Super Rugby Preview: Week 8

The Super 15 is in full flight with the log starting to reflect how it might look come the end of the tournament. Each of the 3 nations has one team in the top three and one in the wildcard places. Round 8 features three teams having their bye; these being the Blues, Chiefs and the Rebels, so we have one less match to watch this weekend which is somewhat unfortunate.

We begin in Dunedin with the Highlanders taking on the road-weary Cheetahs. The boys from Bloem sadly find themselves bottom of the log but have been better than this suggests. They took the Blues very close last week but will battle against the Highlanders this time around who are a much-improved outfit this season. They seem like a team that knows how to win and have developed the much sort-after ability to grind out results when they haven't necessarily played too well. With Kade Poki and the boys the 'Landers should be too much for the bottom-feeding Cheetahs.

First up on Saturday we herald the return of the Crusaders who host the Bulls. The Bulls took a solid win against the badly out of form Hurricanes last week and will derive confidence from that uncompromising result. Such is the coolness of head or perhaps lack of brain cells of Morne Steyn that he will happily kick drop goals all day amongst the chorus of boos that the 'Canes crowd dished out if it sees his team take the victory. The Crusaders are without their kingpin Dan Carter but have so much talent outside him that it would be foolish to think they will, as a result of his absence, fail to keep up their impressive form. The Crusaders will be too good for die Bulle.

The Brumbies host the Hurricanes in Canberra in a match that both sides desperately need to win, even at this early stage, in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Brumbies' interesting combinations with Giteau, Toomua and Lealiifano interchanging positions of fly-half, fullback and centre will keep the 'Canes guessing but I feel that they would be better off sticking to one spot each and actually doing that job well. I've said it every week and I'll say it again but how, with so much class, are the Hurricanes performing so poorly? They have restored Aaron Cruden to the starting line-up which is a much overdue move but they will need more than personnel changes to spark up their season. This one will be hard to call but I'm backing the 'Canes.

The 'Tahs travel to Perth to play the Force in Saturday's lunch-time kick-off in what promises to be an interesting game. The Waratahs are finding their feet a bit after winning two from two but still don't seem to have fully recovered from the hammering they took in Nelson. Kurtley Beale had a composed match at 10 last week and should get a bit more space to attack against the more open Force. James O'Connor moves to fullback for the Force to accommodate Willie Ripia who makes his long-awaited debut after his move from the Hurricanes. Fullback is O'Connor's best position in my opinion and he will be very important if the Force are to stand a chance in this one. The 'Tahs will probably be a bit too much as without Pocock and Hodgson the Force will struggle to assert themselves at the breakdown with enough 'force' (haha).

The Stormers host the Reds at Newlands in another exciting match. The Cape Town lads have been fantastic so far but will be wary of the dangers the Reds pose. Quade, Digby and the like are ever-threatening on attack and will have to be on top form to scythe through this Stormers defence. Peter Grant has been in immaculate form but as Lambie is topping our poll for the Springbok number 10 shirt he clearly still has to offer more. The Reds have performed well so far but their lack of physicality in the forwards will see them come undone here.

The weekend ends off with Sharks against the Lions at Kings Park. I should probably have waited until after this match, assuming a Sharks win, to have posted my somewhat unflattering article on the Lions but what is done is done and I will have an added incentive for wanting the boys to take a win. The Sharks are on a bad run but still have the quality to win this  match. The Lions ran the Reds close last week but the Sharks won't offer them as much space to run into due to the Durban boys probably adopting a more conservative game plan themselves. The Sharks will need some life from their uninspiring backline and hopefully playing in his 200th game will give Stefan Terblanche the kick in the arse he needs. This should be a home win.