Week Seven and another couple of surprises as the weekend opened with the Auckland Blues falling to the bottom of the log, thanks to a drubbing at the hands of the Melbourne Rebels everyone’s pre-season favourites for the bottom spot. Rebels 34-23 Blues. Next up the Hurricanes and normal service was resumed as they smashed the much fancied Sharks on the road; Hurricanes 42-18 Sharks. The Reds Brumbies was a tight affair and tense as both sides made errors the Reds were worth the win getting them back on track and ready to welcome Cooper back for the next game. Reds 20-13 Brumbies
Western Force entertained the Chiefs and gave them plenty to think about but Chiefs withstood the pressure and came out on top W Force 12-20 Chiefs. Now we came to the game of the weekend as the Stormers out-muscled and outplayed the Highlanders who tried everything but could not break through. Stormers are worth the top spot thanks to the Highlanders 6-21 Stormers. The Cheetahs hosted the Lions and sent them packing to join the Blues at the bottom of the table this proves the Cheetahs are a force to be watched this time out. Score; Cheetahs 26-5 Lions. The last match of the weekend saw the Blue Bulls hosting the Crusaders and all the signs led to a comfortable win for the Bulls. As usual the Crusaders had not read the script and so a cracking game went narrowly to the home side; Bulls 32-30 Crusaders. Though alergations of eye contact agaisnt the Crusaders forwards created a bad taste about the game.
So with 6 or 7 games played a pattern is beginning to emerge and this season it is the South African franchises who are looking strong. Rebels, Force Blues and Lions need to get a wining streak and soon if they are not to get cast adrift at the bottom.
Week Eight Fixtures and still tricky to call check out our picks in bold, bye for the Highlanders, Hurricanes and Reds this week:
Results Week Seven
Rebels 34-23 Blues AAMI Park, Melbourne
Hurricanes 42-18 Sharks Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Reds 20-13 Brumbies Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
W Force 12-20 Chiefs NIB Stadium, Perth
Highlanders 6-21 Stormers Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Cheetahs 26-5 Lions Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Bulls 32-30 Crusaders Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
BYE: Waratahs
Fixtures Week 8
Fri 13 Apr 19:35 08:35GMT Blues v Sharks Eden Park, Auckland
Fri 13 Apr 19:10 12:40GMT W Force v Waratahs NIB Stadium, Perth
Sat 14 Apr 19:35 08:35GMT Crusaders v Stormers Rugby League Park, Christchurch (SkySports3 UK)
Sat 14 Apr 19:40 10:40GMT Brumbies v Rebels Canberra Stadium, Canberra (SkySports3 UK)
Sat 14 Apr 17:05 16:05GMT Cheetahs v Chiefs Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (SkySports4 UK)
Sat 14 Apr 19:10 18:10GMT Lions v Bulls Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
BYES: Highlanders, Hurricanes, Reds
Also selected games on skysports.com/xtra