Super Rugby News
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The Hurricanes have moved swiftly to future-proof their championship-winning team by retaining four leading players.
They include new All Blacks Ngani Laumape, signed for two more seasons, and Vaea Fifita, who has committed through to 2020.
Laumape and Fifita join midfielder Matt Proctor and lock Geoff Cridge in inking new deals.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11889655
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@Bovidae That's quite a significant change - messes up my plan that the Crusaders could finish top and might only have to face teams travelling from South Africa.
The plus side right now is that if we finish second, although we'd have to play the Highlanders - if we managed to get past them we'd get a team travelling from SA for the semi - whereas finish first we should get the Sharks, but then a team travelling only a few hours from Canberra for the semi.
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby News:
There has been a tweak in the playoff format, which has problems too.
For the NZ teams, finishing 3rd in the NZC maybe an advantage over 2nd as although this would mean a trip to SA your reward is a home SF if you win that game and the overall no.2 seed also loses.
Both the Sanzaar website and the final version of the 2017 Super Rugby Media Guide (March 2017) say this:
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@Stargazer Yeah - that's exactly what that article describes.
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
@Kruse Yes, that's why I wonder why the article suggests that this has gone largely unnoticed. Info was easily available, especially to the media.
Ah sorry - I misunderstood, thinking you'd misunderstood.
So... you were thinking "the media" are competent - and that's where the misunderstanding actually was? -
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@Stargazer You have to wonder if the only reason it's being reported on now was that SANZAAR "prompted" them to do so, as it's long past time people were warned.
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@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@Stargazer You have to wonder if the only reason it's being reported on now was that SANZAAR "prompted" them to do so, as it's long past time people were warned.
I see the jaapies noticed back in January.
And the aussies - well, it's irrelevant to them really, isn't it? -
So with all teams now even on games played (14) the situation is
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Crusaders 63 (v Hurricanes / 68-63 / 1 or 2 )
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Lions 61 (v Sharks / 65-61 / 1 or 2 )
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Stormers 39 (v Bulls / 44-39 / 3 )
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Brumbies 34 (v Chiefs / 39-34 / 4 )
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Hurricanes 54 (v Crusaders / 59-54 / 5 or 6)
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Chiefs 53 (v Brumbies / 58-53 / 5 or 6)
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Highlanders 46 (v Reds / 51-46 / 7 or 8 )
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Sharks 42 (v Lions / 47-42 / 7 or 8 )
So (my guesses at end)
Q1: Crusaders OR Lions V Highlanders OR Sharks (Crusaders v Sharks)
Q2: Crusaders OR Lions V Highlanders OR Sharks (Lions v Highlanders)
Q3: Stormers V Hurricanes OR Chiefs (Stormers vChiefsCanes)
Q4: Brumbies V Hurricanes OR Chiefs (Brumbies vHurricanesChiefs)S1: Crusaders OR Lions OR Highlanders OR Sharks V Brumbies OR Hurricanes OR Chiefs (Crusaders v
HurricanesChiefs)
S2: Crusaders OR Lions OR Highlanders OR Sharks V Stormers OR Hurricanes OR Chiefs (Lions vChiefsCanes) -
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@Crucial said in Super Rugby News:
@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@Crucial If I read that right - you're picking the Chiefs to lose to the Brumbies this weekend?
No. Confused myself. Sdaers to beat Canes. Chiefs to beat Brumbies
Yeah - I had to look through it a few times myself to make sure I wasn't making an idiot of myself.
In any case - I guess it's good that at this point, the number of permutations is still so open.
I guess the upside for the Canes is that although at first glance they're getting shafted by the new system... if everything goes as one would expect (pretty much your guesses) - they can travel to SA, play 1 relatively easy game, stay over there - minimal travel, before SF against Lions. -
@Stargazer Who reads the media guides?
It will be interesting to see the team lists for the Chiefs-Brumbies and Hurricanes-Crusaders games. The Nags have injury concerns and may rest some players safe in the knowledge they host a QF regardless of the result. If the Chiefs beat them then they could be playing eachother again the following week.
There is more on the line in the other game, and we know what happened in this fixture last year, when the Crusaders lost the chance to be the top seed.
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby News:
@Stargazer Who reads the media guides?
It will be interesting to see the team lists for the Chiefs-Brumbies and Hurricanes-Crusaders games. The Nags have injury concerns and may rest some players safe in the knowledge they host a QF regardless of the result. If the Chiefs beat them then they could be playing eachother again the following week.
There is more on the line in the other game, and we know what happened in this fixture last year, when the Crusaders lost the chance to be the top seed.
So - if Canes lose, they're looking at (probably) QF & SF in SouthAfrica, then fly back for a final in Christchurch,
If they win - they're looking at (probably), easy QF in Oz, fly to SA for tough SF, then fly home for a Final in Chch.
(I think)
Would they be considering resting a few players? -
If the Highlanders have to travel to SA for a quarter I wouldn't write them off beating the Lions. That would mean that the 6th placed team (either Canes or Chiefs) have to go to SA then come back and will get a home game against the Highlanders (who have also traveled back).
It could also mean that seeds 2, 3, 4 and 8 are eliminated
I guess if things go to plan one of the Canes or Chiefs will meet the Crusaders in a semi and the other in a final. However should the Crusaders get beaten in a semi then being 5th rather than 6th could potentially provide a home final.
