Super Rugby - Who's it going to be?
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I get that the competition is a bit if a joke now, but from an NZ pov its awesome. This system has effectively given us an elite NPC in which to develop talent and get stronger. Pretty much every game in the NZ conference is a shit fight*. Take that away and replace it with ball busting travel and some seriously weak opposition and you lose something that has been hugely beneficial to NZ rugby.<br><br>
*Except for Canes vs Saders (; -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="598034" data-time="1468897351">
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<p>I get that the competition is a bit if a joke now, but from an NZ pov its awesome. This system has effectively given us an elite NPC in which to develop talent and get stronger. Pretty much every game in the NZ conference is a shit fight*. Take that away and replace it with ball busting travel and some seriously weak opposition and you lose something that has been hugely beneficial to NZ rugby.<br><br>
*Except for Canes vs Saders (;</p>
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<p>An aberration!</p>
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<p>You fuckers should have been chucked out of the NZ conference after the first round for bringing the NZ game into disrepute. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="598041" data-time="1468898357"><p>
An aberration!<br><br>
You fuckers should have been chucked out of the NZ conference after the first round for bringing the NZ game into disrepute. :)</p></blockquote>
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That was purely tactical. This comp is a marathon, not a sprint (:<br><br>
I'm totally over that loss to those freezing pointless town tossers and their mining equipment hugging, jazzhand waving, poor man's bono.<br><br>
Yes totally over it. -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="598198" data-time="1468950497">
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<p>Anyway, looks a fair-to-good chance of all NZ semi-finals, for the first time.</p>
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<p>While I'm not a 1998 redux theorist, having all of our top players involved in the semis could definitely inhibit our chances in the RC. Thoughts?</p>
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<p>Crusaders and Chiefs may have something to say about that. Lions at home aren't going to be easy especially as Saders couldn't leave until yesterday(?)</p>
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<p>Chiefs run hot and cold over there too</p> -
<p>Highlanders</p>
<p>Chiefs</p>
<p>Hurricanes</p>
<p>Lions</p>
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<p>Highlanders vs Canes</p>
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<p>Highlanders repeat</p> -
Caketin
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<p>Wow! So it really will be rinse and repeat!</p>
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<p>I think the Stormers will beat the Chiefs as well as Lions beating Crusaders.</p>
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<p>Stormers are averaging 35odd points at home but tey haven't played one Kiwi team apparently???</p> -
That adds a layer of intrigue I think the fact that neither have played yet this year, but when you look at the paths to get to this point the fact the Stormers have had the Kings and sunwolves home and away (and drawn with the sunwolves) it does again highlight the less than ideal nature of the rr series.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="598198" data-time="1468950497"><p>Anyway, looks a fair-to-good chance of all NZ semi-finals, for the first time.<br><br>
While I'm not a 1998 redux theorist, having all of our top players involved in the semis could definitely inhibit our chances in the RC. Thoughts?</p></blockquote>
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Anything that happened after 30 May 1998 never really happened...... -
<p>Righto, so the travel factor now dominates this competition playoffs.</p>
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<p>For the Chiefs to win, they'll have to bear the Canes at the Cake Tin, and then pray that the Landers get up over the Lions. That gives an NZ final, with the Landers smashed by travel problems. Otherwise, it's playing Canes and then Lions. Just not happening - you can't play NZ SA NZ SA over four weeks and expect to win at the back end. </p>
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<p>Canes have it all going for them. Win this week, and whoever they play is going to be coming back from SA and ripe for the picking.</p>
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<p>Landers are outsiders, again will have to play NZ SA NZ in three weekends. Remember the last time the ABs did that in the 3N was when they lost to Dingo's aussies in Melbourne. The third week is the killer (from memory it was Hamilton, SA and them Melbourne. And we sucked).</p>
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<p>Lions will be sweating on the Canes Chiefs game. Travelling to NZ to win a final is just not on... but if they get the Chiefs on their way back, they may as well write up the trophy now.</p>
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<p>So there you have it, Convoluted on a Sunday afternoon, but I'm going out on a limb to say the teams are close enough that the team that travels least wins the comp. This emphasises how shit the back end of this competition is. What's wrong with playing internal comps to get a finalist, and limiting travel (like the Superbowl - find an AFC/NFC champ and play off. Here it would be an Australasian and South African champs going for it, possibly even at a neutral venue - like Perth. Take the travel out I say!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="599710" data-time="1469329659">
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<p>The TAB has the Canes as favourites and no one would disagree with that. They get to train at home and sleep in their own beds while the Chiefs and Highlanders rack up air points.</p>
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<p>It's the Canes to lose. :fishing:</p>
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<p>No way can NZ rugby's mental midgets be favourites to win. Canes will crumble under pressure before the Chiefs run out of puff.</p> -
<p>>They get to train at home and <strong>sleep in their own beds </strong>while the Chiefs and Highlanders rack up air points.</p>
<p>Message to single ladies, shakes finger. :ph34r:
:sorry: :Outta_here: </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="599714" data-time="1469330079">
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<p>No way can NZ rugby's mental midgets be favourites to win. Canes will crumble under pressure before the Chiefs run out of puff.</p>
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<p>I love my Canes but no way I'm picking us as favourites for anything in the playoffs. If we win it will be an unexpected surprise and I will say a silent prayer of thanks to the sports gods that finally allow us to have a day in the sun</p> -
<p>a stat came up on the TV last night in the canes game, no foreign team has won a playoff game in NZ.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="599755" data-time="1469336745">
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<p>a stat came up on the TV last night in the canes game, no foreign team has won a playoff game in NZ.</p>
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<p>... and only one playoff win after an international flight (saders in Brumbyland around the turn of the century I believe)</p>
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<p>EDIT: Should probably be FINAL only - not playoffs in general. My bad. Don't y'all know that 78.43% of statistics on the internet are made up on the spot.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="599757" data-time="1469336905">
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<p>... and only one playoff win after an international flight (saders in Brumbyland around the turn of the century I believe)</p>
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<p>Don't tease me</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="599757" data-time="1469336905">
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<p>... and only one playoff win after an international flight (saders in Brumbyland around the turn of the century I believe</p>
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<p>pretty sure the Highlanders travelled before Wellington last year, just not from SA.</p>
