Midway through the SR season

[Duluth]

2019 Standings

	Matches	Wins	Points
Crusaders	9	7	34
Hurricanes	8	5	23
Blues	8	4	20
Chiefs	8	3	16
Highlanders	8	2	14

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2018 Standings halfway through the season

Here's last years standings at a similar stage (slightly less games played)

	Matches	Wins	Points
Crusaders	8	6	29
Hurricanes	7	6	27
Chiefs	8	6	26
Highlanders	7	5	24
Blues	8	2	12

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No real surprises in the comparison:

Crusaders about where they were last year
Hurricanes a bit worse
Chiefs and Highlanders a few games down on last year
Blues doubled the wins at the same stage

In total the Blues won 4 games last year and finished on 22 points. Almost where they are right now.

[Duluth]

Remaining Matches

(Home team first, NZ matches in bold)

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Crusaders

26 Apr Crusaders v Lions
03 May Crusaders v Sharks
11 May Bulls v Crusaders
19 May Stormers v Crusaders
25 May Crusaders v Blues
01 Jun Chiefs v Crusaders
08 Jun Crusaders v Rebels

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Hurricanes

19 Apr Sunwolves v Hurricanes
27 Apr Hurricanes v Chiefs
04 May Hurricanes v Rebels
10 May Blues v Hurricanes
17 May Hurricanes v Jaguares
02 Jun Sharks v Hurricanes
09 Jun Lions v Hurricanes
15 Jun Hurricanes v Blues

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Blues

20 Apr Highlanders v Blues
04 May Brumbies v Blues
10 May Blues v Hurricanes
18 May Blues v Chiefs
25 May Crusaders v Blues
31 May Blues v Bulls
07 Jun Reds v Blues
15 Jun Hurricanes v Blues

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Chiefs

19 Apr Chiefs v Lions
27 Apr Hurricanes v Chiefs
04 May Highlanders v Chiefs
11 May Chiefs v Sharks
18 May Blues v Chiefs
24 May Chiefs v Reds
01 Jun Chiefs v Crusaders
14 Jun Rebels v Chiefs

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Highlanders

20 Apr Highlanders v Blues
26 Apr Sunwolves v Highlanders
04 May Highlanders v Chiefs
11 May Highlanders v Jaguares
19 May Lions v Highlanders
26 May Stormers v Highlanders
07 Jun Highlanders v Bulls
14 Jun Highlanders v Waratahs

[Duluth]

So assuming the NZ games are the hardest.. the Highlanders have the best run, the Blues the worst. The Chiefs is not easy either

The bottom three should be very close. Although, that might depend on how well the Highlanders go in SA

[Stargazer]

Also useful to note that the Chiefs v Crusaders game isn't a real home game for the Chiefs. It will be played in Fiji again.

[nzzp]

@Duluth thanks for that.

Brutal run home for the Blues I reckon!

[Cyclops]

Crusaders and Hurricanes both yet to travel to the Republic, so although they've got less derby games they have a bigger travel factor.

[Canes4life]

@Cyclops thankfully the Lions aren't as good as they have been in the last few seasons, will make the trip slightly less daunting.

[taniwharugby]

@Canes4life All the saffa sides are all over the shop this year.

[Duluth]

Also it's worth noting what the cut off for the playoffs was in 2018

The Sharks squeezed into 8th spot with 36 points (7 wins)

[dogmeat]

@Duluth so the Crusaders should make it then

Blues could win all bat a couple of their remaining games but just as easily could lose all bar a couple. Which is vast improvement on last year. I think they've actually got a slightly easier run in than the Chiefs apart from the significant difference of the Canes Home and Away.

[Chris B.]

@dogmeat said in Midway through the SR season:

@Duluth so the Crusaders should make it then

Blues could win all bat a couple of their remaining games but just as easily could lose all bar a couple. Which is vast improvement on last year. I think they've actually got a slightly easier run in than the Chiefs apart from the significant difference of the Canes Home and Away.

I think the Canes are a better match-up for the Blues than the Chiefs. Blues have a chance to dominate the Canes at set pieces.