Super Rugby 2024
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With just the one loss to their name in 2024, the Aucklanders have not just proved their attacking flair can score with the best of the rest, but their defence is on track to be the second most suffocating in Super Rugby history – among eventual champions.
The 2008 Crusaders hold the top spot on that list, having allowed just 14 points per game during their season.
The 2024 Blues have an average of 15.5 points conceded throughout the 13 rounds of action so far. The team travel to Christchurch to play the Crusaders and host the Chiefs at Eden Park to round out the regular season.
'Defence wins championships': Blues on the brink of historic feat
The Blues have risen to the top of the Super Rugby pecking order with their streak of wins since round three's loss to the Hurricanes.
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That early loss to the Hurricanes has probably helped keep a lot of the pressure off this year. They're not chasing a perfect season or anything like that, they're just going about their business without too much fuss and fairly comfortably dismantling everyone in their way. Of course, the outlook will be markedly different if they drop their last two games (unlikely but certainly not impossible).
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a short season and bloated play offs makes some of the "finalists" laughable. The Tah's are 2-10 but still a mathematical chance.
Comp is no more top heavy than any other code, clear top 4 then a gap. Imagine a top 6 finals? Last 2 weeks will be epic, with even the Reds joining the Landers, Rebels and Drua battling for 2 spots.
Yes fans in Christchurch, Perth, South Auckland (or wherever) and Sydney will have already clocked off. But that's what you get for a combined 11-37 -
have done absolutely no research on this.....so read this with that in mind
is the 4 try bonus point a bit of a problem, you get extra reward for thrashings....and nothing for ding dong tight clashes, when you have such disparity between the top and bottom of the ladder you're going to have some thrashings and that allows the team at the top to get clear...and so the powers that be have this 8 team play offs to give some of the bottom teams a slim chance to play another week
i wonder what would happen without that bonus point, would the table contract a bit and so we might have more movement in the middle, more teams might be mathematical chances of making the top 6 and we could have a more meaningful playoff series
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@Kiwiwomble You need to score 3 more tries than the opposition to get a try BP.
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@Kiwiwomble quick squiz at the table and it does fuck all.
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@mariner4life ok, flag that then
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how do we think competitions that dont have playoff keep teams and fan engaged? like a straight up league....finish top of the table and win, most teams know they have no chance pretty quick but they keep going purely to finish as high as possible
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
how do we think competitions that dont have playoff keep teams and fan engaged? like a straight up league....finish top of the table and win, most teams know they have no chance pretty quick but they keep going purely to finish as high as possible
By being part of the cultures, and years of tradition. Soccer in the UK, fit example, is like rugby used to be here. Admittedly playing numbers aren't huge, but it is still a big thing. During the WC the country goes nuts. And people support the club's their great grandfather did etc. Super rugby hasn't got that
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@Machpants thats what i was thinking but kind of hoped id missed something, would have hoped after the better part of 30 years we might have got super rugby some of that history....but i kind of feel its LESS of a thing than in the late 90's early 2000's
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the answer in many sports is relegation
Imagine if the Crusaders and the Tahs were fighting for their very survival in Super Rugby?
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In AFL and NRL it's getting games in to kids to see where the future lies.
Super rugby lacks so much because it is so short.
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i guess AFL, NRL, EPL (pretty much all football comps) have multiple teams in single cities too so you have several very passionate rivalries..."even if we're bottom we'll get one over those bastards from down the road and i want to be there too see it"
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Just for you @antipodean
Angus Gardner will become the most capped referee in Super Rugby history as the Australian breaks the record set by South African Jaco Peyper. Gardner will officiate his 115th game at the Super Rugby level when the ACT Brumbies take on the Melbourne Rebels.
