Blues v Tahs

Canes4life

I'm not sure who i'd rather see miss out on the playoffs out of the Brumbies and Waratahs. I hope they both get a hiding this week and it comes down to points differential. The Brumbies should sneak in as they are playing the Force who are alot weaker than the Blues.

taniwharugby

wow, Moulds on the bench!

Tim

And Scott Scrafton. :)

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="596194" data-time="1468376110">
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I'm not sure who i'd rather see miss out on the playoffs out of the Brumbies and Waratahs. I hope they both get a hiding this week and it comes down to points differential. The Brumbies should sneak in as they are playing the Force who are alot weaker than the Blues.
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The Brumbies have won 1 more game so the only way the Tahs make it is if they get a BP win over the Blues and the Brumbies only win versus the Force (possible but unlikely) or the Force upsets the Brumbies (more unlikely) and the Tahs beat the Blues. So basically, the Tahs need 1 more competition pt than the Brumbies get.
 
I think this game will be more physical than NSW-Canes, given the desperation of the Tahs.

antipodean

We have the game to do it, just not the consistency.
 
The Brumbies might fall over the line because it looks like their wheels have fallen off, but they've got the better run home. They're also without Tomane who broke his leg playing for Uni Norths.

Stargazer

Waratahs
 
1. Paddy Ryan (76 caps) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (140 caps) 3. Tom Robertson (12 caps) 4. Dean Mumm (100 caps) 5. Will Skelton (52 caps) 6. Jack Dempsey (13 caps) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (95 caps) 8. Dave Dennis (vc) (106 caps))
9. Nick Phipps (96 caps) 10. Bernard Foley (76 caps) 11. Matt Carraro (54 caps) 12. Rob Horne 101 caps) 13. Israel Folau (59 caps) 14. Reece Robinson (12 caps) 15. Andrew Kellaway (10 caps)
 
Reserves: 16. Hugh Roach (20 caps) 17. Jeremy Tilse (59 caps) 18. Angus Taâ€™avao (62 caps) 19. Sam Lousi (17 caps) 20. Wycliff Palu (133 caps) 21. Matt Lucas (26 caps) 22. David Horwitz (12 caps) 23. Jim Stewart (uncapped â€“ potential NSW and Super Rugby debut)

Tim

Lambs to the slaughter.

Tordah

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="596211" data-time="1468380293">
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Waratahs
 
7. Michael Hoopah (c) (95 caps)
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Squinty Hoopah is going to have 100 caps when he's just 25 years young. Is this the fastest in Super Rugby history?

broughie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="596235" data-time="1468384925">
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Squinty Hoopah is going to have 100 caps when he's just 25 years young. Is this the fastest in Super Rugby history?
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It looks more like a strabismus, could be wrong, but impressive stat otherwise.
 
The big question is if the Blues pack can front the Tahs. I think they have the pack to do this. Be good to see Charlie play and Moala to keep Folau honest physically.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="596201" data-time="1468378230">
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And Scott Scrafton. :)
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Yup good to see Umaga give him and Cowley-Tuioti a run before the end of season.

taniwharugby

thought he mighta given Nock a run too, especially with Hall on his way out the door.

Bones

Li finally gets a chance!

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="596308" data-time="1468394368">
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Li finally gets a chance!
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Yup fully deserves it. We get to see him crash the ball up aimlessly one last time.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="596175" data-time="1468372137">
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Blues by 50.
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At least.
 
Tahs are effectively playing for their season, but it doesn't fucking matter because 24 hours after the hooter here, the Ponies will belt the Farce in Canboring on a cold, fucking miserable night.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="596322" data-time="1468397851">
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At least.
 
Tahs are effectively playing for their season, but it doesn't fucking matter because 24 hours after the hooter here, the Ponies will belt the Farce in Canboring on a cold, fucking miserable night.
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Yeah - will be tough for the Tahs to believe they're going to make it. I'm somewhat amazed they're in this position, because they're a far more dangerous team than the Brumbies.

hurricane

I've got the Blues to win this in my multi. But I think it will be a nail biter. I just reckon home team gets the rub of the green usually in a number of facets of the game. One of them being that the road team will kick more pill away, which means less opportunities for Israel magic to be worked. That said you can pencil him in for a try right now. Outstanding player.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="596334" data-time="1468401453">
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Yeah - will be tough for the Tahs to believe they're going to make it. I'm somewhat amazed they're in this position, because they're a far more dangerous team than the Brumbies. 
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The games against the Rebels and Canes showed they don't deserve it. Top two inches.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="596189" data-time="1468375304">
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<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11673483'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11673483</a>
 
Blues faced the opponents with the most average wins.
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Only because they lost plenty. If you remove games the Blues were involved in their SOS was identical to all other NZ franchises.
 
I mean if you really want to look at it the Crusaders had a tougher schedule because it was identical to the Blues except they had to play the Brumbies away (and Reds at home), where the Blues played Brumbies at Eden Park (and Reds away). If both the Crusaders and Blues were even I would prefer the Blues schedule playing tougher teams at home and weaker ones on the road.
 
The article is just a really convoluted way of saying the NZ conference is incredibly dominant.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="596385" data-time="1468428948">
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The article is just a really convoluted way of saying the NZ conference is incredibly dominant.
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And that metric is shit

KiwiMurph

Going by the forecast looks like it is going to absolutely hose down during the game.
 
Not sure who that favours - if Tahs are chasing a bonus point win it may backfire.
 
Guess we'll see if the Blues have developed since getting destroyed in the pouring rain in JoBurg earlier in the season.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Tahs