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!

OK, onto the quick reviews of the weekends games - made from watching and reading reports and plain lies if I can't be arsed reading reports - like the Warabores v Stormers game, although I did see the last ten minutes of this.

Friday:

Highlanders 15 lost to Blues 19
I thought for sure this year the Highlanders would start winning the close games, they've built a decent side over the last three years, their forward pack a no nonsense bunch of uglies, and their backs not too shabby.  This week though, just not good enough, making the same mistakes thye have made for the last two seasons.  Vainakolo - send him back to club rugby.  The Blues, ok, a couple of lucky bounces, but the old adage, 'you make your own luck' always holds true here.  Good games from Afoa and Kaino I thought, Afoa in particular over the last two weeks standing out in the open, and not being noticeably smashed at scrum time - standing up and being counted - important with the imminent return of Hayman!
At Dunedin: Blues 19 (Paul Williams 2, Rene Ranger tries; Stephen Brett 2 con) Highlanders 15 (Israel Dagg, Michael Hobbs tries; Michael Hobbs conversion; Israel Dagg penalty). Halftime: 7-12.
Bart's Curse worked - tipped the Highlanders by 12 and under.

Reds 41 beat Crusaders 20
Everything the Crusaders touched turned to cusatrd in this game.  Even though, if the Turunui intercept from the loose pass had not happened, I think the Crusaders would have come home with a wet sail and won this game.  As it was, it did happen, the score went to 31-13 or so, and it was all over.  Good play from Wyatt Crockett carting the ball forward, he needs to up his play if he wants to get back into the starting lineup, as the twin uglies, Franks and Franks (it's like the Bushwackers from WWF fame) are playing bloody good code at the moment.  Big bad Brad looks hungry for a start too, just keeps getting better with age like a classic cheese...  I expect some backs played well to, but not well enough to get a mention from me!  The Queensland winger Rod Davies was lightning in rugby boots though, bloody fast!
At Brisbane: Queensland 41 (Quade Cooper 2, Rod Davies, Digby Ioane tries; Cooper 5 pen, 3 con) Crusaders 20 (Andrew Ellis, Brad Thorn tries; Dan Carter 2 con, 2 pen). Halftime: 14-6.
The Curse was on fire here - tipped Crusaders by 13+

Saturday:

Sharks 20 lost to Cheetahs 25
Sharks continue to underwhelm, and now a five match tour on their radar.  It's going to be a long season, again, for the Sharks.  Cheetahs, good on them, but I still hate their jerseys.
At Durban: Cheetahs 25 (Riaan Viljoen try; Naas Olivier 3 pen, con, dropped goal; Viljoen 2 pen) Sharks 20 (Ryan Kankowski try; Rory Kockott 5 pen). Halftime: 10-9.
Sharks by 12 and under - wrong!  But did suggest their might be a chance of an upset here.  Although with my tipping, an upset would be the team I tip winning...

Lions SIXTY FIVE lost to Chiefs SEVENTY TWO
Farce.
At Johannesburg: Chiefs 72 (Richard Kahui 3, Callum Bruce, Liam Messam, Junior Poluleuligaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald tries; Donald 9 con, 3 pen) Lions 65 (Wandile Mjekevu 3, Todd Clever, Carlos Spencer, Doppies la Grange, Tonderai Chavhanga, Cobus Grobelaar, Jacques Lombaard tries; Earl Rose 7 con, 2 pen). Halftime: 27-25.
Tipped Chiefs by 12 and under, one I got right,  But only because the Lions scored FORTY points in the last twenty minutes of the game.  Fortunatly, they had already conceded 72 in the opening 60 minutes.  What a bullshit game and score, that's not farking rugby, it's basketball.

Hurricanes 47 beat Force 22
Two games in a row now, and Neemia Tialata has played 160 minutes of rugby - the man is on fire.  Not only that, he is playing well, and scores his second, and should have been his third, tries in 75 games of Super rugby.  Other than that, not the most inspiring of games, apart from, gulp, Tamiti Ellison looking like he might be an All Black for more than just one end of year tour.  His vision as sublime - laid on three tries, two with nice little stab kicks through, and the third with fast hands that Bruce Robertson would have been proud of.  He did miss an ugly tackle at one stage though, so that was OK, that Tamiti that we know and love, but other than that, he looked like a bloody classy player.  Cruden watch:  Looked much more comfortable this week, nice break and pass to lay on Nonu's try. 
At Wellington: Hurricanes 47 (David Smith 2, Cory Jane, Michael Paterson, Neemia Tialata, Ma'a Nonu, Tyson Keats tries; Willie Ripia con, 2 pen; Piri Weepu con; Aaron Cruden con) Western Force 22 (Josh Tatupu, Dane Haylett-Petty, Chris O'Young tries; James O'Connor 2 con, pen). Halftime: 18-8.
Hooray, this makes two correct picks, 13+, and so it was.  But with all the injuries, you would have had to be a blind optimist to even consider the Force.

Sunday:

Bulls 50 beat Bumboys 32
Saw nothing of this game, but though the Brumbies would do better, although, leading at halftime you would have thought they are in the game.  Bulls obviously are a good side, and are not the champions for nothing, and came home at a gallop for a handsome win.
At Pretoria: Bulls 50 (Morne Steyn 2, Fourie du Preez, Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier tries; Steyn 5 pen, 5 con) Brumbies 32 (Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Pat McCabe tries; Stirling Mortlock 4 pen, con; Matt Giteau dropped goal). Halftime: 20-21.
Got the right team winning, the wrong margin, I thought the Brumbies would have been a lot closer here, but the Bulls racked up another big score at home.

Stormers 27 beat Waratahs 6
Saw just a little bit of thus game, and the Warabores are still that, and Waugh on the flank still looks like he escaped from Dr Frankenstein's 'to ugly to live' reject bin...
At Cape Town: Stormers 27 (Bryan Habana 2, Francois Louw tries; Joe Pietersen 3 con, 2 pen), Waratahs 6 (Berrick Barnes 2 penalties). HT: 13-3.
Wow, the curse seems to be failing, another winner tipped here - although again thought it would be a lot closer than it was.