Super Rugby 2024
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Kind of interesting table isn't it? Now with a proper 4-5 team final which I am a fan of we would have a lot easier time with supporting top of table teams. Let's face it with nothing to play for next week both Highlanders (against Canes) and Force (against Brumbies) would have little to play for and probably see their bench players getting a run. But both are in with chance of making finals so will probably rip into it, and so could upset top of table where all 3 top teams still have chance of making top spot. Blues and Canes tied on 51 points, and Brumbies only 3 points behind. Brumbies winning with bonus point (I think most likely) would see them on 52 points and both Canes and Blues needing at least bonus point loss to stay ahead , I think points differential would save them. So still plenty on last games of round robin!
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@Dan54 the big question now is who's going to end up on top? Will it be the Canes or Blues? You'd think the Canes will have the slightly easier task of playing the Highlanders at home so they will be gunning for 5 points. The Blues have the Chiefs at home which is a slightly harder task, however because the Chiefs can't really improve their position the question is will they rest a large chunk of their squad, or will they play them to try and get the team humming before the playoffs? If the Chiefs rest their top team it would be hard to bet against the Blues picking up 5 points next week.
The result of the Landers game today could knock out the Crusaders. If the Drua win and the Highlanders get a bonus point my understanding is that the Crusaders won't be able to pass them because the Highlanders would have won more games overall, even if the Saders win next week and even though the Saders have a better points differential. If the Highlanders win, they lock down a playoff spot and all Crusaders fans would then be cheering on the Rebels next week, who will have the big task of going to Fiji to beat the Drua away.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Dan54 the big question now is who's going to end up on top? Will it be the Canes or Blues? You'd think the Canes will have the slightly easier task of playing the Highlanders at home so they will be gunning for 5 points. The Blues have the Chiefs at home which is a slightly harder task, however because the Chiefs can't really improve their position the question is will they rest a large chunk of their squad, or will they play them to try and get the team humming before the playoffs? If the Chiefs rest their top team it would be hard to bet against the Blues picking up 5 points next week.
The result of the Landers game today could knock out the Crusaders. If the Drua win and the Highlanders get a bonus point my understanding is that the Crusaders won't be able to pass them because the Highlanders would have won more games overall, even if the Saders win next week and even though the Saders have a better points differential. If the Highlanders win, they lock down a playoff spot and all Crusaders fans would then be cheering on the Rebels next week, who will have the big task of going to Fiji to beat the Drua away.
The other probably unlikely scenario is the Drua beat the Highlanders today and the Highlanders do not score a bonus point or a bonus point against the Hurricanes.
The Crusaders get a bonus point win V MP and they would finish on 24 points to The Highlanders 23. -
You mean there’s a chance we can still defend our seven titles. I’d love to finish 8th and knock those fluffybunny blues out.
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@chchfanatic That requires winning away from home.
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@Chris Haha I was getting a lot of that from my Chch buddies last night, along with the favourite of 'you don't want us to finish 8th' 😂
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@African-Monkey said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Chris Haha I was getting a lot of that from my Chch buddies last night, along with the favourite of 'you don't want us to finish 8th' 😂
All done in the best possible taste I am sure.
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@hydro11 said in Super Rugby 2024:
So Crusaders need Rebels to beat the Drua in Fiji to make the 8. The Force shouldn't be able to beat the Brumbies at home and the Crusaders should account for Moana Pasifika. Then again, you never know with this season.
I think you can almost say see yah later to the Saders. The whole of Fiji will be behind the Drua. They've only lost to the Canes at home this year. Rebels will be a piece of cake.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@hydro11 said in Super Rugby 2024:
So Crusaders need Rebels to beat the Drua in Fiji to make the 8. The Force shouldn't be able to beat the Brumbies at home and the Crusaders should account for Moana Pasifika. Then again, you never know with this season.
I think you can almost say see yah later to the Saders. The whole of Fiji will be behind the Drua. They've only lost to the Canes at home this year. Rebels will be a piece of cake.
Crusaders fans, did you know that you can bookmark posts?
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@hydro11 said in Super Rugby 2024:
So Crusaders need Rebels to beat the Drua in Fiji to make the 8. The Force shouldn't be able to beat the Brumbies at home and the Crusaders should account for Moana Pasifika. Then again, you never know with this season.
I think you can almost say see yah later to the Saders. The whole of Fiji will be behind the Drua. They've only lost to the Canes at home this year. Rebels will be a piece of cake.
Herd to see Rebels players getting too carried away after having a meeting with RA last week for them to choose where they want to play next year.
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@Dan54 really, as in transferring their contracts too one of the other teams? was that reported somewhere or a rumour?
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@Kiwiwomble was reported mate, Phil Waught met with the players last Monday to hear what the players preferred place to go to, if the Rebels folded. Well I read it on ROAR (I think) and Christy Doran who wrote it is usually pretty true.
Which is polite speak for you are history boys, and why I wasn't in anyway surprised when the got such a hiding on weekend. -
@Canes4life we waved good to the pack weeks ago. Only the ridiculous format of this competition has kept everyone interested. We should never be in consideration for the finals. We don’t deserve it.
It would be funny if we finished 8th and beat number 1 though. Drua won’t lose over there though. -
@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.
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This post is deleted!
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@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2024:
@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.
To be fair, a lot of that interest stems from the will-they-or-won't-they Crusaders factor. If they were sitting in fifth place then there would be considerably less interest in that bottom part of the table.
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@Mr-Fish said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2024:
@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.
To be fair, a lot of that interest stems from the will-they-or-won't-they Crusaders factor. If they were sitting in fifth place then there would be considerably less interest in that bottom part of the table.
Up to a point, but I bet a lot of supporters from the Clan/Drua etc were also interested to see if their teams got in. I was genuinely watching their games and cheering for different teams to make it. But Crusaders funnily enough didn't get on my radar, they have had plenty of success, so I wasn't worried.
But happy to admit that's just me. And although I prefer less teams making it can see why they do it.I reckon the champion should just be who is got most points over a one round comp, and then have a complete 12 team knockout comp after?
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If you were going to do that, it would be better to have a minor premier, then a cup, plate, bowl for the 3 groups of 4 teams.
I personally think that a playoff in Div 1 (cup) between our top 4 and Japan top four, then Div 2 (plate) with next JP top four, and Div 3 (bowl) with JP teams would be an interesting idea.
