Plenty will depend on the referee, but I think that Craig Joubert is the best in the business.
The Chiefs have been struggling in recent weeks with a few narrow losses and it seems that the referees and the June International break has not been kind to their winning momentum. It will be interesting to see how the week off has affected them. The Crusaders won last week against the Bulls showing that they know how to win finals footy. They will still be missing All Black Number Eight Kieran Read, but have an awesome tight five to lay the platform and should win if they can stop the dynamic running game of Chiefs backs Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams.

The Crusaders are favourites to win this match with the New Zealand TAB offering $1.62 for them to win and $2.20 on the Chiefs.

Players to buy - Liam Messam, Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams, Richie McCaw, Sam Whitelock, Israel Dagg, Corey Flynn, Dan Carter.

Bargains - Brodie Retallick, Andrew Horrell.

My pick - Crusaders by 7 points.


Game Two sees the Stormers host the Sharks in a huge grudge match. The Sharks have been on fire recently and defeated the Reds comfortably in the end. The Stormers haven't been scoring tries throughout the season, but tend to do enough to win regularly. The Sharks play a more attacking style and I am picking them to continue their strong finishing form. This match is like a Springboks trial match. Newlands is a fortress for the Stormers, but I think out of the remaining teams left the Sharks are the team with the best chance of beating the Stormers. A win for the Sharks would be huge because it would mean the final is played in New Zealand. The forward exchanges will be great, but I think with that massive front row and momentum, that the Sharks will win. They have been resurgent compared with the Stormers who have been far from convincing in recent rounds. Like the Chiefs, you have to wonder if the June International break helped them?

The Stormers are favourites to win at home paying $1.57 at the NZ TAB while the Sharks are paying $2.30. I need to make up some placings in my tipping competition so will go Sharks, while if you are in front, then play it safe with the Stormers. This will be a low scoring close affair like most games are at Newlands. There is no Pat Lambie for the Sharks, but there is also no Duane Vermeulen at Number Eight, so Deon Fourie plays there.

Players to buy - Tiaan Liebenberg, Deon Fourie, Peter Grant, Juan De Jongh, Bismarck Du Plessis, JP Pietersen, Ryan Kankowski, Freddy Michalak.

Bargains - Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi.

My pick Sharks by 6.

Who are you picking to win Super Rugby 2012 semi finals? I am going Crusaders and Sharks.

Super Rugby Semi Final Teams Named

Chiefs vs Crusaders
Chiefs
1. Sona Taumalolo , 2. Mahonri Schwalger , 3. Ben Tameifuna , 4. Craig Clarke (c) , 5. Brodie Retallick , 6. Liam Messam , 7. Tanerau Latimer , 8. Kane Thompson , 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow , 10. Aaron Cruden , 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma , 12. Sonny Bill Williams , 13. Andrew Horrell , 14. Tim Nanai-Williams , 15. Robbie Robinson.
Replacelements : 16. Hika Elliot , 17. Ben Afeaki , 18. Michael Fitzgerald , 19. Sam Cane , 20. Brendon Leonard , 21. Jackson Willison , 22. Lelia Masaga.

Crusaders team
1. Wyatt Crockett , 2. Corey Flynn , 3. Ben Franks , 4. Luke Romano , 5. Samuel Whitelock , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd , 8. Richie McCaw (c) , 9. Andy Ellis , 10. Dan Carter (vc) , 11. Zac Guildford , 12. Ryan Crotty , 13. Robbie Fruean , 14. Adam Whitelock , 15. Israel Dagg
Reserves : 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Owen Franks,18. Tom Donnelly ,19. Luke Whitelock ,20. Willi Heinz,21. Tom Taylor ,22. Sean Maitland.

Stormers vs Sharks
Stormers
15. Joe Pietersen ,14. Gio Aplon ,13. Juan de Jongh ,12. Jean de Villiers (C) ,11. Bryan Habana,10. Peter Grant ,9. Dewaldt Duvenage ,8. Deon Fourie ,7. Rynhardt Elstadt ,6. Siya Kolisi ,5. Andries Bekker ,4. Eben Etzebeth ,3. Brok Harris ,2. Tiaan Liebenberg ,1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:16. Frans Malherbe,17. Deon Carstens,18. De Kock Steenkamp,19. Don Armand,20. Louis Schreuder ,21. Burton Francis,22. Gerhard van den Heever.

The Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Willem Alberts , 5. Anton Bresler , 6. Keegan Daniel (Captain) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Frederic Michalak , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Meyer Bosman , 13. Tim Whitehead , 14. JP Pietersen , 15. Louis Ludik
Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Steven Sykes , 19. Jean Deysel , 20. Jacques Botes , 21. Odwa Ndungane , 22. Riaan Viljoen.

Who are you picking to make the Super Rugby 2012 final?  Have your say!

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2012/07/super-15-rugby-semi-finals-who-will.html