The Western Force have repeated last year's last season fade, but the three other Australian teams seem to be building up a head of steam.
The NSW Waratahs showed some style in the second half of their victory over the hapless Lions of Johannesburg, while the Brumbies showed guts and tenacity in beating South Africa's strongest team, the Sharks.
And an aggressive and committed Queensland side ended the Western Force's finals hopes and compelling the PNN editorial team to eat humble pie for mocking VP Structures product manager Darren Hoskin, winner of tickets to that game, who picked a Reds victory. You were right, Darren; we were wrong.
This Friday, the ACT Brumbies play the Lions in Canberra, and on Saturday the NSW Waratahs host the Sharks at Sydney Football Stadium.
The Queensland Reds play away this week, travelling to Hamilton, New Zealand to play the Chiefs, and the Western Force have a bye, giving them a fortnight to ponder how badly things have gone wrong for them.
The Super 14's Australian sponsor Investec is offering PNN readers the chance to win tickets to one of the Super 14 games being played in Sydney and Canberra this weekend. To be in to win four A-class reserve tickets to one of these matches, simply write in 30 words or less which game you wish to see, which player will score the first try and which team will win and why.
Please send the answer in an email with the subject heading "PNN Investec Super 14 Competition" to lyndall.richards@investec.com.au before midday (WA time) this Wednesday.
Winners will be announced in Thursday's edition of PetroleumNews.net. See terms and conditions below.
Terms and conditions:
The closing date for the competition is midnight, Perth time, on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.
There will be one winner per match per week. The answer judged as being the best for each match will win four tickets to the relevant game.
The winner/s will be notified within two business days of the closing date of each draw by a representative of Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd. The name of the winner/s will be published on the Petroleum news website at that time.
The judges' decision is final and correspondence about the competition cannot be entered into. There is no alternative to the prize and it is not transferable.
No purchase is necessary. Entering the competition is deemed to be acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd accepts no responsibility for, or liability arising from, participants taking part in the competition.
The winners must be prepared to appear in post-prize draw publicity free of charge.
You may enter each week's competition only once.
Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd's employees are not eligible to enter the competitions.
Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd reserves the right to reasonably amend these terms and conditions or to vary the prize at any time, if necessary without
notice, if in our opinion events or circumstances outside our control require us to do so.
Phone calls may be recorded to confirm your instructions.
The information you supply on this entry form will be used and disclosed only to the extent needed to administer the competition and comply with the law.
Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd will not give, sell or disclose this information to third parties. Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd will only use your email address to send you information pertaining to Investec Super 14, and only if you have indicated that you wish to receive such information.
These rules are governed by the laws of Australia.
