Apologies for the lateness of the post; been flat out like a lizard drinking.
Two games tonite - one in the Super 12, one in the NRL, and one play.
PLAY PARRAMATTA EELS -2.5
Now the game previews:
Super 12 Week Two
Season to Date: 2-0; Best Bet 1-0.
Game 1) Auckland Blues v Canterbury Crusaders, Eden Pk, Auckland, 16:05 CST.
Blues -5.5 ($1.90Aus); Crusaders +5.5
If you'd told me a few weeks ago I could have the three-times defending champion Crusaders getting 5.5 points from the Blues I would have leapt on. But things have changed. Lynchpin first-five Andrew Mehrtens is out with injury for another few weeks minimum and without him, the Crusaders were humbled 51-16 by the Brumbies on opening night. Not all his fault of course, but they're not the same side with Aaron Mauger in the No10 jersey. The Crusaders looked awful against the fired-up Brumbies but keep in mind the home side scored two tries when the Crusaders had blindside flanker Reuben Thorne in the sinbin and added a last-minute try with a length of the field intercept. That's close on 20 points we need to keep in mind. The Blues were also less than inspiring in a 23-8 loss to the Highlanders that gave us our first collect of the campaign. But they played for 20 minutes with a man in the bin (Orene Ai'i and then Charles Riechelmann). The home team have made significant changes to their forward pack after getting a thumping from the Highlanders front row - props Craig Dowd and Paul Thompson have been dropped while Troy Flavell returns from injury to replace Glenn Taylor at lock. The Blues should be more competitive in the forward battles but the Crusaders would have had a rocket up them at training and should also be much better performed tonight. Too many intangibles to make a punt.
NO PLAY
NRL Week Three
Season to Date 2-4
Game 1) Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos, Parramatta Stadium, 18:00 CST.
Eels -2.5 ($1.90Aus); Broncos +2.5.
The Eels were surprisingly beaten 13-12 at home by the Sharks last Saturday after looking like world-beaters on week one v the Panthers. The defending champion Broncos just sneaked home in rd one v the wooden-spoon favourite Cowboys (who upset Melbourbne at home in rd two) but failed to cover and then covered at -14.5 at home in rd two against Penrith with a 38-22 win. Panthers coach Royce Simmons felt the key to the Broncos victory was the sinbinning of his hooker and playmaker Craig Gower combined with the sapping conditions in Queensland. Had the pleasure this week to interview NZ Warriors new coach Daniel Anderson, who was the reserve team coach at the Eels in recent seasons. He rates Brian Smith's young charges very highly, believes they will use this game to make a statement about their title intentions to the Broncos and said the club usually fights back hard from a defeat the previous weekend. If a coach is talking about his own team or game that weekend, I normally wouldn't use a word of it to take a line on a match-up. But I think Anderson has summed this match up well. The Broncos aren't traditional quick starters; just a team that times their run to perfection to peak at the business end. I think Parramatta have more to play for and with the cooler evening temperature in Sydney suiting a free-flowing game, I rate the young pretenders an excellent chance to roll the premiers.
PLAY PARRAMATTA EELS -2.5
Will be back tomorrow with Saturday (down under time) match-ups and picks.
GLTA - especially Redsfann, who needs a winner like I do
Two games tonite - one in the Super 12, one in the NRL, and one play.
PLAY PARRAMATTA EELS -2.5
Now the game previews:
Super 12 Week Two
Season to Date: 2-0; Best Bet 1-0.
Game 1) Auckland Blues v Canterbury Crusaders, Eden Pk, Auckland, 16:05 CST.
Blues -5.5 ($1.90Aus); Crusaders +5.5
If you'd told me a few weeks ago I could have the three-times defending champion Crusaders getting 5.5 points from the Blues I would have leapt on. But things have changed. Lynchpin first-five Andrew Mehrtens is out with injury for another few weeks minimum and without him, the Crusaders were humbled 51-16 by the Brumbies on opening night. Not all his fault of course, but they're not the same side with Aaron Mauger in the No10 jersey. The Crusaders looked awful against the fired-up Brumbies but keep in mind the home side scored two tries when the Crusaders had blindside flanker Reuben Thorne in the sinbin and added a last-minute try with a length of the field intercept. That's close on 20 points we need to keep in mind. The Blues were also less than inspiring in a 23-8 loss to the Highlanders that gave us our first collect of the campaign. But they played for 20 minutes with a man in the bin (Orene Ai'i and then Charles Riechelmann). The home team have made significant changes to their forward pack after getting a thumping from the Highlanders front row - props Craig Dowd and Paul Thompson have been dropped while Troy Flavell returns from injury to replace Glenn Taylor at lock. The Blues should be more competitive in the forward battles but the Crusaders would have had a rocket up them at training and should also be much better performed tonight. Too many intangibles to make a punt.
NO PLAY
NRL Week Three
Season to Date 2-4
Game 1) Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos, Parramatta Stadium, 18:00 CST.
Eels -2.5 ($1.90Aus); Broncos +2.5.
The Eels were surprisingly beaten 13-12 at home by the Sharks last Saturday after looking like world-beaters on week one v the Panthers. The defending champion Broncos just sneaked home in rd one v the wooden-spoon favourite Cowboys (who upset Melbourbne at home in rd two) but failed to cover and then covered at -14.5 at home in rd two against Penrith with a 38-22 win. Panthers coach Royce Simmons felt the key to the Broncos victory was the sinbinning of his hooker and playmaker Craig Gower combined with the sapping conditions in Queensland. Had the pleasure this week to interview NZ Warriors new coach Daniel Anderson, who was the reserve team coach at the Eels in recent seasons. He rates Brian Smith's young charges very highly, believes they will use this game to make a statement about their title intentions to the Broncos and said the club usually fights back hard from a defeat the previous weekend. If a coach is talking about his own team or game that weekend, I normally wouldn't use a word of it to take a line on a match-up. But I think Anderson has summed this match up well. The Broncos aren't traditional quick starters; just a team that times their run to perfection to peak at the business end. I think Parramatta have more to play for and with the cooler evening temperature in Sydney suiting a free-flowing game, I rate the young pretenders an excellent chance to roll the premiers.
PLAY PARRAMATTA EELS -2.5
Will be back tomorrow with Saturday (down under time) match-ups and picks.
GLTA - especially Redsfann, who needs a winner like I do
