2018 Super Rugby Finals
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Round 19 results:
Chiefs 28 - 24 Hurricanes
Reds 48 - 27 Sunwolves
Highlanders 43 - 37 Rebels
Crusaders 54 - 17 Blues
Waratahs 31 - 40 Brumbies
Lions 38 - 12 Bulls
Sharks 20 - 10 JaguaresFinal points tables after the round robin:
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Quarter Finals:
The Highlanders will be happy. No significant travel in the QF. Still have to go to SA or Arg if they win though. Obviously, the Sharks will be a more difficult opponent for the Crusaders than the Rebels, but the Sharks have the travel.
Kick-off times and dates aren't available yet, but IIRC, the Canes v Chiefs match will be on Friday, and all other QFs on Saturday (local times).
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@stargazer Pretty good outcome for the Highlanders - though really, their best chance of winning the whole thing was probably to throw the game against the Rebels and hope to get a crack at the Crusaders first up, with a guaranteed in NZ semifinal if they won that - before a final away somewhere.
If the Highlanders and Jags both win then that semi would surely be in Dunedin, since the Highlanders are the higher ranked team.
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The Canes and Chiefs will be cheering for the Sharks to get a home SF.
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@bovidae Without doubt the winners of that game will be - and pretty much anyone else with a live ticket to the trophy.
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Glad the Sharks made it. While theyve been inconsistent - their young core have looked really classy at times - especially against NZ teams so the Crusaders v Sharks should be interesting.
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@kiwimurph I'm glad of the following;
- The four NZ teams have no significant travel
- Two NZ teams host QFs
- The best 8 teams made it anyway, despite the rigged conference system
I always maintained the Aus teams did not deserve a 2nd team in the playoffs the way they have played this season, whilst crediting the Sharks with some good performances, especially in NZ
Shame the Chiefs couldn't have made it a home QF, i go back to that loss against the Jags, that really hurt, and came back to bite them in the end. -
Impressive result from the Chiefs as most pundits were picking them to be bottom of the NZ teams, even below the Blues... and I think those predictions came even before they got decimated with injuries.
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So it looks as though the Chiefs have got this quite comfortably as the guaranteed home final after sweeping past the Crusaders in the Semi Final. I'm surprised that the Highlanders are helping us achieve this by beating the Aussies and then the South Africans to join us there but alas, that travel factor will be a trip too far when we turn them upside down in the final.
Somebody start planning the parade!
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I'm pleased the Sharks scraped in ahead of the Rebels because they're the better side, a more traditional rival (I quite like the symmetry of a repeat of our '98 semi) and this makes for a more interesting game to go to this Saturday than it might have otherwise been. For mine, a loss is a very real possibility whereas the Rebels would have been fodder. I can't forget the home game against the Sharks 2-3 years ago when they were down to 14 men for a large part of it and 13 men for ten minutes, and they still beat us.
Sanzaar have changed the finals system this year though to group teams on one side of the finals draw or the other - in order to limit short-notice travel issues apparently - rather than basing the Semi Finals on ranking. This means the Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs and Canes are on one side of the draw as 1, 4, 5 and 8 but in reality it's the top three sides (on points) and #8. Tough on all of them really.
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@milk said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Impressive result from the Chiefs as most pundits were picking them to be bottom of the NZ teams, even below the Blues... and I think those predictions came even before they got decimated with injuries.
Yeah - credit to Cooper - he's done much better than I thought he would.
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Highlanders will fucking murder the Tahs, just like last time they were in Sydney for a finals game.
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@nta said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Highlanders will fucking murder the Tahs, just like last time they were in Sydney for a finals game.
Based on the performance against the Bumbies, I fear you're correct.
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nb. The Blues beat both the Waratahs and Lions away.
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@tim said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
nb. The Blues beat both the Waratahs and Lions away.
Really? That doesn't sound right....
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Highlanders haven't been super convincing since the June break themselves - losing 2 out of 3 and conceding 45, 45 and 37 points in the 3 games.
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Yep the Rebels were missing cattle as well, but the Highlanders were at home and only just got through
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Just a further thought on the 'tweaked' finals format this year. Sanzaar would have fairly comfortably known that NZ sides were likely to finish in 1st, fourth and fifth positions on the conference ladder. Therefore it's hard not to consider the possibility that they've amended the format this year at least in part to limit the possibility of an all-NZ final and therefore broaden the international appeal of the competition showpiece. To the absolute detriment of the 'integrity' of the competition.
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@shark said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Just a further thought on the 'tweaked' finals format this year. Sanzaar would have fairly comfortably known that NZ sides were likely to finish in 1st, fourth and fifth positions on the conference ladder. Therefore it's hard not to consider the possibility that they've amended the format this year at least in part to limit the possibility of an all-NZ final and therefore broaden the international appeal of the competition showpiece. To the absolute detriment of the 'integrity' of the competition.
That is some serious conspiracy theory shit
NZ has the deck stacked against them to finish first in the comp. So many good local teams.
Alternatively, they are trying to push that this is a genuine ladder (It's not -- the conference winners get priority), and therefore give the top qualifier the chance to play no 4 rather than 2 or 3.
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@shark said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Just a further thought on the 'tweaked' finals format this year. Sanzaar would have fairly comfortably known that NZ sides were likely to finish in 1st, fourth and fifth positions on the conference ladder. Therefore it's hard not to consider the possibility that they've amended the format this year at least in part to limit the possibility of an all-NZ final and therefore broaden the international appeal of the competition showpiece. To the absolute detriment of the 'integrity' of the competition.
This was the 2017 Finals format:
The result of that format, with the current standings and conferences, would have been the same QFs and SFs as with the 2018 format:
QF:
1 Crusaders v 8 Sharks
2 Lions v 7 Jaguares
3 Waratahs v 6 Highlanders
4 Hurricanes v 5 ChiefsSF1 (CRU/SHA) v QF4 (HUR/CHI)
SF2 (LIO/JAG) v SF2 (WAR/HIG)So the finals format hasn't been tweaked, just renumbered.
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@shark said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Just a further thought on the 'tweaked' finals format this year. Sanzaar would have fairly comfortably known that NZ sides were likely to finish in 1st, fourth and fifth positions on the conference ladder. Therefore it's hard not to consider the possibility that they've amended the format this year at least in part to limit the possibility of an all-NZ final and therefore broaden the international appeal of the competition showpiece. To the absolute detriment of the 'integrity' of the competition.
Are you sure this is a change for this year? I'm sure that this debate has come up in previous years and the same justification (travel uncertainty) has been given. Pretty sure the option was decided by the teams too, not sanzaar.
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I think it's new this year. IF it was decided or agreed to by the teams, then I won't complain.
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@shadowtrooper said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@kiwimurph I'm glad of the following;
- The four NZ teams have no significant travel
- Two NZ teams host QFs
- The best 8 teams made it anyway, despite the rigged conference system
I always maintained the Aus teams did not deserve a 2nd team in the playoffs the way they have played this season, whilst crediting the Sharks with some good performances, especially in NZ
Shame the Chiefs couldn't have made it a home QF, i go back to that loss against the Jags, that really hurt, and came back to bite them in the end.I thought the Rebels were a touch unlucky not to make it. When fit they were pretty impressive. They have wafer thin depth though and haven’t been able to cover for injuries like other teams.
Really pleased to see Sharks and Jags get in as I’ve enjoyed watching those teams.
As an aside I think this has been the best season in terms of the play and competitiveness since the conference system format began.
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@act-crusader As it worked out if Rebels had kicked the penalty after the siren vs the Jags to get the draw they would have made the playoffs.
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@kiwimurph yeah it’s hard not to look at those moments now and ask what if.
My QF picks:
Hurricane
Crusaders
Highlanders
Jaguares -
@act-crusader All 4 quarterfinals look interesting - Chiefs have a forward pack to really worry the Canes, Sharks have yet to play the Crusaders and look good v nz teams, Tahs are coming off a shocking loss but Highlanders have been leaking a heap of points lately themselves and Jaguares have lost their momentum from before June but don't have to travel as they are already in SA.
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@act-crusader you'll get $7.80 for a head to head multi on that.
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Question - are the Jaguares the first "expansion" team to make the play-offs or did someone like the Cheetahs do it one year?
Pretty sure they'll at least be the first expansion team to win a play-off game if they happen to tip over the Lions. I don't think they will, though.
To counter ACT I'm going to go: Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs, Lions.
I reckon the home teams will be hard to beat, but the Canes will be worried!
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@chris-b said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
Question - are the Jaguares the first "expansion" team to make the play-offs or did someone like the Cheetahs do it one year?
Pretty sure they'll at least be the first expansion team to win a play-off game if they happen to tip over the Lions. I don't think they will, though.
To counter ACT I'm going to go: Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs, Lions.
I reckon the home teams will be hard to beat, but the Canes will be worried!
Cheetahs made the playoffs in 2013.
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@kiwimurph yeah it’s hard not to look at those moments now and ask what if.
My QF picks:
Hurricane
Crusaders
Highlanders
JaguaresTwo for two so far.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
starting to get vaguely excited for the playoffs, don't know who the Blues drew to play in first round yet, don't tell me though, I'll just tune in tomorrow afternoon and let it be a surprise!
I’m just quoting this one so I know not to forget it in 2023 when they finally get rid of Tana and make the playoffs again.
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@kiwimurph yeah it’s hard not to look at those moments now and ask what if.
My QF picks:
Hurricane
Crusaders
Highlanders
JaguaresTwo for two so far.
Next two will be a test
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@kiwimurph yeah it’s hard not to look at those moments now and ask what if.
My QF picks:
Hurricane
Crusaders
Highlanders
JaguaresTwo for two so far.
We should have just tipped all the home teams.
In hindsight, me tipping against the Canes with Jacko in charge of things was madness - even if he is an ex-Chief.
Under pressure he was always bound to revert to what he knows!
Next round I'm tipping the Crusaders and the Lions.
I can't see the Tahs traveling to SA and winning at altitude and I can't see the Canes doing that either.
So, it is my belief that all right thinking NZers should be supporting the Crusaders on Saturday!
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@chris-b said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
So, it is my belief that all right thinking NZers should be supporting the Crusaders on Saturday!
One of the few good things to come out of the Highlanders loss is no real travel for some key ABs. Everyone has been a short flight from home.
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@chris-b said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@kiwimurph yeah it’s hard not to look at those moments now and ask what if.
My QF picks:
Hurricane
Crusaders
Highlanders
JaguaresTwo for two so far.
We should have just tipped all the home teams.
In hindsight, me tipping against the Canes with Jacko in charge of things was madness - even if he is an ex-Chief.
Under pressure he was always bound to revert to what he knows!
Next round I'm tipping the Crusaders and the Lions.
I can't see the Tahs traveling to SA and winning at altitude and I can't see the Canes doing that either.
So, it is my belief that all right thinking NZers should be supporting the Crusaders on Saturday!
If the Crusaders beat the Canes this weekend, I would love to play the Tahs in the GF and get some payback from the Joubert debacle in Sydney a few years ago....
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so if the HUrricanes get up and beat the Crusaders, do they host the final having more points than the other 2 teams?
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@taniwharugby said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
so if the HUrricanes get up and beat the Crusaders, do they host the final having more points than the other 2 teams?
Nope they're 4th on the table, so will travel whomever of the Lions and Tahs wins.
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@machpants said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
@taniwharugby said in 2018 Super Rugby Finals:
so if the HUrricanes get up and beat the Crusaders, do they host the final having more points than the other 2 teams?
Nope they're 4th on the table, so will travel whomever of the Lions and Tahs wins.
I wish I could 'unlike' this.
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Yeah I'm a Canes supporter but will not be gutted if the Saders win, cos I'm a bigger NZ Rugby supporter than Canes.
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@machpants ah ok, I thought there had been changes to the finals to make them 'fairer'.
For my mind, after the quarters, it should have been reshuffled to log tables, so that would mean Crusaders-Tahs
Canes-Lions.
