Nick Richards is betting on the Lions to beat Bay of Plenty by 13 points in tonight's game at Rotorua.
The Hastings food technician, whose rugby predictions were the best out of the almost 130,000 people who competed in this year's Virtual Super 12, said the Lions had the advantage
of having spent more time together as a team.
"They'll be a bit too classy for Bay of Plenty," he said.
Mr Richards, 25, noted that the Bay's lineup had changed from last year's Ranfurly Shield-winning side.
"They've even said on the news, 'We haven't practised much'."
Mr Richards found out on Monday that he had won a trip to the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney after picking Super 12 scores more accurately than 127,733 others in the online competition. It was his first attempt at the competition.
He went by the name "bigpoppahump", and shot from 32nd to first after he picked the Cats and Sharks to draw in the last round.
But being a Hurricanes supporter wasn't always easy. "I wouldn't be here if I had followed my heart."
He dropped to third after the semifinals and, anticipating the players ahead of him would choose otherwise, predicted the Crusaders would beat the Waratahs by fewer than 12 points.
He was right (the final score was 35-25), and now plans to take fiancee Lana Pene to Sydney for an early honeymoon.
Nick's Picks
June 4: v Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Lions 13+
June 8: v Taranaki, New Plymouth, Lions 13+
June 11: v NZ Maori, Hamilton, Maori 1-12
June 15: v Wellington, Wellington, Lions 1-12
June 18: v Otago, Dunedin, Lions 13+
June 21: v Southland, Invercargill, Lions 13+
June 25: v All Blacks, Christchurch, ABs 1-12
June 28: v Manawatu, Palmerston North, Lions 13+
July 2: v All Blacks, Wellington, ABs 13+
July 5: v Auckland, Auckland, Lions 1-12
July 9: v All Blacks, Auckland, ABs 13+
