The Relegation Battle
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CM, Auckland and Waikato (that's a big chunk of neighbouring unions) are fighting it out for the wooden spoon and the drop to the Championship. Ta$man also in danger as they have some tough matches ahead and although having a game in hand they have just started their hell week.
Remaining games:
Tas 21/ NHarbour (H), AK (H), CM (A). H 36, L 21, My Pick 24
CM 17 / Manawatu (A), Ta$man (H). Highest 27, Lowest 17 My Pick 25
Ak 17/ Ta$man (A), Canterbury (H). H 27, L 17 My Pick 24
WK 14 NHarbour (H), BOP (A) H 24, L 14, My Pick 19 -
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Just in case a 'who beat who' tie breaker comes into play
CM bt AK
WK bt CM
TAS bt WK
WK bt AKEdit: typos above now corrected
AK and CM yet to play Tas
In the next round a loss for Waikato against NH would make Ta$man safe. If CM bt MAN and WAI lose the CM would also be safe. Ak could also find safety in beating TAS if Waikato lose.
Basically a Waikato loss would make things very difficult for them. Their hope is that NH will be backing up after playing Ta$man midweek.
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@hooroo said in The Relegation Battle:
@Crucial Err Waikato beat Auckland didn't they? The only highlight of the season. In fact I think we thumped them.
Yes, you are correct as far as the win went. Maybe it was just a thumping in relative terms
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I think Ta$man are safe.
Harbour v Mooloo is a huge game for both sides. I like what Harbour have shown this season but they are still a little up and down of late. Waikato can turn it on if they want it enough, but that has been few and far between.
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@tim said in The Relegation Battle:
They may deserve it, but I hope that Auckland don't go down, otherwise Graham Henry won't be able to repeat his redeemer act for the 5th* time by winning next year's premiership.
*Wales, Auckland, Blues, All Blacks.
He could redeem them even more by taking them back to the Premiership!
ACT - Ta$man would need quite a few results to go against us, but the draw doesn't really help us much from here.
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@chris-b said in The Relegation Battle:
@tim said in The Relegation Battle:
They may deserve it, but I hope that Auckland don't go down, otherwise Graham Henry won't be able to repeat his redeemer act for the 5th* time by winning next year's premiership.
*Wales, Auckland, Blues, All Blacks.
He could redeem them even more by taking them back to the Premiership!
ACT - Ta$man would need quite a few results to go against us, but the draw doesn't really help us much from here.
Never in doubt against Harbour
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So a straight shootout between two heavyweights.
Simplest equation - if Auckland beat a Shield-lost stung Canterbury at Eden Park, Waikato go down.
If they don't - Waikato need to either beat BoP or at least grab both bonus points in a losing effort. I suspect BoP will have a double incentive in this game, which they probably need at least two points from to make the play-offs - and the chance to send their neighbours down.
A video for both sets of fans.
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I wonder if any ABs will get a run in the final round - Kaino for one could use the game time.
Auckland deserve to go down - they haven't beaten any Premiership teams this season and lost to Waikato. It's squarely the Auckland Rugby Union's fault for first appointing Nick White & co 2 years ago and then not making a change last year when they were fortunate not to be relegated.
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@kiwimurph Laumape been released for Manawatu's shield challenge on Wednesday, so you'd expect others that came back with him should be released.
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@taniwharugby Probably not Naholo, now NMS is injured.
Maybe not Ardie, who I think has played a lot of minutes this season.
Probably mainly depends on whom they're planning to use vs Oz and who, if anyone, needs some gametime (Kaino would be one).
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If Kaino doesn’t play this week, he suurrrely will be a certainty for Brisbane.....
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@chris-b so Naholo, Laumape, Fifita all yes, Ardie no.
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@taniwharugby That's interesting on Naholo.
I wonder if that's a pointer that they're not planning to use him vs Oz?
Havili at fullback and DMac on the wing? Or ALB on a wing?
