But before we move onto these 'real' tests, isn't it sad that we now have a rugby 'traditionalist' like myself rating some internationals over and above others.  Every test match is a real test match, or should be thought of as such.  But if someone like me has fallen into thinking the early tests are less important than the Tri Series tests, than what chance new fans?  Has the day of the international 'friendly' finally arrived, we just don't know it yet?

Good call from the Cartel though on that one though- after rushing him back in last season and having him look like a leper, it is a good idea to just let him get on the field and play rugby.  His confidence will have to be back up after his good games for the NZ Maori, and a few hit outs with Harbour before injury force the Cartel's hand will be good for everyone. Better that he be playing 80 minutes each week as opposed to being player number 23 in the All Black set up - all training and no play makes LUke a dull boy.

I mean, who wants to see a Chiefs backline made up of fringe NPC players?  Or a Highlanders side made up of a squad of players that should be fringe NPC players?  A Hurricanes side that doesn't have the bottle to be a genuine contender when push comes to shove during the knock out stages?  A blues side that is all froth and no substance?  Not bloody me, that's who! 

The Chiefs loss though, perhaps that can be counted on as expected.  I recall many years ago the Hurricanes coming home from Beorland two from two, first time ever for a Kiwi team, and then losing to the blind institute when they returned home.  As a Chiefs fan, you should really expect this, but we were spoilt last season when they made the final and won a few games they were expected too, and were meant to.  As a mate of mine said shortly after the loss, "normal transmission has been resumed"...

Week three, and LAKiwi kicking arse, with just three wrongs tips over three weeks.  Almost as good as my ten cent piece, and vastly superior to moi, who with just 9 out of the possible 21 is languishing deservedly last - the only 'tipper' doing worse than me is Mr Home wins all the time, with just 8 correct out of the 21 games.  Our 'Favourites' tipster is up there at the top of the table too, one off the pace with 17.

Big movers have been Billy Webb, charging from 12th through to 2nd over the first three rounds.  HB has also moved vastly over the first three weeks, but in the opposite direction, charging from 1st down to 10th in the three week period since the comp started.  Scorz has recorded the best movement though, dropping 15 places between weeks 2 and 3 - chocolate fish for that effort...  Cyclops is getting dizzy though, 12th, to 26th to 17th - he's hot, or he's not, not like Mr Consistencies Virgil and myself, fighting it out for the wooden spoon big time...

Latest week first - nc = no change;  +  = moving up (good);  - = moving down (bad)!

Anyway, the games, only two upsets, both tipped by Mr TenCent (sounds like a rapper), the Blues toppling the Reds, and the Highlanders tipping the Cheetahs over for their first away win in 2 seasons, and their first win of the season.

Anyway I'll aim for a bit of a better return this week, but who would have thought the Reds would spank the Crusaders 41-20?  Or the Cheetahs would get up over the Sharks.  Not bloody me, that's who! 

So on with the show, this weeks games, and perhaps, the winners...  I'll toss a coin too and see if I can do better than a random tip (heads for home, tails for away)...

The Curse of Bart struck three teams this weekend, the Crusaders, the Highlanders and the Sharks.  Four results did come in 'as expected', and two even with correct margins - thanks to the Chiefs playing touch for the last 20 against the Lions.  Punters would have been cashing in their 13+ tickets with 20 to go and a 40 point lead.  But the Chiefs, they can let you down even when they win and score SEVENTY TWO points!

Not too bad last week, last minute wins and losses screwing my predications of upsets and 'business as usual' starts.  Yes, I'm talking to you Warrabores and Chiefs, how dare you come back and steal wins, especially the Chiefs, who have not won an opening round match since 1921!  This week the Chiefs have another bogey to bury, having not won against the Lions in Boerland since 1942, so to tip for, or against, that is the question, if in doubt with the Chiefs though, against is a good option...

Anyway the games this week...

Round one of the crystal ball tipping, and this week should have been the easiest, as we were all tipping from a position of knowledge, as opposed to week 14, where we are tipping blind, not knowing who is hot, and who is not, who is broken, which team is having a hot streak, whcih team could not win a rigged raffle at the Razza.  I however in the spirit of crystal ball tipping decided to tip really badly, and succeeded, 3/7...

As the other scores rolled in, it became obvious, some crystal balls are better than others.  HB and LaKiwi both clean sweept.  It's a pity there are no bonus points for that, but tough, it means that I, along with the equally piss poor thechampishere and Virgil are only 4 off the pace after the first round....!

Other than the two perfect players, a host of soothsayers only fell at one hurdle, nine punters, led by the Baron came in with just the one error.  Eight picked up five, and seven were only one tip better than the three crapolas, thus far, of the Crystal Ball tipping!

WE will add the 'HOME' only tipster, the 'AWAY' only tipster, and the 'TAB' pre season favourites tipster next week.  Until the, week ones table for your viewing pleasure...

Blues self destruct - it's going to be a long season
Blowing a big lead, not scoring a point in the second spell, looking clueless at times, being a Blues supporter might almost be as bad as being a Chiefs supporter this season - especially after the Chiefs managed to pull off their first win in the first round for six or so years!  It looked like the Blues had found the right buttons to push in the first half, Alby Mathewson and Stephen Brett looking like the second coming of Foxy and Loveridge.  However, in the second spell, it all turned to custard - Brett self imploded and looked like the hot/cold player of last season, but hell, if he can replicate that first 40 the Blues could be in for a good season.
The Hurricanes won ugly, a most un-Hurricane way of winning.  Great to see Joe Rokocoko in form - some great breaks, and with the lack of aerial ping pong, beautiful - suited the Rock down to the ground.  Other players who went pretty well through my eyes were big Jason Eaton - the lad was getting around the paddock like he wants to stay an All Black.  Good to see a man raise to the challenge.  Hosea Gear looked fast and hungry for action too - I think another player who like the lack of aerial ping pong.  Cory Jane was tidy at fullback, Weepu solid and combative as usual, Conrad Smith a tackling machine.  Was Ma'a Nonu playing?  Certainly a slow start for the dreaded wonder this season, but no worse than many others!  John Afoa was mobile, agile and hostile, but still did not look test quality to me.
All in all, an enjoyable match, and already the skill levels shown far higher than the opening games from last season - and welcome to Super rugby the great white hope Aaron Cruden!
Hurricanes 34 (Hosea Gear try; Willie Ripia 5 pen, Piri Weepu 4 pen, con) Blues 20 (Stephen Brett, John Afoa tries; Brett 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 12-20
Bart's tip was:  Hurricanes by 12 and under - and but for that last minute Weepu penalty, was on the money...  So it wasn't, but almost was.

Mitch's men lose again
While it may be a long season for the Blues, it could be longer for the Force.  They lost, apparently were pretty rudderless, and had injuries to rival the Blues.  The Brumbies - certainly potential contenders.
ACT Brumbies 24 (Huia Edmonds, Stephen Moore, Josh Valentine tries; Stirling Mortlock pen, 3 con) Western Force 15 (James O'Connor 5 pen). Halftime: 14-12
Bart's tip was:  On the money - 12 and under pays the money!

Bulls gore Cheetahs
The highest scoring match of the round, the champion Bulls laying their marker down, along side the Cheetahs marker.  The Bulls laid their marker down though near the top of the table, while once again, the Cheetahs threw theirs on the ground near the bottom of the ladder...
Bulls 51 (Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, Jaco Pretorius, Morne Steyn, Gerhard van den Heever tries; Steyn 3 pen, 6 con) bt Cheetahs 34 (Lionel Mapoe, Jongi Nokwe, Juan Smith tries; Naas Olivier 5 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 23-14
Bart's tip was:  Bulls by 13+, and again, two in a row correct - three if it wasn't for the Weepu goal...

Crusade starts with bonus point win over gutsy Clan
This game looked like it was going to be a hiding until the one man scoring machine, Michael Hobbs hit the field replacing an out of sort Berquist.  Hobbs pulled the Clansmen back to a penalty of the lead before the Crusaders upped the ante and won going away.  Great to see incumbent All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan, the Highlanders captain, lose his rag numerous times.  Why he is captain of that side is a wonder - sure passion is fine, but for heavens sake, control it you closet ginga.
The Highlanders pack was disappointing.  Clint Newland's fan club must be taking down their CN for AB banners about now, Jamie McIntosh must be on the phone to his agent right about now too before people forget he ever was an All Black, and having a dwarf for a hooker might be good for equal opportunities, but it is not good for a rugby team...  Their locks were pretty handy though Bekhuis and Donnelly outplaying their opposites, ex All Black Issac Rossm and Whitelock.  Sad to say, but I think  Ross would have been the 4th lock on the field on match day.  Top game from Waldrom at number eight, Thomson was gutsy throughout, Ellis went well I thought (that hurt) too.  Of the blouses, Freun at centre for the Crusaders had a solid debut, Guildford on the wing is going to have a huge season, and Dagg at fullback for the Highlanders showed touches of class, but needs to be a little less greedy.  Ben Smith might be a one tour All Black if he carries on like this - I had never heard of him before the All Black tour, and at the moment, I hope I never hear of him again!!
Crusaders 32 (Andy Ellis, Jared Payne, Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland tries; Daniel Carter 2 pen, 3 con) Highlanders 17 (Michael Hobbs 2 tries; Hobbs pen, 2 con). Halftime: 10-0
Bart's tip was:  Crusaders by 12 and under.  Blew out to 13+ with another injury time score.  Hell, if these games went for 75 minutes I would have been 4 from 4...!

Reds win everywhere but where it matters - the scoreboard
This was a most enjoyable game - especially when the team that I picked for the upset led for most of the match, until the final act of the match, where Palu scored under the posts and the Warabores led for the first time in the match - about the 81st minute.  Just goes to show you don't need to waste time being in front for those first 80 and a half minutes eh!!
Was impressed with the workrate of Reds loosehead prop Dyson, the error rate of Cooper, and the agro of the big reds lock with the white head gear.  And the Aussie commentators did not make me go too mad this time out.
NSW Waratahs 30 (Rory Sidey, Wycliff Palu tries; Berrick Barnes 4 pen, dropped goal, Daniel Halangahu con, dropped goal) Queensland Reds 28 (Daniel Braid, James Horwill tries; penalty try; Quade Cooper 2 pen, 2 con, dropped goal). Halftime: 6-10
Bart's tip was:  Reds by 13+.  Looooong way out on this one, but again if it had been a 75 minute match, I would have got the right team winning!

Lions still useless despite signing Carlos
Didn't see this game.   Sounds like I was lucky.  Carlos played for the Lions, but it was on at 4 o'bloody'clock in the morning.  A 34 year old Carlos is not going to get me out of bed at that mad hour!
Stormers 26 (Joe Pietersen, Jaque Fourie tries; Peitersen 4 pen, 2 con) Lions 13 (Michael Killian try; Earl Rose 2 pen, con). Halftime: 26-6
Bart's tip was:  Wron by 1 point, 12 and under, it was 13 point to the Stormers.

Chiefs suffer loss, no win, no wait, lose, hang on, Chiefs WIN!
What a boring match for 77 minutes.  Then the Chiefs snatch the win with a late, and only try of the match.  Then they give away a penalty, and the runty halfback with the big beard lands his 6th goal, and Chiefs fans throughout the world would have thought, "here we go again".  But no, the Sharks wanted to lose the match more, fouled up, and Donald landed the penalty.
Top games from Aled de Megamunch, Callum Retallick when he came on in the second spell, and few others.  Those two stood out for me anyway as I watched the game through one eye, trying desperatly to stay awake...
Chiefs 19 (Jackson Willison try; Stephen Donald 4 pen, con) Sharks 18 (Rory Kockott 6 pen). Halftime: 6-6.
Bart's tip was:  Waaaay wrong, Sharks by 13 plus.  bugger.

How to pull a bunny out of a hat…

Rummage around inside the hat for 70 minutes apparently getting no closer to the bunny, just as the crowd starts to leave, pull half a bunny out.  As the crowd proceeds to clap fall over and toss the hat into the air, causing bunny the hide back inside hat, stumble forward in full length dive to vigorously shake hat causing bunny to tumble out – the crowd boos and throws pitchers of beer at you…Welcome ladies and gentleman to the beginning of the Chiefs season.