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)...

Friday 26th February (games in NZ time)
Crusaders v Sharks  :  Christchurch  :  7:35pm
The Sharks have been crap this season, being piped by the Chiefs in round one, and then going down to the Cheetahs.  CHEETAHS in round two.  The Crusaders were handed their arses on a plate last week by the Reds, but are at home, against a Boer side that travels as well as a five year old over the winding hills to Waihi...  McCaw on the bench as insurance for Crusaders.  The Sharks have NEVER won in Christchurch, losing on average 35-24.  Hell, they've only beaten the Crusaders twice in the history of Super rugby. So...
Bart's tip:  Crusaders by 13+
Coins tip:  Crusaders.  The coin declined to predict a margin.

Saturday 27th February
Stormers v Brumbies  :  Cape Town  :  6:10am
The Brumbies have played the Stormers six times in Boerland, for three wins, a draw, and two losses, a pretty good record.  The Brumbies usually steal a match while in the republic, so this'll be it, the Stormers first loss of the season.  I have seen neither team play this season, so it might be best to listen to the coin in this match.
Bart's tip:  Brumbies by -12
Coins tip:  Brumbies.

Hurricanes v Lions  :  Wellington  :  7:35pm
Well, we know the Lions know how to score tries.  And we also know they can score 65 points and lose a match.  The Hurricanes have a great chance to hand the Steroid Brutes + Carlos a spanking.  Just read the Chiefs song sheet from the first 60 minutes of last weeks game, and then add some staunch defence, and you should have a 50 point demolition.  The Lions, like most touring teams from Africa, are pathetic when it comes to touring.  They've never beaten the Hurricanes in New Zealand, and I don't expect that to start this week. 
Bart's tip:  Hurricanes by 13+
Coins tip:  Hurricanes.  Do I have a double headed coin here or something?

Reds v Blues  :  Brisbane  :  9:40pm
Well, the Blues had a decent enough win, away against the Highlanders last week, while the Reds, at home, spanked the Crusaders.  They'll be cock-a-hoop, but have lost that big ugly lock for the season, their captain, the one who got belted by a Froggy in last seasons tests and looked like Shane Cameron after he'd gone 12 rounds with Tua.  Oh, that's right, Cameron lasted less than an add break in that fight didn't he.  What's the Queen song - "the great pretender"?  But enough slagging off of poor old glass jaw Shane, I'm meant to be abusing Horwell, the big lock.  So the big guys gone (the Hore, not Shane), but I think the Reds will still have enough confidence left over from last week to give the Blues their second loss of the season.  They have though, lost their last two encounters with the Blues at home, but did win in Albany last season.  Their first win over the Blues for half a decade.  Toeava gone for the Blues, so they are playing Ranger at centre.  This might be a good thing.  Then again, it might not be, much like when Shane thought he should have a fight against an aging former heavyweight contender..
Bart's tip:  Reds by -12
Coins tip:  Blues.

Sunday 28th February
Western Force v Chiefs  :  Perth  :  12:05am
The Chiefs will have been hitting the tackle bags after last weeks piss poor last twenty against the lowly Lions.  They don't need to worry about their work with the ball, 72 points in 60 minutes is pretty good going.  however, that last 20 minutes, and conceding 40 points, well, they need a little work there - not many teams would have scored 72 points in a game, and then been defending their line like grim death to not suffer the ignominy of a draw!  The Force, who are still waiting on their replacement players to come along are fielding another makeshift side, and just should not be good enough to beat the red hot (attacking) Chiefs.  Last time out in Perth the Force won, their only beating of the Chiefs thus far Shooter.
Bart's tip:  Chiefs by -12 (after scoring 56 points)...
Coins tip:  Chiefs.

Cheetahs v Highlanders  :  Bloemfontein  :  4:05am
Well, we all thought this year, after three seaosns 'rebuilding', that the Clan would start to win the close games.  We were all wrong.  They would still lose a raffle if you sold them 99 of the 100 tickets at the moment.  Maybe their assistant coach is crap (well, the Hurricanes don't want him do they), or their coach, or perhaps, the stock, at the end of the day, is not good enough to produce results.  The Cheetahs slammed the Sharks last week picking up their first win of the season, well ahead of schedule.  However.  The Cheetahs have never beaten the Highlanders in four attempts, so perhaps this is the chance the Highlanders need to get their season back on track - an away win.  Although this season, away wins are not quite so valuable, they're a dime a dozen at the moment!  Decisions, decisions, who to curse...
Bart's tip:  Cheetahs by -12
Coins tip:  Highlanders.

Bulls v Waratahs  :  Pretoria  :  6:10am
The Bulls have not lost to the Waratahs, at home, since 2002, and have not lost to them at all since 2005, when they lost a semi final in Convictland.  They are also the defending champions.  The Waratahs are the second most boring team in Super rugby history (behind only the Bulls), so all things point to another Bulls win, the Waratahs are just good at being second, and who am I to argue? 
Bart's tip:  Bulls by 13+
Coins tip:  Bulls.

There we go, my tipping looks almost as good as a coins at the moment...

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