Super Rugby predictions
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Alright, make your predictions
Went for 'breakthrough player' instead of 'rookie of the year'. It's too hard to work out who the rookies are
Players
Most Tries - Rieko Ioane
Yes, a boring selection. But I'm looking forward to see outside a (hopefully) functioning midfieldBreakthrough Season - Salesi Rayasi
Pushes Lam out of the side when given a chance.Best NZ player - Matt Todd
Looking forward to seeing his reaction to Ardie's formBest Aus Conference Player - Karmichael Hunt
I thought he was in great form before he got himself in trouble. RWC year, last chance to make an impact in rugby.. I think he reacts well to the pressure this time.Best SA Conference Player - Siya Kolisi
Continues on from last year
Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
The tight five makes it hard to pick against them for form across a seasonAUS Conference - Waratahs
Some good recruits. Mostly picking them by defaultSA Conference - Stormers
The obvious pick is the Lions but I think the Stormers will edge them out. Willemse to have a big year.Wooden Spoon - Reds
Not the Sunwolves. The Reds squad looks terribleOverall Winner - Crusaders
Booo! Only see them losing if some players start looking ahead to that other competition.
Other Stuff
Blues still below par but improving. MacDonald to concentrate on building a team for next year in second half of the season.
TJ Faiane to have an impact this year. Great NPC form, apparently that continued into the pre-season. All the talk has been about SBW and Nonu but TJ might force his way into the side ahead of the old men.
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Players
Most Tries - George Bridge
Another boring selection, but looking at that stacked Crusaders squad I will be surprised if he doesn't break the season try-scoring record.Breakthrough Season - Will Jordan
He is my Nehe Milner Skudder of 2015. I think he will take his opportunity with open arms and stake a claim for World Cup selection.Best NZ player - Dane Coles
I think he will be itching to play and for this reason, he will be stuck into everything. Knowing Colesey, he won't settle for being second fiddle to Codie Taylor in the A.Bs so look for him to put his best foot forward.Best Aus Conference Player - Jack Maddocks
A young player who has now gained the necessary experience to really dominate at Super level.Best SA Conference Player - Malcolm Marx
The guy is an animal.Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
Not much more to say really, they are stacked.AUS Conference - Rebels
The will Genia-Cooper combo will roll back the clock and guide their team into the playoffs.SA Conference - Sharks
I'm picking the Sharks to improve from some good performances last year to snatch the S.A conference.Wooden Spoon - Sunwolves
They look very mediocre.Overall Winner - Crusaders
It hurts to say but the Crusaders will be tough to beat.
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4 x players I reckon will who will make people stand up and take notice are Paripari Parkinson ;Tom Robinson;Dalton Papalii and Jack Debreczeni.
Parkinson I reckon if there’s any injuries to either Retalick or Whitelock comes into the equation as I don’t see another out and out middle of the lineout option..
Thought he was outstanding on the Maori tour last year,his carrying ability being a real feature
Just hoping he comes into the new season with a bit more size.Tom Robinson if he gets an opportunity at super level he will take it with both hands,from what I understand has been close to the best player in both preseason games brings a whole lot of physical presence and has a massive engine,extremely fit and has added size during the off-season .
I am picking Dalton Papalii will have a massive season,saw a sample of who good this kid could be last year and can only see him getting better.
Love the way this guy plays,very aggressive wether in defence or when carrying .I know there’s a few people out there who will think I am on drugs,but one player who I believe has made the best decision of his life to come and play in NZ is Jack Debreczeni..
Speaking to Jack towards the end of last season,coming to NZ improved his game out of site given the opportunity to play with more freedom he was close to Northlands best player come seasons end..
Has a boot that betters any of the first fives in the NZ comp,and a goal kicking percentage that ended up at 88% at Mitre 10 Cup level,scored over 100 points for the season..
Runs at the line very well,and 6’3 is a real handful and more importantly identifies space really well.
Debreczeni will be a very tidy acquisition to the chiefs and will win games for them with his kicking alone.If he has a big season with the chiefs,and like most things I stand to be corrected..It can’t be any worse than Foley who runs the cutter for the Aussie .
On the overall winner,hard to go past the Saders,but I have a sneaky suspicion the Blues given they seem to have better depth ,a first five that can manage a game and more importantly a forward coach that I actually rate could be right there at the end.
Best Aussie teams..Tahs & Rebels
Best Of Africa Stormers and Sharks.zx
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@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby predictions:
On the overall winner,hard to go past the Saders,but I have a sneaky suspicion the Blues given they seem to have better depth ,a first five that can manage a game and more importantly a forward coach that I actually rate could be right there at the end.
Good post - but even as a Blues optimist, the Saders tight 5 look championship winning.
Blues battle is to beat the highlanders, possibly the chiefs, and canes/saders if possible. If we win 4/8 NZ derbies, I'm happy.
Hoping Will Jordan and Dalton Papali'i have dominant seasons - along with A Ioane of course
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@nzzp 4? A good start is 1
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@Yeahtheboys said in Super Rugby predictions:
@nzzp 4? A good start is 1
Yep, but 4 would make me happy
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NZ Conference : Crusaders
SA Conference : Jaguares
Aus Conference : who cares ?
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Most Tries - George Bridge
Breakthrough Season - Dalton Papali'i
Best NZ player - BBBR
Best Aus Conference Player - Izaak Rodda
I assume he's playing?Best SA Conference Player - Peter-Steph du Toit
Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
AUS Conference - Waratahs
SA Conference - Lions
Wooden Spoon - Reds
Overall Winner - Crusaders
Other Stuff
Blues not last in NZ
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Most Tries - George Bridge
Breakthrough Season - Debreczeni
Best NZ player - Jordan Taufua
Best Aus Conference Player - Quadie Cooper
Best SA Conference Player - Marx
Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
AUS Conference - Brumbies
SA Conference - Sharks
Wooden Spoon - Sunwolves (travel kills them)
Overall Winner - Crusaders
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Players
Most Tries - George Bridge
Will get heaps of opportunities behind the Saders pack, and was in red hot form at the end of last year. Expecting him to build on that and make a case for the RWC.Breakthrough Season - Will Jordan
I've actually seen very little of this kid, but he has big wraps so excited to see him in action.Best NZ player - Akira Ioane
Hoping he's going to monster the fuck out of everyone he meets on the paddock, then we can really go to town on the selectors when he gets overlooked again. But in seriousness, he's coming into his prime now so expecting a big season as he pushes for RWC selection.Best Aus Conference Player - Karmichael Hunt
Struggling to think of many Aussies that stand out so defaulted to what @Duluth put. He's a class player so looking for him to start fulfilling his obvious potential.Best SA Conference Player - Malcolm Marx
An absolute beast, especially at Super level.Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
Great coach and a great pack, will be too good again over the course of the season.AUS Conference - Waratahs
Look like they have a pretty strong team, should finish on top of the pile of rabble in Aus.SA Conference - Lions
They've put together a couple of very strong seasons, expect them to continue on that road this year. They generally play an attractive style of rugby.Wooden Spoon - Reds
Fuck the Reds.Overall Winner - Chiefs
They'll scrape through to the quarter finals and then Beaver will take care of the rest.
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@No-Quarter said in Super Rugby predictions:
Overall Winner - Chiefs
They'll scrape through to the quarter finals and then Beaver will take care of the rest.fuck i love you
happy valentines day
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@No-Quarter
The Lions have lost so many influential players lately that it will be very hard for them to maintain their level.
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Players
Most Tries - Marika Koroibete. Bit out of left field but they're in a weaker conference and they have a backline that has the ability to entertain so yeah, I think he could score a few out wide.Breakthrough Season - Isaiah Walker-Leauwere. I rate him highly and with Sam Lousi out for a while, I hope Plumtree gives him plenty of gametime as he would be a like for like replacement. A future AB imo.
Best NZ player - Damian McKenzie. He's a beast at this level.
Best Aus Conference Player - David Pocock. Boring pick but providing he stays injury free, he makes that Brumbies side a lot stronger and is still devastating at breakdown time.
Best SA Conference Player - Duane Vermulen. He'll have a point to prove with it being World Cup year that he still has the goods.
Teams
NZ Conference - Crusaders
Strong all across the park especially up front and have depth galore.AUS Conference - Waratahs
Mainly because they're the last one standing in the Aussie conference.SA Conference - Lions
Should have enough to stay at the top there.Wooden Spoon - Sunwolves
I enjoy watching them play as they love to throw the ball around but yeah, cant see them avoiding the spoon unfortunately.Overall Winner - Crusaders
Unfortunately they're too good. It's more of a battle for who comes 2nd.Other Stuff
Another Aussie team to get a playoff spot at the expense of a NZ team (don't know who though).
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Most Tries - Akira Ioane, continuing the Blues reliance on him, and a point to prove, but will it be enough
Breakthrough Season - Tom Robinson, this kid has size, physicality, agression, huge ticker, if he can stay un-injured will make selection of the Blues back row interesting when Gibson returns.
Best NZ player - BB, he will step it up and show his class in this important year
Best Aus Conference Player - Quade Cooper, gonna wind back the clock
Best SA Conference Player - Duane Vermulen, a beast, not sure Marx is quite the force he was
Teams
NZ Conference - CrusadersAUS Conference - Rebels
SA Conference -
Bulls, Meant Stormers, they will surpriseWooden Spoon - Reds
Overall Winner - Not a NZ team, cos if we win Super rugby, we dont win RWC's....seriously though, hard to look past the Crusaders
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Most Tries - Damien Mckenzie. always seems to pop up when a try needs to be scored.
Breakthrough Season - Akira Ioane. A future AB imo.
Best NZ player - Richie Mo'unga. Just to keep the Fern Forums busy with AB No. 10 Speculation
Best Aus Conference Player - Michael Hooper - just cant think of anyone else
Best SA Conference Player - Malcolm Marx the player I love to hate the most but have to admit I would like him on my team because when he is on fire his team are normally winningTeams
NZ Conference - Crusaders. with the Chiefs to push them to the wireAUS Conference - Waratahs. Surely they have to get it right this season
SA Conference - Lions again
Wooden Spoon - Sunwolves
Overall Winner - Crusaders
Other Stuff
A great season of rugby with fringe players pushing their claims for a WC berth later in the year. Absolutely no refereeing controversies. Key all black players to remain injury free.
