Running free ... Genia has looked dangerous since his return from injury. Source: AAP
And so to round 11 of this tasty Super Rugby competition and things are hotting up for those on the cusp of conference qualification. And that's just about everyone bar the Highlanders, Kings, Rebels and Force. Good times.
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Hurricanes v Stormers, FMG Stadium, 5:30pm (EST) Friday FS1HD
The Big Bus, Julian Savea, is parked for this one after some naughty jiggy-pokery that's seen a court appearance for common assault. (What would be an uncommon assault? Poking someone with a yabby pump? Hitting them with a parrot? Biting them with someone's false teeth? Important questions for another time.)
Anyway – he's out, the Bus, and the Hurricanes will miss one of the competition's genuine weapons. His wing spot is taken by debutant Matt Proctor who can expect a bombardment from Stormers bombadiers Joe Pietersen and Gary van Aswegen.
Not helping the Hurricanes is the return of running-man Bryan Habana. He goes like a stampede of 10,000 impala, Bryan Habana.
The Stormers are fresh off a bye; the Canes were run close and annoyed by the annoying Western Force. The bookies have the Hurricanes slight favourites on the back of home ground advantage, this game played deep in Canes Country, Palmerston North.
Who's going to win? Dunno. But on the back of fresh Stormers and no Bus we'll tip the Stormers. Because they are good.
Tip: Stormers by 5.
Reds v Blues, Suncorp Stadium, 7:20pm (EST) Friday FS1HD
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Many years ago there was a very fine and weird Norwegian clay animation cartoon show "The Red and The Blue", which saw two bits of plasticine re-animating and killing each other in various creative ways. And you should check it out on YouTube if you are of a mind, it is funny.
This fixture will not be funny, but rather feature two hungry rugby sides going nail-gun hammer and titanium tongs at a superb rugby stadium on Friday night, and you should sit down with some Doritos and watch it if you're able.
Apart from losing to Western Force in Brisbane – a result which made bookmakers happier than Christians in rapture – the Reds have been hot like the buns. Beaten Chiefs, beaten Bulls. Their draw with the Brums clearly underscored the dominant Australian team – read: one of them.
Star halfback Will Genia has returned to throw beautiful flat passes at his mate Quade Cooper, while making backrowers worry about going out to batter the five-eighth lest Genia run like Genia can. It's best when backrowers aren't thinking too much. And Genia knows it.
James Horwill's return in the second row has staunched the middle of the park for the Reds and won them much ball. After a long lay-off the captain is hungry, and with Rob Simmons, the Reds lineout is the testing material.
The Blues? Top of the Kiwi conference, four-and-three. Piri Weepu's again laid claim as the best No.9 in New Zealand, Rene Ranger has had his pinball moments, while fearsome Frank Halai has stormed down many wings.
Their backrow features Test-class fetcher Luke Braid and a couple of hard-heads in No.6 Steven Luatua and No.8 Peter Saili. But the Reds' six, seven and eight have been brilliant this season, and arguably the competition's best.
And it's but one part of the field where the Reds should win it.
Tip: Reds by 12.
Chiefs v Sharks, Waikato Stadium, 5:30pm (EST) Saturday FS2HD
The Chiefs have been the most interesting and exciting team to watch in Super rugby, and should account for the visitors here.
The Sharks are a fine team, if a little … South African, if one can say that, in terms of head-down, pick-and-drive, field-position-and-points rugby union.
But it's been brutally effective for the most part and though they're third in the SA conference, the Sharks are a mean enough outfit. And five-eighth Pat Lambie can land them like Dan Carter in a Christchurch nightclub.
But the Chiefs, though they went down to hot Waratahs last week, are still favoured by one Kiwi rugby expert (my mate Henry) as the competition's favoured XV.
I like 'em.
Tip: Chiefs by 12.
Watch every match of round 11, starting with the Hurricanes' match against the Stormers from 5.30pm (EST) Friday, Live and in HD on Fox Sports!
Brumbies v Force, Canberra Stadium, 7:30pm (EST) Saturday FS2HD
The Canberra kids drew with the Kings at home, beat up on the Highlanders away, and drew with the Reds in Brisbane. And remain top of the Australian conference and still, arguably, the country of Australia's best Super Rugby XV.
But Western Force are tough-enough hombres. Their backrow is a three-prong SWAT team, ably lead by skipper Matt Hodgson, while No.12 Kyle "Adonis" Godwin has shown some fine feet and signs of skill.
The Force will not be out-muscled and nor will they go away. You can't just up and leave a game when you feel like it, you have to play it out until the final whistle.
The Brums? Jesse Mogg runs long-legged and free, and has a left boot capable of prodigious thumping punts.
Christian Lealiifano continues to do little things well and if Israel Folau is picked in the Wallabies squad before him expect the howls of a thousand banshees from the capital.
But it's been their work at the breakdown and in defence that sees the ACT boys atop the table. Ben Mowen and Stephen Moore are driving plenty that's good in the darker places, while it's like George Smith has never been away.
Tip: Brumbies by 9.
Bulls v Waratahs, Loftus Versfeld, 1am (EST) Sunday FS2HD
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The Tahs' strong win over champion Chiefs last week will help their confidence, a thing that's been building this season for the New South Welshmen.
But the Bulls at Loftus? At altitude? With Bulls fullback Morne Steyn able to kick the ball like a man part-mortar? The Tahs will do it tough at Loftus.
The Tahs' best has been Michael Hooper; the dynamic fetching pocket-rocket-man has annoyed the best in 2013, and looks the Wallabies openside most-likely. But he'll need all his ferretting mongrel to stop being bashed off the ball by the Bulls, a typical South African pack in that uber-human kind of way.
Hopefully the Waratahs continue their edict to run and pass and try to step their way past opponents, even if the Bulls tactics go largely the other way, trying to kick and pressure the back three.
Five-eighth Bernard Foley's been a standout and is pressing for Wallabies gold. Adam Ashley-Cooper showed some nice slice-and-dice against the Chiefs. And Israel Folau is beginning to hurl his considerable – and considerably talented – weight about.
They could sneak a win. But they probably won't.
Tip: Bulls by 10.
Cheetahs vs Kings, Vodacom Park, 3am (EST) Sunday FS2HD
If the gods of rugby are kind – and as David Campese would tell you they are, most of the time – this game will finish 55 to 47, with the Cheetahs running like acrobats from Cirque du Soleil making haste from a bank, and the Kings following suit like copycats who've seen the light. Hallelujah, rugby gods.
The Cheetahs are unchanged from the team that conjured two tries in the slop to beat the Stormers in Durban. They're a fine outfit, and could easily top the SA rankings.
The Kings? Are doing their best. They knocked over Western Force and Melbourne Rebels, and drew with the Brumbies, and have a couple of good players notably backrower and tall running man Jacques Engelbrecht.
But the Cheetahs are going to torch them like a bonfire on cracker night.
Tip: Cheetahs by 18.
Crusaders v Rebels, AMI Stadium, 2pm (EST) Sunday FS2HD
It would be something of a turn-up in the annals of world rugby but … they may as not even play this game. Just have everyone meet for the post-match function, cue the speeches and what-not, give the suit-and-tie crowd their carafes and warm bread rolls, and award the Crusaders four points and a bonus. Thank you linesmen, ballboys, gods of rugby, etc.
Because there's more chance of Ned Kelly, the Tamil Tigers and that plucky band of rebels who took on Darth Vader's imperial forces combining than Melbourne Rebels beating the Crusaders this evening.
And while that's a fairly ordinary and not a little weird analogy or metaphor or something, the Crusaders are $1.04 with most bookmakers, which means they're expected to win about 19 games in 20 between these two teams.
Sounds about right.
Tip: Crusaders by 26.
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