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Anthony Tuitavake of the Blues evades a tackle by Drew Mitchell of the Force - Source: Getty Images -
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Super 14 preview panel for this weekend's round two action:
FRIDAY
Hurricanes v Highlanders at Westpac Stadium
Last meeting: Hurricanes 10 bt Highlanders 6 in Dunedin
It hasn't taken long for the pressure to build on unofficial tournament favourites the Hurricanes. A first-up 26-22 loss to NSW compounded by the suspension of captain Rodney So'oialo and a host of changes has the Wellington-based team under the pump against the unfancied Highlanders. Unhappy coach Colin Cooper has made five changes - including the dumping of Test centres Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith - and is poised for a sixth with All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu bracketed to return from an ankle problem. The Highlanders have major problems of their own following a heart-breaking 33-31 loss to the Brumbies. Inspirational halfback Jimmy Cowan (elbow) and prop Jamie Mackintosh (knee) have been ruled out while winger Fetu'u Vainikolo has been suspended for the match after an early morning incident in a Dunedin bar last weekend.
Tip: Hurricanes by 8
NSW Waratahs v Chiefs at Sydney Football Stadium
Last meeting: Chiefs 20 bt Waratahs 17 in Wellington
New Waratahs coach Chris Hickey's first home game as his side seeks to build on last week's upset win over the Hurricanes and emulate 2008's unbeaten record at the SFS. The `Tahs came through unscathed and have No.8 Wycliff Palu returning to their run-on side. The Chiefs' 19-13 loss to the Crusaders has been compounded by injuries to three players, including superstar skipper Mils Muliaina. They still boast plenty of strikepower through the likes of Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richard Kahui and have an excellent halves pairing in Stephen Donald and Brendon Leonard. The unpredictable New Zealanders have won their last three against NSW and Hickey has emphasised possession, discipline and defence this week.
Tip: Waratahs by 7
Western Force v Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval, Perth
Last meeting: Force 16 bt Cheetahs 15 in Bloemfontein
Want to know whether the Force have really put all that off-field drama behind them? This match should tell. The Cheetahs are usually competitive but they have never won out of South Africa, never beaten the Force and last week lost to arguably the comp's worst side, the Lions, 34-28. They're also without flying winger Jongi Nokwe, who scored four tries against the Wallabies in Johannesburg last year. The Force have made seven changes to the side which capitulated to the Blues 25-19 but, fortunately for them, most are because players are returning from injury. Marquee signing and former Chief Ben Castle is among them, as is journeyman halfback Josh Valentine, while Ryan Cross has overcome a shoulder problem. Fullback Cameron Shepherd, though, is a late scratching with a leg injury.
Tip: Force by 14
SATURDAY
Stormers v Queensland Reds at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Last meeting: Stormers 34 bt Reds 16 in Brisbane
The Reds were the only team not to pick up at least one competition point in the opening round due to their 33-20 loss to the Bulls. But they were far from disgraced in Pretoria, and justifiably felt they didn't receive the rub of the green. Coach Phil Mooney wants a smarter game plus better ball control at the breakdown and less elementary errors to upset the Stormers. Mooney has made three changes with league convert Mark McLinden moving to fullback, in-form Will Genia promoted to halfback and tight-head Laurie Weeks starting in the front-row. The Stormers let a 10-0 lead slip to fall 20-15 to the Sharks in their season-opener in Durban. A neck injury to skipper Jean de Villiers was highly damaging to the Cape Town outfit and they're desperate for him to recover to play the Reds. The Springboks centre must pass a fitness test to start.
Tip: Stormers by 5
Brumbies v Crusaders at Canberra Stadium
Last meeting: Crusaders 34 bt Brumbies 3 in Christchurch
Much has changed since the Brumbies were dusted by 31 points by their arch-rivals, the Crusaders, in last year's opening round. Not only are both teams under new coaches but the Crusaders are without playmaker Dan Carter on top of influential injured trio Richie McCaw, Leon MacDonald and Brad Thorn. The defending champions were also unconvincing in a scrappy 19-13 win over the Chiefs last weekend. The Brumbies showed great spirit to fight back from 19-0 and 31-30 to beat the Highlanders with a last-minute field goal. New coach Andy Friend has kept an unchanged XV but wants an improvement in defence, their physicality and work at the breakdown. Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock relished the move to inside centre and his combination with Adam Ashley-Cooper looms as a key in a midfield battle with Casey Laulala and Tim Bateman.
Tip: Brumbies by 9
SUNDAY
Bulls v Blues at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Last meeting: Blues 23 bt Bulls 21 in Auckland
A severely undermanned Blues will take the field at Loftus Versfeld, where the Bulls have won the last five between the sides at the Pretoria ground. Jay and Ali Williams, Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, Taniela Moa and Benson Stanley are all out as injuries and a mini bay boom hit the Aucklanders. Captain Keven Mealamu is also in doubt with a calf problem. The Blues did enough to see off a poor Force side 25-19 last week but will face a sterner test here. The Bulls have one major problem with talismanic skipper Victor Matfield sidelined by a shoulder injury. The 2007 champions did a professional job, 33-20, on Queensland last week which extended an unbeaten run beginning towards the end of last year's campaign to five. Everything here points to that becoming six.
Tip: Bulls by 20
Sharks v Lions at Absa Stadium, Durban
Last meeting: Sharks 16 bt Lions 8 in Johannesburg
The five-point margin in the Sharks' 20-15 win over the Stormers last week didn't tell the whole story. The Durban side looked the full package as they overcame a 10-0 deficit in front of a hostile crowd of 50,000 at Newlands. And they should have little trouble with the Lions, who they haven't lost to since 2001, especially at home where they were unbeaten last year. Strengthening their cause should be the return of hooker Bismarck du Plessis to the run-on side and prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira from a sternum injury. The Lions got a rare win last week, 34-28 over the Cheetahs, but will find this assignment much tougher.
Tip: Sharks by 25
