Super Rugby draw 2017
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Followed by a resounding loss in the third round to bring them back down to earth...
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@mariner4life Course it is! Donald swansong and all!
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So, one round robin game and the finals after the Lions tour.
For the Blues, the final round robin game is an away game v the Sunwolves. For the Highlanders a, potentially, easy home game v the Reds. The Chiefs host the Brumbies. And a blockbuster game between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders in Wellington, apart from the location like 2016.
The Blues have one away game in SA (Stormers) and an away game v the Sunwolves, but with two home games and the Lions tour break in-between these two games.
The Chiefs have two games in SA against the Stormers and Cheetahs, with a game v the Force on the way home.
The Hurricanes start with an away game v the Sunwolves in Tokyo, and - not long before the June break - have one game v the Bulls in SA, follwed by a game v the Force on the way home.
The Crusaders have two games in SA v the Cheetahs and Bulls.
The Highlanders have two games in SA against the Cheetahs and the Bulls, with a game v the Force on the way home.
Another thing that draws attention is that the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders have 8 home games, while the Blues and Crusaders only have 7 home games.
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby draw 2017:
> Another thing that draws attention is that the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders have 8 home games, while the Blues and Crusaders only have 7 home games.Wasn't it the other way round this year?
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@Hooroo said in Super Rugby draw 2017:
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby draw 2017:
> Another thing that draws attention is that the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders have 8 home games, while the Blues and Crusaders only have 7 home games.Wasn't it the other way round this year?
That's very well possible; I'll check.
Edit: yes, that's correct, the Blues and Crusaders had 8 home games in 2016, and the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders had 7.
Also interesting: the NZ derbies, with
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the Blues playing the Chiefs and the Highlanders home and away, the Hurricanes only at home, and the Crusaders only away (2016: Hurricanes and Crusaders home and away, Highlanders only at home, and the Chiefs only away).
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the Chiefs playing the Blues and Hurricanes home and away, the Crusaders only at home, and the Highlanders only away (2016: Crusaders and Highlanders home and away, Blues only at home, and the Hurricanes only away).
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the Hurricanes playing the Chiefs and Crusaders home and away, the Highlanders only at home, and the Blues only away (2016: Blues and Highlanders home and away, Chiefs only at home, and the Crusaders only away).
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the Crusaders playing the Hurricanes and Highlanders home and away, the Blues only at home, and the Chiefs only away (2016: Blues and Chiefs home and away, Hurricanes only at home, and the Highlanders only away).
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the Highlanders playing the Blues and Crusaders home and away, the Chiefs only at home, and the Hurricanes only away (2016: Chiefs and Hurricanes home and away, Crusaders only at home, and the Blues only away).
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Seems like a good draw for the Chiefs. A hard first few weeks, followed by a bye, then the Bulls at home, followed by the tour and then the Sunwolves and Reds as welcome home presents.
Interesting to note that the Chiefs and Hurricanes play each other on June 9th. I guess with the other franchises getting their Lions games early, they can fit that game in there and keep both teams match fit for their Lions games (though they'll both probably be missing their ABs for those Lions games).
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Tougher Australian draw for the Blues next season but happy with the how the South African leg has turned out for us by not having to go to altitude.
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@cgrant said in Super Rugby draw 2017:
So the Lions won't play any NZ sides this year. They will finish first and so, earn a semifinal at home and eventually, a final at home.
Maybe. A good chance a NZ side finishes the season 8th. Reckon the Lions would have to play two Kiwi teams - not so easy.
