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@ 07h30 19th May 2012

Great pic Oom but it's 6 years old.

Pick a number between 1 and 20.
That's how much the Bulls will win by.

I normally support NZ teams against non-NZ teams. But it is in the Crusaders best interests if the Bulls win.

Go the Bulls!!!!!

Nothing wrong with that but OomPB hates you! Landers to win.

The Bulls were a bit fortunate to win against the Tahs (imho), so I'm a bit nervous about this game.

The Highlanders are the new Tahs. Start with a bang in the early season, and then progressively get worse. Same thing happened last year to them.

Still, will be thoroughly impressed if the Bulls pull it off. Up there with the Stormers tour anyway.

We're not hated by everybody.

Can't help the injury attrition.

Agree. I really hope they can do it, because the SA conference is pretty open for play off places.

It is always in the Crusaders' best interests for the other NZ teams to lose. If they win the NZ conference then they are assured of a home semi-final no matter what their final position in the overall table.

Ah well Grin. I prefer the 2011/12 version to the previous few years where they started with a whimper and progressively got worse.

There is still time and my main hope is that they at least come out on top of the win/loss ledger. Anything else would be a bonus. Not sure if that makes me a pessimist or a realist.

Hey Oompb ... another great OP. Love the vintage poster. That wasn't a bad line-up.

Yes, but the Crusaders lost to the Rabble so pressure is on.

1) The Tahs have always had much better teams, on paper.

2) Injuries.

Anton Oliver throwing water melons.

This match is a tricky one for the Brutes. The Highlanders pattern may trick them.

The team to play the Highlanders (with Super caps) is:

Zane Kirchner (64), Akona Ndungane (77), Johann Sadie (15), Wynand Olivier (95), Bjorn Basson (35), Morné Steyn (99), Francois Hougaard (38), Pierre Spies (82, c), CJ Stander (10), Dewald Potgieter (47), Juandré Kruger (10), Flip van der Merwe (42), Werner Kruger (68), Chiliboy Ralepelle (45), Dean Greyling (23).

Replacements: Willie Wepener (46), Rayno Gerber (36), Wilhelm Steenkamp (45), Arno Botha (7), Jano Vermaak (81), Louis Fouché (6), JJ Engelbrecht (10).

Very strong Bulls side.

Very experienced Bulls side.

Soooo Morné's 100th...advantage Highlanders!

Hey Oom, great pic. Hope the Highlanders can win this one. They MUST!!!

Slangkos back. Very strong Brutes side. The Highlanders will have to up their mojo from the Canes match otherwise I can only see those pink Brutes stampi Steri in this one. They are on a mission.

Who the fuck cares about the Crusaders? They've become the England of NZ rugby

I wonder how many caps James Ryan would have had by now...

Frankly, I'm disgusted.

I'm a Kiwi, and as such I want the dirty, pink shirt-wearing eye-gouge-accussing Saffers to lose. Big time.

GO LANDERS!!

Same thought crossed my mind too when I saw that poster. A very promising and athletic lock with a great skill set. Damn good cricketer as well by all accounts.

Don't sugarcoat it.

Yep, Ryan's another very promising player whose career was derailed by serious injuries.

I'm actually trying to figure out if you really want the Landers to win or if you are appealing to the Mockers.

I'm a Kiwi. I want the Highlanders to win. True, a loss for them would benefit the Crusaders, who I support, but this game has nothing to do with the Crusaders. So, Highlanders all the way.

Fair enough. I normally support the other Saffa teams.




Except the Stormers.

Thats the way, I want the Brutes to win no matter the log standings. We'll sort each other out within the conferense.

You're a better man than me oom. I just can't bring myself to support the Stompies. Just doesn't feel right.

It's the same with England. I live here and my wife is English, but I just can't support them...

AC is a Samoan / New Zealander / Fleewee / Aussie. He must be quite confused.

Maybe he just likes pienk?

Why?

Thats strange, you are like my Mrs, she hates the Brutes because of Naas Botha. Its pretty easy for me. I support the Brutes players when they play for the Bokke, how the fuck should I support an NZ team with All Blacks when they play against my fellow Bok players in the S15. I also support the Paarl Gym players in the Brutes team. I know Johann Sadie since he was 7 year old and many others in the other SA teams. Its pretty easy to support SA teams when they play other countries and when they do well I'll support them as Bokke. I am a green blooded human and always thinks country first.

Oom PB spells it out.

So - Ali should be blackblooded, with flecks of yellow and blue in it ?

Highlanders vs Bulls at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Matthew Muir (New Zealand)

It doesn't get much closer than that.