'Super Rugby' 2021
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I have been looking at the table and the last 3 weeks draw to see if my cracked crystal ball is any use.
Way too many permutations and possibilities as anyone can beat anyone at the moment.
A couple of observations though.I think that Blues probably need to win 2/3 to be safe and will easily be if those two are Highlanders and Chiefs. They are probably safe if they just win their last game against the Chiefs as long as the Chiefs don't beat the Saders.
Highlanders and Canes very unlikely due to still having bye weekends. So really a three horse race.Could be that the Chiefs/ Blues game in the last round acts as a semi-final which would be good.
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@stargazer said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:
The injury toll is insane. NZR need to be setting minute/game limits IMO.
Guys like Whitelock are too valuable to be playing every game.
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Normally I’d be happy with so many landers selected in a “xv”....
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@kiwiwomble even in an injured XV, the selection at 1st 5 is still glaring...
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@act-crusader said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:
@kiwiwomble even in an injured XV, the selection at 1st 5 is still glaring...
Yeah in general not a bad super level team
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What's the feeling there about how the NZ teams will line up in a Trans- Ta$man comp?
I'd suggest over here we'd be quite confident about the Reds and Brumbies being competitive, but there's a pretty sizeable drop to the Force, Rebels and Tahs. They aren't horrible (certainly the Force and Rebels are better than they have been in the past), but I can't see them troubling the better NZ teams.
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@barbarian I agree with what you're saying about the Aussie teams. I think particularly the Reds will be able to beat each NZ team on the day; Brumbies a bit less strong, but will still offer strong opposition to all NZ teams and will probably knock a few over.
I think the difference between the NZ teams is much smaller - every single one of them can beat each other - the Hurricanes probably being most vulnerable, but none of them should have too much trouble with the Rebels, Force and Tahs on a normal day (which doesn't mean there won't be any surprises).
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@stargazer especially given our injury toll, and season ending ones too
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Kazuki Himeno takes out Rookie of the Year title
Highlanders No.8 Kazuki Himeno has pipped teammate Connor Garden-Bachop for the title of Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa Rookie of the Year following another strong performance in round 10 against the Hurricanes.
pretty well deserved from Hemino and Connor Garden-Bachop second even though hes missed the last few weeks
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@kiwiwomble I always find that rookie of the year ranking a bit useless and just as subjective as any other player/team ranking.
Also, some rookies get a lot of game time, others don't. It all depends on depth in their position and injuries. Also, you can hardly call a test player like Himeno a rookie. Including him is ridiculous.Having said that, several of the rookies this year have made a good impression. CG-B is definitely one of them. He's much better than his brother!
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just thought it was a bit of fun...not suggesting knighthoods...we dont have loads else to be proud of
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@kiwiwomble Highlanders supporters have plenty to be proud of. There have been years that the Highlanders were like the Western Force of NZ: a losing team, low expectations, but occassionally being the banana skin team (never as bad as the 2021 Tahs though). This year they were really fun to watch. Really competitive and away wins against the Chiefs and Crusaders other franchises can be jeolous of. Some really good upcoming talent, and the two best halfbacks of NZ, one of them world class and the other going to be world class. Without all the injuries, they probably would have had a few more wins, too.
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