SupeRugby Round 8 Prejudgement:

This weeks games will define the season for many of the teams. A win for the Reds, Stormers or Crusaders will almost secure a play off place, wins for the Sharks and Highlanders puts them back into the knock out wild card qualification. A loss for the Brumbies or Hurricanes and their season would be pretty much over.

Highlanders v Cheetahs (Carisbrook, Dunedin)
The Cheetahs are hopefully going to be concentrating on the game and not coming home! It's the South Africans last touring game before they head home. SupeRugby Round 8 kicks off with the Highlanders as the favorites for this game, with the opportunity to move higher up the ladder into Wild Card Territory.
PreJudgement: Highlanders by 12

Crusaders v Bulls (Fraser Park, Timaru)
Game of the weekend number 1 and with Dan Carter sitting out with a hamstring injury, Matt Berquist gets a start at flyhalf for probably the most exciting backline ever fielded. The Bulls will fancy their chances against the Crusaders with Carter not available as well as coming off a win last week. Morne Steyn didn't win too many fans with his drop kicks last week but as boring as it is to watch, it wins games and adds three points.
PreJudgement: Crusaders by 9

Brumbies v Hurricanes (Canberra Stadium, Canberra)
Wow, this could go one of two ways, riddled with errors, bad kicking and poor hands or it could be the game of the season. Both teams need a win (more than oxygen right now) and with the talent they both have available to them lets hope we are in for a quality 80 minutes. I think The Hurricanes might find the trip too much to deal with as the Australian capital is a tough place to visit.
PreJudgement: Brumbies by 12

Force v Waratahs (Perth Oval, Perth)
James O'Connor has been moved to fullback for this encounter to give Willie Ripia his first start at flyhalf this season. Ex Force centre and wing Ryan Cross has hit out at his old team mates for not closing out games. I am sure this will add some extra niggle to Saturdays game.
PreJudgement: Waratahs by 7

Stormers v Reds (Newlands, Cape Town)
Game of the weekend number 2. The build up to this game has been awesome. Everyone is wondering which backline is going to come out winners come the final whistle. Quade Cooper v Peter Grant , Digby Ioane v Bryan Habana , Duane Vermeulen v Scott Higginbotham. Just looking at those match ups should excite you as a rugby supporter. Such a tough game to call.
PreJudgement: do I have to say something.... Stormers by 5

Sharks v Lions (Kings Park, Durban)
A number of changes for the Sharks this week sees John Smit and Eugene van Staden starting at prop with Gerhard Mostert replacing the injured Hargreaves. This has opened the door for Ross Skeate's return to SupeRugby after a two year stint at French side Toulon. The Lions will be looking to kick the Sharks while they are down but they have had their fair share of problems with many missed kicks. The Sharks are coming off three losses on the trot but I can assure you that they will not settle for anything less than a bonus point win.
PreJudgement: Sharks by 15