Super Rugby News
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Friday:
Highlanders (31 points) vs Waratahs (30 points)
Predicted winner: Highlanders (35 points)
Rebels (34 points) vs Chiefs (31 points)
Predicted winner: Chiefs (35 points) however Rebels get a losing bonus point and also end up on 35 points.
Sunday:
Stormers (34 points) vs Sharks (33 points)
Predicted winner: Stormers (39 points) with the Sharks getting no points
Bulls (36 points) vs Lions (35 points)
Predicted winner: Bulls ( 41 points) with Lions getting no pointsTop 8: Crusaders, Jaguares, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Bulls, Stormers, Rebels, Chiefs
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The conference leaders are a certainty after this weekend's 17th round; no one in their respective conferences can catch up with them. The Crusaders' top spot is settled, too, but the Brumbies can - in theory - still take that 2nd place. I say "in theory", because the Jaguares play the Sunwolves at home next week and the ponies play the Reds at home.
1 Crusaders - 58
2 Jaguares - 46
3 Brumbies - 43The Hurricanes' 4th spot (49) is safe too; none of the other conference runners-up can catch them.
However, none of the other wild card spots are certain, yet. Teams that are now outside the wild spots, can still finish in 5th-8th place, with the exception of the Sunwolves, although the Blues' and Reds' chances are merely theoretical.
The Chiefs (31) are still in a reasonably good position to reach the finals as they play the miserable Rebels (34) in Melbourne, and that's exactly the team they may be able to push out of the finals. So that's definitely a game to watch next week!
The Highlanders (31) v Waratahs (30) game is another one with still a lot at stake, with both teams outside the wildcard spots, but still close.
If both the Chiefs and Highlanders end on the same number of competition points (like they are now), the Chiefs will finish above the Highlanders, because the Chiefs had more wins this season.
From all teams outside the wildcard spots, the Sharks have the highest number of points (33) and they play the Stormers, one of the teams in a wildcard spot with the least number of points (34). These teams will literally battle for a finals spot next week.
If teams finish on a equal number of competition points, the number of wins is the first tiebreaker (hence Chiefs over Highlanders), but if the next tiebreaker has to be used, then the Highlanders are in the best position.
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There’s a lot to like about the Canes at the minute.
I have some seen some real improvement in their set piece areas especially the scrum,but the real improvement I am seeing is in and around changing tactics when things are not working , last week we saw a lot kicks in behind the Sharks wingers ,in other words looking to play more code in the opposition half..
And once again this morning against the lions a slight shift in and around running into the the contact individually
Much quicker ball in the 2nd half, add in some real impact off the bench and the return to form of Dane Coles and the form of all their All Blacks Ardie Especially, I really do think the Canes will be better matched to take on the 2 time champs..
Be a real shame if these 2 teams meet in a semi final. -
@Steven-Harris Yeah the Canes will be better equipped than they were last year and previously this year when they roll down to Crusader country (assuming both teams win their quarter finals). I don't think it's possible for the Crusaders and Canes to meet in the final which is a real shame.
Aslong as the big five of Coles, Savea, Perenara, B Barrett & J Barrett remain fit, then the Canes have a real chance of knocking over the Crusaders in their own back yard. Will take a massive effort to do so though.
I'd like to see J Barrett, Perenara and Savea take a seat next week, along with the likes of IWL, T Smith, Blackwell & Laumape.
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@Canes4life you could probably play your Dev team and the Blues would still find a way to lose..lol
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I'd say it would look something like this: 1. Armstrong 2. Coles 3. May (apparently meant to return) 4. Lea'upepe 5. Mitchell 6. Bedwell-Curtis 7. Kirifi 8. Evans 9. Judd 10. Barrett/Garden-Bachop 11. Rayasi 12. Umaga Jensen 13. Goosen 14. Lowe 15. Toala
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Here is my Radical SR finals prediction
Highlanders and Chiefs to win with bonus points to both finish on 36 points (Rebels no bonus point 34 points)
Bulls (40)to beat Lions no bonus point for Lions (35)
Stormers (38) to beat Sharks bonus point(34)
QFS
Crusaders v Highlanders
Jags v Chiefs
Brumbies v Stormers
Hurricanes v Bulls -
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
However, none of the other wild card spots are certain, yet. Teams that are now outside the wild spots, can still finish in 5th-8th place, with the exception of the Sunwolves, although the Blues' and Reds' chances are merely theoretical.
I''m pretty sure that none of the Waratahs, Blues or Reds can make the play-offs - assuming that the first tie-breaker is number of wins.
If the Waratahs pick up five points, they move to 35 points, but are below the Lions on the tie-break rule - in seventh place against the current table.
But then I don't think there's a combination of outcomes of the Chiefs/Rebels, Stormers/Sharks games that doesn't push them to 9th.
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@Stargazer Problem is - if the Rebels get no points then the Chiefs have to get four - and the Chiefs will continue to have one more win than the Tahs - even if they're tied on points.
I think the Tahs, and everyone behind them, are done.
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One of the towering figures of world rugby, All Blacks and Gallagher Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick, has signed a new three-year deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and his Investec Super Rugby side which will see him take an extended break from the game in New Zealand before committing through to 2023. Under the terms of the deal announced today, Retallick will leave New Zealand at the end of the year and play two seasons in Japan’s Top League in 2020 and 2021, with an extended family break in between. He will then return to rugby in New Zealand in May 2021 and play through to the end of the 2023 season.http://www.allblacks.com/News/34254/retallick-signs-new-deal-to-extend-his-career
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So, in the locking department, the situation will be as follows:
Not playing Super Rugby in 2020, but available for the ABs: Sam Whitelock
Not playing Super Rugby in 2020 and unavailable for the ABs: Brodie RetallickAvailable for Super Rugby and ABs in 2020: Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu
Meaning that for the ABs, we have in 2020: Whitelock, Barrett and Tuipulotu
Playing Super Rugby in 2021 and available for the ABs: Whitelock
Not playing Super Rugby in 2021, but available for the ABs: RetallickNot yet signed for 2021: Barrett and Tuipulotu
