After failing to agree new terms on a contract, it has been today announced that Adriaan Strauss will part ways with the Free State Cheetahs.

The former Bulls’ hooker, who has been with the Cheetahs since 2007, will now look to find a new club, but, given he’s easily one of the best hookers in World Rugby, that shouldn’t be a problem.

‘Despite every effort, the Free State Cheetahs(Pty) Ltd has regretfully been unable to come to terms with Adriaan Strauss on the renewal of his contract.

Initial negotiations over financial terms were met. However, other factors precluded the Free State Cheetahs from coming to an agreement with the player.

We would like to acknowledge his tremendous service to Free State Cheetahs rugby and wish him the very best in his future endeavours’ read a statement from the Cheetahs Board of Directors.

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The Highlanders and Crusaders will be battling over the top of the New Zealand conference and the Sharks hoping to jag second place, there’s still plenty to play for.

Crusaders Vs. Highlanders

Depending on results between the Stormers v Sharks, a win should be enough to secure second place and a home semi-final for the Crusaders. The Highlanders need a bonus point win to have any hope at all of taking second overall and top place in the Kiwi conference.

The winner of this game should have next week off before hosting a sudden death play-off at home. Both teams are without key players, with All Blacks fullback Ben Smith still laid low by an infected leg which had him on a drip in a Sydney hospital for three days after Sunday’s loss to the Waratahs. The Crusaders will also be without their skipper, with Richie McCaw given another week to recover from a rib injury suffered in last month’s Test series against England.

The Crusaders are one of the form teams at the moment and will be difficult to beat at home, where as the Highlander’s away form has been poor, recent heavy defeats at the hands of the Reds in Brisbane and the Tahs in Sydney does not fill us with confidence when it comes to picking a winner in today’s match.

Because of this we’re tipping the Crusaders to win by 14.

Reds Vs. Waratahs

The Tahs have already locked up the minor premiership, and the Reds have no hope of making the finals. Either way, no team is taking is as a dead rubber. As much as the Brumbies fans try to argue it, this is still the biggest rivalry in Australian rugby with 131 years of history behind the fixture.

As a sign of how seriously both sides take this match, even with top place on the table sewn up, the Waratahs said they will not rest any players for the clash. However, injury got in the way of those plans with Israel Folau out with a corked thigh.

The Reds will be keen to keep their record against the Tahs (one loss in the last four years) where as the Sydney siders will want to keep their momentum up leading into their home semi in a fortnight with their seventh straight win.

The Tahs will be keen to dispel the tag that they’re nothing more than Israel Folau with 14 others on the field, having only won, one of three games without him this year and lost just two out of 11 with him.

Despite a loss last week to the Force, the Reds have still found a rare patch of form for themselves at the back end of this season, and playing at home in their last match of the season will no doubt give them a boost. However, even without Folau, the Tahs still have an extremely strong backline, because of this we’re tipping the Tahs by 8.

Lions Vs. Cheetahs

One for only the die hard rugby fans. Second last plays third last, however the pressure of avoiding the wooden spoon is off with Rebels getting thrashed by the Bulls yesterday.

However, motivation won’t be in short supply, the new Super Rugby format with 18 teams doesn’t come into effect until 2016, so the team with the conference wooden-spoon in their pot will end up in a promotion/relegation match against the Kings later this year.

The Lions surged late to down the lowly Rebels last week, while the Cheetahs lifted after the return of their Springboks to stun the conference-topping Sharks. The Lions have won five of their seven home games this year – only losing to the conference-leading Crusaders and Sharks – and that fact alone should help them scramble over the line.

Because of this, we’re tipping the Lions to get there on the boot of Jantjies and Boshoff, Lions by 6.

 Stormers Vs. Sharks

After a blazing start to the season, the Sharks have gone of the boil losing their last two games to surrender the competition lead.

The Jake White coached team is guaranteed play-off action and can still re-take second place, but need to realistically win with a bonus point, while hoping the Crusaders fall short of the same feat at home to the Highlanders to nab a home semi-final and next week off.

They shouldn’t expect any South African favours, with the Stormers finding a purple patch of form at the back end of the season, running high on a four match winning streak, which includes beating the Sharks in Durban just before the June international break.

With the Sharks coming off the boil, and the Stormers in red hot form, we think this game will be extremely close. I’m tipping the Stormers at home by 3.

What’s your predictions?

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Crusaders v Blues

The Crusaders have well and truly wheeled out the heavy artillery for what looms as another blockbuster Kiwi derby.

The Cantabs are never more menacing than when they “welcome” their arch-rivals to Christchurch and have returned Dan Carter, Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Israel Dagg and Nemani Nadolo to their starting side for the occasion.

The Blues, coming off a six-try blitz of the Force, have put fit-again fullback Charles Piutau on the wing, with the irrepressible Lolagi Visinia holding on to the No.15 jersey after a dominant performance against the Force.

Both sides have knocked over an average of almost 30 points a game this season, and Friday night’s match could well see a basketball score with both sides treating the match as an eliminator. It’s a crucial match for both teams as a loss will end the Blues’ reignited finals hopes while the Crusaders must win to stay in the hunt for a top-two finish.

The Crusaders at home have been almost unstoppable this season, only racking up a loss to the Sharks at home. The Blues away form has been inconsistent to put it gently, the Aucklanders have only picked up one away win in 2014, coming last week at the expense of the Force.

Because of this we’re tipping the Crusaders to get the win in a high scoring, entertaining encounter. ‘Saders by 12.

Force v Reds

There will be of emotion surrounding this match as it looks likely this will be the Honey Badgers’ last home Super Rugby game for a while. We can expect a big crowd to turn out to farewell one of the most loved in the west.

While the Reds have little to play for, it’s fair to say they will relish the chance to play the role of spoilers in this one. The Force are in must-win territory when they host the Reds.

The Force have become Queensland’s bogey side by upsetting them with niggle and muscle at the breakdown for three upset wins and a draw from their last four meetings. Now with the WA side needing a win to stay in the finals hunt, the Reds have ramped up the pressure.

Queensland have six regular starting backs on the sidelines but their pack continues to thrive in the set-pieces. The loss of prop Greg Holmes is a blow, as well as defensive linchpin Ant Fainga’a. The Force will miss big-kicking five-eighth Sias Ebersohn and star halfback Alby Mathewson but will have Honey Badger Nick Cummins back.

There is no way the Force could possibly play as poor as they did last week and this is a must win for the Force to keep their title hopes alive.

Because of that, we’re tipping the Force in a close one. Force by 4.

Stormers v Bulls

The Stormers haven’t played the most enterprising style of rugby in 2014, but they do offer a miserly defence, and will make life hard for the visiting Bulls.

The side from Pretoria will need to build off the back of their impressive set-piece, and chip away at the scoreboard if they are to take home the points.

The Stormers will wish the competition had started two months later. Dead last after nine rounds, the injury-hit Cape Town outfit have won five of their last seven, including a last-start upset of the Sharks. They’re still missing skipper Jean de Villiers but have star duo Schalk Burger and Gio Aplon back. The kick-happy Bulls stuffed their finals chances with their upset loss to the Lions.

This game is one for the purists, the Bulls are yet to win away from Pretoria this year, which has ultimately been their downfall, because of that, we expect the Stormers to add to the Bulls’ heart-ache.

We tip the Stormers by 8.

Cheetahs v Sharks

The Sharks dropped the ball in their loss to the Stormers before the June break. It cost them their spot at the top. The Sharks must beat the Cheetahs to keep the pressure on the Waratahs in the race for top spot on the ladder.

Jake White knows all too well the importance of finishing in the top two. His 2013 Brumbies lost the grand final after tripping up in the last round to finish third. He’ll have his eyes set on the cellar-dweller Cheetahs for a juicy five points.

It won’t be easy, however, with the Cheetahs at home and bringing back eight Springboks, including Willie le Roux, Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen.

The Cheetahs have a potent attacks but a leeky defense, because of that we expect the Sharks to come away with the points.

We tip the Sharks by 15.

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A late 54-metre drop goal and a 22-point haul to Johan Goosen lifted the Cheetahs to a 27-21 win in Bloemfontein, inflicting the Brumbies’ fourth loss of the season and a telling blow in the race to the play-offs.

Watch the drop goal here:

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That Conrad Smith has to be up there as a contender for try of the season, absolute magic from the Hurricans.

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