NZ Conference 2020 Finishing order
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Chiefs
Crusaders
Canes
Blues
Highlanders -
Crusaders
Canes
Chiefs
Highlanders
BluesCanes and Chiefs could easily be swapped around.
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@Yeetyahh @sparky would love to know your reasoning by having the Canes last in the conference?
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@Canes4life Player roster looks a bit shit this year. Failure to sign a 1st 5 to replace BB. Ardie injured.
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@sparky man for man the Canes look far stronger than both the Highlanders and Blues. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding but the Canes still have too much firepower across the board to fall behind those two teams IMO.
I just can't take the Blues seriously when they still have Parsons at hooker.
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- As @sparky said, no worthy first five.
- Average tight 5 barring Coles (as long as he can keep disciplined), Lomax and possibly Scrafton but chances are he's too tall to play lock at the Canes.
- Ardie injured.
- New coach at the last minute
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Iām still not buying the fact that they are going to be worse than the Blues who apart from BB are a rabble when push comes to shove, and the Highlanders who have had a complete clean out of their roster.
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@Yeetyaah Jason Holland may be the new head coach, but he has been assistant coach for a few years. It's not like he's an outsider just coming in. He knows the Canes inside out. I'm not buying that as a reason/excuse/etc for the Canes (possibly) not performing.
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Crusaders
Hurricanes
Chiefs
Blues
HighlandersNot confident that Cruden will be the same player, nor that he will be available for most games. Don't rate Weber. A couple of forward injuries and the Chiefs could really struggle.
Blues need a quality halfback.
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I'm quite surprised at some of the predictions surrounding the Blues and Canes.
These are the two teams I really expect to perform differently to their last few years.
Blues have struggled hugely in need of a quality 10. They now have one. I expect that alone to add confidence and less occasions where they go off the reservation searching for a win and coming up short. The win/loss record should end up much better.
Canes have lost their two best players by some margin. They now have a very average looking 10 which makes them the team struggling to utilise the quality in the backs. Ardie was the guy that would step up and drag the team to a victory when they weren't playing well. I expect a worse win/loss record for them. -
@Crucial I swapped Blues and Hurricanes a few times before posting. In the end, I factored in - among other things - that BB only starts in April and, last year, Nonu had quite a big impact and he's not there anymore. On top of that, I've my doubts about moving Rieko from wing to midfield, if that's indeed going to happen.
I expect there won't be much between the Blues and Canes though.
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@Stargazer said in NZ Conference 2020 Finishing order:
@Crucial I swapped Blues and Hurricanes a few times before posting. In the end, I factored in - among other things - that BB only starts in April and, last year, Nonu had quite a big impact and he's not there anymore. On top of that, I've my doubts about moving Rieko from wing to midfield, if that's indeed going to happen.
I expect there won't be much between the Blues and Canes though.
Unlike last year.
BTW you haven't factored in CJ as Canes defence coach without any previous record. That could also be interesting. Scoff all you like at Tana but his defensive stats last year stand up very well across the comp.
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@Crucial said in NZ Conference 2020 Finishing order:
I'm quite surprised at some of the predictions surrounding the Blues and Canes.
These are the two teams I really expect to perform differently to their last few years.
Blues have struggled hugely in need of a quality 10. They now have one. I expect that alone to add confidence and less occasions where they go off the reservation searching for a win and coming up short. The win/loss record should end up much better.
Canes have lost their two best players by some margin. They now have a very average looking 10 which makes them the team struggling to utilise the quality in the backs. Ardie was the guy that would step up and drag the team to a victory when they weren't playing well. I expect a worse win/loss record for them.People have over-rated the Blues on these predictions for the last 7 years. People have just lost any sense of belief (although you are probably right).
