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.