Reds, Jaguares did not come to party

The Lions routed the Kings last week, as I thought they may, but the Reds and Jaguares let us down badly. It’s difficult to fathom how a team with so many top names can perform as badly as the Reds, but perhaps their tight five is a bit lightweight and not able to dominate the gainline for their dangerous backs.

Similarly, the Jaguares played so well in their opening games in SA, running both the Sharks and Lions close, but have failed to build on that and got toasted again in a home game against the Brumbies who now look set to earn their place in the play-offs.

It is a bizarre feature of this year’s competition that the Jaguares have won fewer games than the unlucky Blues, but will nonetheless cruise into the next round, and the new format can’t come soon enough.

The Stormers were lucky against the Blues, and duly fell over against the Sharks. I would have liked to have seen them performing better, but it seems they don’t have the nous to compete with the top teams.

They have a home play-off, but on the evidence of their campaign, they look to be certainties to get rolled against probable Kiwi opposition.

I see the Australians have a legal battle on their hands in respect of the agreed cull of one of their teams, and it doesn’t surprise me.

It seems ludicrous that either the whole western side of Australia will have the proverbial carpet pulled from under their feet.

I will be gobsmacked if the Kings and Cheetahs are not the SA teams to lose out.

It is vital that those two areas retain their ability to play top-class rugby, and I’m sure Saru will have catered for this. The Kiwi teams are miles ahead of both at the moment, but sport is unpredictable.

This week our teams have a break , and the action switches to the Trans-Tasman rivalry in the chase for the play-offs.

I fancy the Blues at Apia Park. Sure, they have nothing to play for, but this Reds team has underperformed and will not be able to match the power and flair of the Blues. Betting World odds of -15 10/11) is a stretch, but I say the Blues will stick them away.

The Crusaders also appear to be of value with only seven points to wipe out for them to win (10/11), and despite the Highlanders winning nine games in a row, I really can’t see how their pack is going to cope with the set-piece going backwards.

I don’t think there is an upset on the cards this weekend, but perhaps a 21-point start for the Canes away from home against the resurgent Force is too much?

Rugby 5 is dedicated to local fare this weekend.

I fancy the Bulls to win by a cricket score against the Welwitschias, the Sharks XV to whip the overmatched Griffons and Western Province to have too many guns for the Bulldogs in East London.

The other two games could sway either way, so go as wide as you can.