Super Rugby News
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@Tim There are rumours that his younger brother Kini is going to the Chiefs, too. Not sure when he turned 18, but he wasn't named in the Hurricanes U18 squad. His name wasn't on the Chiefs U18 list though. I assume he'll play at the U19 tourney this year & it will be telling which province he'll play for; I expect it to be a Chiefs' province.
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@KiwiMurph First Fekitoa, then Li, next Collins. Any other superstars you want us to prove the potential of?
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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.
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Lions news
Swys de Bruin, current assistant coach to Johan Ackerman, has been appointed as the new head coach, taking over from Ackers next season. Also keeping the core of the players next season as well, and no his son is not joining him Gloucester.
Lions players: Warren Whiteley, Albertus Smith, Andries Coetzee, Andries Ferreira (renewed), Anthony Volminck, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Corné Fourie, Courtnall Skosan (renewed), Cyle Brink, Dillon Smit (renewed), Dylan Smith, Elton Jantjies, Francois Mostert, Harold Vorster, Howard Mnisi, Jaco Kriel, Jaco van der Walt (renewed), Jacques van Rooyen (renewed), Johannes Jonker, Justin Ackerman (renewed), Lionel Mapoe (renewed), Lourens Erasmus, Malcolm Marx (renewed), Marvin Orie, Robbie Coetzee, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ross Cronjé, Ruan Ackermann, Ruan Combrinck, Ruan Dreyer, Shaun Reynolds, Sithembiso Sithole, Sylvian Mahuza (renewed).
And on that note....C'mon CANES!!!!
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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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Yikes imagine the uproar if they hadn't have locked in Cridge. We'd have a LOT of unhappy canes fans.
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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? -
@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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@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@Crucial If I read that right - you're picking the Chiefs to lose to the Brumbies this weekend?
(Or Lions to lose to Sharks?)
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@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
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The whole 5/6 between Chiefs and Canes is a real puzzler. Not that I think either would throw a game but you really have to wonder which potential route they would want.
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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. -
I'd back a kiwi side to go to SA and win, it's the game on return that is likely to be that step too far.
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@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@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?You've messed that up. Whoever finishes fifth will face an easy QF in Oz, a tough SF in Chch and then (potentially) a flight to SA for the final. That's assuming the sixth placed team (Chiefs or Canes) and Landers are knocked out though, if they end up winning their SF then the fifth place team would suddenly have a home final.
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@Unco said in Super Rugby News:
@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@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?You've messed that up. Whoever finishes fifth will face an easy QF in Oz, a tough SF in Chch and then (potentially) a flight to SA for the final. That's assuming the sixth placed team (Chiefs or Canes) and Landers are knocked out though, if they end up winning their SF then the fifth place team would suddenly have a home final.
Are you remembering that if the Canes win, Crusaders are probably finishing 2nd?
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@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@Unco said in Super Rugby News:
@Kruse said in Super Rugby News:
@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?You've messed that up. Whoever finishes fifth will face an easy QF in Oz, a tough SF in Chch and then (potentially) a flight to SA for the final. That's assuming the sixth placed team (Chiefs or Canes) and Landers are knocked out though, if they end up winning their SF then the fifth place team would suddenly have a home final.
Are you remembering that if the Canes win, Crusaders are probably finishing 2nd?
I guess. For some reason I thought the Lions' bye was this week, not last week.
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Alex Ainley has re-signed with the Highlanders for one year.
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Kane Hames and Sosefo Kautai have re-signed with the Chiefs until 2019, with Nepo Laulala and Atunaisa Moli signing for the next three years.
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The Lions beat the Sharks 27-10 so finished 1st.
I was hoping that the Stormers-Chiefs game would be a 6 am KO.
From a Chiefs perspective, I'd be wanting the Lions to beat the Sharks again and the Landers to upset the Crusaders. That would mean that a Chiefs win in Cape Town gives us a home SF vs the Highlanders. A small bonus for all the travel.
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taniwharugbyreplied to Bovidae on 15 Jul 2017, 21:27 last edited by taniwharugby 15 Jul 2017, 21:29
@Bovidae surely, ideally (good planning-wise) if the Chiefs beat Stormers, they would stay in SA for the next match given the all SA affair in the other final, otherwise, if they win, come back to NZ and win, potentially back to SA for the final.
THat scenario is much better for thier chances of beating the Lions than the way it is likely to play out if they win
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@taniwharugby The next step in my master plan is that the Canes, who should beat the Brumbies, then go to Jo'burg and beat the Lions. They would host the final but would have a return trip to SA to contend with.
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