Super Rugby 2024

Dan54

@Kiwiwomble was reported mate, Phil Waught met with the players last Monday to hear what the players preferred place to go to, if the Rebels folded. Well I read it on ROAR (I think) and Christy Doran who wrote it is usually pretty true.
Which is polite speak for you are history boys, and why I wasn't in anyway surprised when the got such a hiding on weekend.

chchfanatic

@Canes4life we waved good to the pack weeks ago. Only the ridiculous format of this competition has kept everyone interested. We should never be in consideration for the finals. We don’t deserve it.
It would be funny if we finished 8th and beat number 1 though. Drua won’t lose over there though.

Dan54

@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.

Crazy Horse

This post is deleted!

Mr Fish

@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2024:

@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.

To be fair, a lot of that interest stems from the will-they-or-won't-they Crusaders factor. If they were sitting in fifth place then there would be considerably less interest in that bottom part of the table.

Dan54

@Mr-Fish said in Super Rugby 2024:

@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2024:

@chchfanatic and there is the problem mate, you said it yourself. the silly format has done what it was intended , everyone still interested at this stage of season. I am finding it quite hard to rubbish it when we see how much interest there still is in the bottom of table clashes.

To be fair, a lot of that interest stems from the will-they-or-won't-they Crusaders factor. If they were sitting in fifth place then there would be considerably less interest in that bottom part of the table.

Up to a point, but I bet a lot of supporters from the Clan/Drua etc were also interested to see if their teams got in. I was genuinely watching their games and cheering for different teams to make it. But Crusaders funnily enough didn't get on my radar, they have had plenty of success, so I wasn't worried.
But happy to admit that's just me. And although I prefer less teams making it can see why they do it.

I reckon the champion should just be who is got most points over a one round comp, and then have a complete 12 team knockout comp after?

gt12

@Dan54

If you were going to do that, it would be better to have a minor premier, then a cup, plate, bowl for the 3 groups of 4 teams.

I personally think that a playoff in Div 1 (cup) between our top 4 and Japan top four, then Div 2 (plate) with next JP top four, and Div 3 (bowl) with JP teams would be an interesting idea.

Canes4life

What a crock of sh*t this is. Three weeks for a tackle that he should only really have been given a yellow for in the first place. Vaa'i was clearly leading with his head as the ball carrier. Crap call by the judicial system, an example of the type of call that's killing rugby.

The comments section says it all.

Duluth

@Canes4life

Here's the relevant part of the judiciary ruling if you're interested:

“Applying World Rugby’s Head Contact Process, the FPRC assessed the Player's actions
as including direct head contact which was made to the victim player with the Player’s
shoulder at high speed, with the Player’s body position always moving upwards and
towards the collision. The FPRC assessed the act as reckless.”

“In the FPRC’s view, no sudden or significant change in height or direction, a late change
in dynamics (or any other relevant mitigating factor set out within the Head Contact
Process) to result in mitigation sufficient to downgrade the incident to a yellow card.”

"The entry point for the offence was 6 weeks (assessed as mid-range in line with World
Rugby’s mandate and given there were no other factors applicable, in this instance, to
increase the entry point). The Player was given a discount for entering an early guilty
plea (and other relevant mitigating factors including remorse and prior disciplinary
record), reducing the suspension from 6 weeks to 3 weeks. The Player is therefore
suspended up to and including 14 June 2024.”

The Player is eligible to apply for the World Rugby “Head Contact Process – Coaching
Intervention” process.

Canes4life

@Duluth no matter which way it's worded it's still bull. If Vaa'i was standing upright then yes it would be totally fair enough but he was dipping his head into contact aswell which means there is obvious mitigation. The TMO got it wrong on the day and it's shocking that the judiciary have doubled down by giving Tuputupu a suspension.

What is Tuputupu meant to do in that situation? He can't really get any lower than he was. All attacking players are just going to lead with their heads now which will only lead to more concussions / cards going forward, just another blight that the game doesn't need right now.

Tim

The order of the top 8 is set.

Hurricanes vs. Rebels

Blues vs. Drua

Brumbies vs. Highlanders

Chiefs vs. Reds

Reds might be in with a chance next week.

It's pretty lousy that's there's three teams with 40% or lower win rate in there.

mariner4life

The reds always beat us they're a certainty

gt12

Pretty good comp in some ways though - took until the 2nd last game of the regular season to find out who was going where and playing who. That Blues/Chiefs game had plenty of drama for a game where the winner was pretty clear early doors.