Super Rugby - Who's it going to be?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rocky Rock Rockbottom" data-cid="597490" data-time="1468715490">
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Shit there’s gonna be some spleen venting this week from NZers after that draw. We knew it was coming but ffs, two shit hot kiwi sides have to travel all the way to fuckin SA to doff their forelocks to their bokke paymasters? GAHH</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Landers finish 3<sup><span style="font-size:small;">rd</span></sup></span> and One Trick Ponies get home quarter despite finishing a half-clueless and slightly completely ratshit bollox 7<sup><span style="font-size:small;">th</span></sup></span>?</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"><span style="font-family:calibri;">A ribbon for everyone. Here, why not attach yours to your shorts as you join the maul from in front of the fucking ball carrier, FFFFFFFUUU</span></span></p>
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<p>Last line made me laugh. :)</p>
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<p>Without having seen them, the Stormers look equally shithouse - the only top eight team they've beaten all year is the Brumbies at Newlands. They've not played any NZ teams and have racked up losses to the Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Tahs and a momentous draw with the Sunwolves. I'll be very surprised if any of the Canes, Highlanders or Chiefs don't win easily. I'm hoping for three thrashings! :)</p>
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<p>Crusaders have been pretty clearly 4th in the NZ conference, so I'm not too distraught at having to go to SA - we have a chance to stamp ourselves as the 4th best team in the competition, so to take a leaf out of Brad Thorn's book, "that will be my final". Lions seem to have got better as the year has gone on, so that should be a good game.</p>
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<p>Not much to suggest that we can come back from SA and beat the Canes and probably Highlanders in consecutive weekends - nor much to suggest the Chiefs can come back and beat the Highlanders (6-0 in recent times?).</p>
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<p>My assessment is that in terms of winning the comp. the Canes and Chiefs fans should cheer loudly for the Lions, Crusaders and Highlanders fans should cheer loudly for the Crusaders. </p>
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<p>However, it would be nice to have four NZ semifinalists.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="597494" data-time="1468716448">
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<p>I'll laugh heartily if the Kiwi teams sweep the quarters. The Crusaders have the weakest team but they've only got the Lions so it's definitely possible</p>
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<p>Don't laugh too hard, though. It's probably in your interests that the Highlanders have to go further afield than Canberra, before strolling up to the Caketin for a repeat of last year's final. :)</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8px;">(And a night in pissing rain at the Caketin might just suit Toddy's troops).</span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="597494" data-time="1468716448">
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<p>I'll laugh heartily if the Kiwi teams sweep the quarters. The Crusaders have the weakest team but they've only got the Lions so it's definitely possible</p>
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<p>I am not sure the LIons are a pushover. They have learned to run the ball unlike some of the other SA teams with effectiveness. I think it will be a close game. </p> -
<p>well resting the players for a week could be good fo rthem, or having a week off might be bad, some teams come off a bye week worse for it.</p>
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<p>Crusaders should be fine too, they spent alot of last night watching the Canes :fishing:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="597499" data-time="1468717298"><p>I am not sure the LIons are a pushover. They have learned to run the ball unlike some of the other SA teams with effectiveness. I think it will be a close game.<br></p></blockquote>They are playing the Saders so both teams come into the game off losses, albeit from teams at vastly different positions on the table. Given their history I wouldn't bet on the Lions but the Saders will need to really step it up
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="597507" data-time="1468718407"><p>
They are playing the Saders so both teams come into the game off losses, albeit from teams at vastly different positions on the table. Given their history I wouldn't bet on the Lions but the Saders will need to really step it up</p></blockquote><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.superxv.com/2016-super-rugby-play-offs-confirmed/">http://www.superxv.com/2016-super-rugby-play-offs-confirmed/</a><br><br>
Just confirmation of times and venues<br><br>
Highlanders Friday half edit: seven<br>
Canes Saturday half seven<br>
Saders half two in the goddamn<br>
Chefs night dark five hundred<br><br><br>
Going to be a busy Sunday morning. How sweet would it be for all the Kiwis to win!<br><br>
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<p>Was trying to figure out who might get to host the final if they make it that far. Canes obviously if they keep winning. Haven't done every single combination but I think these would be the semi finals assuming both Hurricanes and Highlanders win their quarters. Travel factor before the final will be huge.</p>
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<p>Hurricanes 1 v Crusaders 7</p>
<p>Highlanders 5 v Chiefs 6</p>
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<p>Hurricanes 1 v Chiefs 6</p>
<p>Lions 2 v Highlanders 5</p>
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<p>Hurricanes 1 v Crusaders 7</p>
<p>Stormers 3 v Highlanders 5</p>
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<p>Hurricanes 1 v Highlanders 5</p>
<p>Lions 2 v Stormers 3</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="597510" data-time="1468718947"><p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superxv.com/2016-super-rugby-play-offs-confirmed/'>http://www.superxv.com/2016-super-rugby-play-offs-confirmed/</a><br><br>Just confirmation of times and venues<br><br>Highlanders Friday half nine</p></blockquote><br>That's half seven.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="597514" data-time="1468719552"><p>That's half seven.</p></blockquote>
That is some crazy shit. Thanks for the tip... Six pm kick off in Canberra is half seven NZ time. I am amazed. Broadcasters own this competition.<br><br>
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Seems all a bit odd. Canberra is two hours behind.
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<p>This was posted on Twitter saying that it comes from the SANZAAR website. I checked and it does.</p>
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<p>Times are NZ Times:</p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cnh9ujHVMAARHtV.jpg" alt="Cnh9ujHVMAARHtV.jpg"></p> -
<p>Think the problem in Canberra is that all three of the Raiders teams are playing at home on the Saturday afternoon with the first game (either Reserve Grade or Holden Cup) kicking of at something like 10.00am. The ground staff need as much time as possible to erase the Super Rugby advertising painted on the field and replace it with the NRL equivalent. I suppose the same goes for the electronic advertising hordings around the grounds as well.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="597541" data-time="1468723217">
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<p>I still can't farking belive that for all the NZ teams dominance throughout - we are rewarded with one home quarter :Bang_Head:</p>
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<p>Yep, it hasn't really dawned on me until just now (I've been catching up on the weekend's rugby as I was flying and then at a wedding Friday and Saturday) how stupid the finals of this conference are. It reminds me of 1994 when top qualifying HB had to travel down to a cold, wet, muddy and windswept Invercargill to play a final despite finishing top of the table because the idiotic NZRU decided that the top of the ladder doesn't get a home final it's just a reverse of the round robin game.</p>
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<p>If they wanted to have conferences, and ensure SA teams make the final then just have conference play offs, then semis and then final.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="597497" data-time="1468716975"><p>
Surprising they chose Cully as a commentator. It's not like he is brimming with personality.</p></blockquote>
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No, but he's a living legend and AB great. Tbh I rarely listen to what he says. The fact that he's there is more than enough to give me wood. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="597397" data-time="1468701223"><p>They can and like wins, points diff, cards or whatever, if it doesn't work they move to the next decider.<br><br>
IMO beating another team is a much better and fairer way to determine who should sit higher than a points diff in different conferences, especially if they have played.</p></blockquote>
What if it's at least 3 teams on level points? Team A has beaten team B, Team B has beaten team C, team C has beaten A. Someone like Robertson's head would explode.
