S14 FANTASY LEAGUE: Ready For Round Three

Losses for three of the contenders last week means there’s lots to play for as Super 14 Round Three kicks off.

The Waratahs, Brumbies and Crusaders all suffered setbacks last week – and it will be interesting to see if they can stage comebacks this weekend. The Crusaders welcome back Richie McCaw, but only from the bench this week – he should get a starting spot next week.

High flyers the Bulls will be without star flanker Pierre Spies this weekend as he is being rested – let’s hope this doesn’t come back to bite them in their match against the Waratahs.

Both the Hurricanes and Chiefs had massive wins last weekend, but while the Hurricanes can look forward to the return of Rodney So’oialo, the Chiefs will be without Sione Lauaki, who is out of the game due to a two-week suspension.

For the struggling Western Force, there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the dark tunnel – they’re at home this weekend, and will welcome back Mark Bartholomeusz, and Scott Staniforth.

Crusaders vs Sharks – Friday 8:35am

Crusaders: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read (captain), 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Colin Slade.

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Adrian Jacobs, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Andrew Goode, 22 Riaan Swanepoel.

Stormers vs Brumbies – Friday 7:10pm

Stormers:  15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Juan De Jongh, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Andries Bekker (captain), 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. JC Kritzinger

Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Eusebio Guinazu, 18. Anton van Zyl, 19. Pieter Myburgh, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Lionel Cronje, 22. Sireli Naqelevuki

Brumbies: 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Pat McCabe, 13. Stirling Mortlock, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Francis Fainifo, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Ben Hand, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander

Substitutes: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Justin Harrison, 19. Mitchell Chapman, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. Tyrone Smith

Hurricanes vs Lions – Saturday 8:35am

HURRICANES: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu; 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (capt), 1 John Schwalger. Reserves: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18, Nick Crosswell, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Andre Taylor.

Lions – Earl Rose; Tonderai Chavhanga, Deon Van Rensburg, Doppies La Grange, Wandile Mjekevu; Carlos Spencer, JP Joubert; Todd Clever, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt), George Earl, Franco Van der Merwe, Ross Geldenhuys, Hannes Franklin, Heinke Van der Merwe.

Substitues – Charles Emslie, Kevin Buys, Jacques Lombaard, Robert Kruger, Jacques Coetzee, Walter Venter, Michael Killian.

Reds vs Blues – Saturday 10:40am

Reds: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (captain), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.

Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Tim Walsh, 22 Will Chambers.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 John Afoa.

Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Viliami Ma’afu, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Lachie Munro.

Force vs Chiefs – Saturday 1:05pm

Western Force: 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Sam Wykes, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Pek Cowan, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Tyrrell, 17 Matt Dunning,  18 Richard Stanford,  19 Luke Jones,  20 Chris O’Young,  21 Sam Harris,  22 Dane Haylett-Petty.

Chiefs: 15 Mike Delany, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Romana Graham, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.

Cheetahs vs Highlanders – Saturday 5:05pm

HIGHLANDERS: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (capt); 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 John Hardie, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 James Paterson.

Cheetahs: Riaan Viljoen, Danwel Demas, Lionel Mapoe, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Naas Olivier, Tewis de Bruyn, Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith (captain), Heinrich Brüssow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez.
Substitutes: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Ashley Johnson, Sarel Pretorius, Sias Ebersohn, Hennie Daniller.

Bulls vs Waratahs – Saturday 7:10pm

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever. Stephan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Derick Kuun, Victor Matfield (capt.), Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Substitutes: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Heini Adams, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen/John Mametsa.

Waratahs team: Sosene Anesi; Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell; Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Ben Mowen, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Substitutes: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Will Caldwell, Locky McCaffrey, Josh Holmes, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne