Super Rugby 2024
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@ruggabee said in Super Rugby 2024:
@frugby The Reds are the only side who've improved, the Brumbies were competitive against NZ franchises and tested them particularly heavily at the breakdown last season with Laurie Fisher there, now with him gone it's back to blowout scores like 46-7, 46-12. They really took it to a more experienced & stronger Chiefs team (compared to 2024) in the Semi Final at Waikato last year. They are back to home-track bullies who invariably wilt against NZ teams in NZ because Lord Laurie isn't there and he was one of the very few Australian coaches who had adequate knowledge of how & where to exploit NZ sides.
Fair call on the Brumbies, but those results really feel like outliers... unsure quite what caused them, but I'd expect them to give a much better account of themselves when/if they get another crack.
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@TJ said in Super Rugby 2024:
Well the Rebels have already won 1 more game than they did last year despite losing to the lowly Crusaders, so I'd say they've also improved.
That's not surprising to anyone, they have a superior squad to 2023, before the season started everyone with a mouth predicted they'd do better in 2024 given the signings in the off-season including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu, Matt Proctor, Darby Lancaster, etc.. on paper their squad is actually stronger than Waratahs and Reds but they are just abysmally coached under Foote. It's genuinely hilarious how accepting of mediocrity some of you are.
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@ruggabee uh huh, but I was responding to you saying only 1 Aus side had improved.
I think when you really interrogate it this season has been far more competitive and unpredictable and as a result a far more enjoyable watch than the last few years. -
@ruggabee said in Super Rugby 2024:
@TJ said in Super Rugby 2024:
Well the Rebels have already won 1 more game than they did last year despite losing to the lowly Crusaders, so I'd say they've also improved.
That's not surprising to anyone, they have a superior squad to 2023, before the season started everyone with a mouth predicted they'd do better in 2024 given the signings in the off-season including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu, Matt Proctor, Darby Lancaster, etc.. on paper their squad is actually stronger than Waratahs and Reds but they are just abysmally coached under Foote. It's genuinely hilarious how accepting of mediocrity some of you are.
Rebels also have had to deal with enormous upheaval and uncertainty around the future of the club this season but that doesn't fit your narrative so it's no surprise you don't include it.
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It's also bloody hard to get a read on the Tahs
They actually had some very competitive results early in the season but were never able to get anything close to their top team on the park.
1 missed kick away from beating Highlanders
Golden Point loss to Drua in Fiji
2 point loss to Blues
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@TJ said in Super Rugby 2024:
@ruggabee uh huh, but I was responding to you saying only 1 Aus side had improved.
Yes that's right, a meaningful improvement would have to imply an improvement of the team's systems and structures, not simply looking at results. They are poorly coached at the lineout, at the breakdown, in defense.
No they haven't improved from last year because looking at the context they've had (so far) an easier draw and despite having a stronger squad the team's systems & structures are just as ineffective/poor as last year..
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@ruggabee said in Super Rugby 2024:
@TJ said in Super Rugby 2024:
@ruggabee uh huh, but I was responding to you saying only 1 Aus side had improved.
Yes that's right, a meaningful improvement would have to imply an improvement of the team's systems and structures, not simply looking at results. They are poorly coached at the lineout, at the breakdown, in defense.
No they haven't improved from last year because looking at the context they've had (so far) an easier draw and despite having a stronger squad the team's systems & structures are just as ineffective/poor as last year..
They've had an easier draw than last year? I'm comparing their season so far against the entire season last year, so even if their season ended this round they're up on last year. The draw doesn't come into it.
They're playing much better rugby than last year, definitely a much improved team this year.
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Duluth it's fluff.
I reckon the Blues drop a game before the finals. Probably the Chefs. We always seem to shit the bed against them... so there is definitely a sniff for the Canes to finish top.
Cooking up a blues loss.
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Duluth it's fluff.
I reckon the Blues drop a game before the finals. Probably the Chefs. We always seem to shit the bed against them... so there is definitely a sniff for the Canes to finish top.
don't get sucked into that reverse jinx game. The Blues are nailed on for top of the table
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Lets look at the bottom half of the table.
The run home:
Rebels
Chiefs (H), Brumbies (A), Drua (A)
Prediction: L, L, L, and one bonus point - 26 ptsHighlanders
Blues (A), Drua (H), Hurricanes (A)
Prediction: L, W, L, and one bonus point - 28 ptsDrua
Reds (H), Highlanders (A), Rebels (H)
Prediction: L, L, W, and one bonus point - 22 ptsForce
Waratahs (H), Reds (A), Brumbies (H) - do the Brumbies rest players in the final round?
Prediction: W, L, L - 19 ptsMoana Pasifika
Hurricanes (A), Waratahs (H), Crusaders (A)
Prediction: L, W, L - 18 ptsCrusaders
Brumbies (A), Blues (H), MP (H)
Prediction: L, L, W, and one bonus point - 19 ptsWaratahs
Force (A), MP (A), Reds (H)
Prediction: L, L, L, and two bonus points - 14 ptsForce vs. Brumbies, Crusaders vs. MP, and Drua vs. Rebels all important games in the final round.
Predicted cut-off for quarter-finals: 22 points
Final predicted standings:
- Highlanders - 28
- Rebels - 26
- Drua - 22
- Crusaders - 19
- Force - 19
- Moana Pasifika - 18
- Waratahs - 14
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i said pre season that 6th would be a success....i had forgotten how poor you can be and still get 6th
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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).
