Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608375" data-time="1471934340">
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cutting a NZ team is sense?
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Will let someone else finish 5th?
 
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="608371" data-time="1471933474">
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Dave Moffitt speaking sense about super rugby and it's expansion and the fallout for Oz rugby <a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11699523">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11699523</a>
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The other point about attendance - which I might have raised already - is that there were a shedload of Suburban Rugby finals on Saturday in Sydney. So you're talking another 15-17 clubs with one or more grades, supporters, etc. whose season ended one way or another. They'd be back at their sponsors drowning sorrows or celebrating.
 
And the Homebush factor. People in Sydney rugby's heartland (eastern suburbs) are sick of the journey out there for zero atmosphere and a probable pounding.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608097" data-time="1471857181">
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The Hurricanes didn't dominate the competition that is for sure. They were awful in the first game against the Brumbies and mediocre in their second against the Highlanders. The NZ conference went down to the final weekend with four sides in with a shot of topping the conference. The Hurricanes hit form at the right time. 
I disagree with the assertion that the Hurricanes won because the cards fell their way. They won the competition because of a helluva of lot hard work by the squad and excellent coaching by Boyd and Plumtree. We were fortunate to have two of the best players in the world right now in Beauden Barrett and Dane Coles, aided by the very experienced Victor Vito and Cory Jane who were hungry for success having tasted much disappointment with the franchise over the years. TJP, Ardie Savea and Brad Shields played perhaps the best Rugby of their careers so far in the business end of the season. 
The Hurricanes had a star squad rather than a squad of stars. There were no weak links in the player roster and everyone played their part during the campaign at some stage. Injuries happened to first-choice players but other players slotted in and did very well. The spirit in the squad was excellent. The key to the successful campaign in so many ways was the 35-10 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch at the end of the regular season. Not only did it put the Hurricanes top of the NZ conference, but IMHO the quality of the performance gave them huge belief going into the knock out games. It is many years since I have seen the forward pack of a NZ team get the better of the Crusaders forwards on their own turf like that. Awesome stuff and a welcome change from some of the beatings the Hurricanes have received from the Crusaders over the years that is for sure.
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A considered and intelligent response, Sparky.
 
I think the bolded bit is key and the point I was making. Even after you'd thumped the Crusaders (helped by us being pretty shit), you still needed the Chiefs to lose and the Highlanders not to get a bonus point. If either of those things had happened then most likely you guys were making the long trek to South Africa and coming back to play guys who'd spent a fortnight sleeping in their own beds.
 
Could you then have won? Well, it's possible - but, no-one's really managed it in 20 years. 
 
Credit where it is due - you guys have won the trophy - and most of the other things you say were important contributors that you wouldn't have won without. Overall, I think the NZ conference was pretty even this year, so it is not surprising to anyone sensible that the ABs are not dominated by the winning Super team.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608375" data-time="1471934340">
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cutting a NZ team is sense?
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we've had 5 teams all along, every NZ team has won and we should drop a team?
 
Used to be:
NZ 5
SA 4
Aus 3

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608375" data-time="1471934340">cutting a NZ team is sense?</blockquote>I must have missed that, I read him saying they should drop the farce and the rabbles. We're doing just fine thanks

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="608371" data-time="1471933474">
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Dave Moffitt speaking sense about super rugby and it's expansion and the fallout for Oz rugby <a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11699523">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11699523</a>
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Sanzar is expanding because they want more money and not "to grow the game."

antipodean

Long and the short of it is SANZAAAAAAR's expansion of Super Rugby has diluted the quality. For some reason having more players exposed at that level doesn't seem to have increased the depth for the Wallabies.

pakman

In fact, given the depth, the old system of 5/4/3 would lead to a higher quality offering. Kings most certainly superfluous. Suspect, based in excellence of Pumas, Jaguares will soon develop into a force.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608394" data-time="1471938380">
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Suspect, based in excellence of Pumas, Jaguares will soon develop into a force.
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I thought they'd be a force this year for that reason. Their travel schedule is horrendous, though - given that they're playing in an SA conference 7,000 km away.

taniwharugby

sooner they get upto speed and able to host a 2nd team would make that travel slightly less of an issue...
 
I expect the style of rugby played as well as travel impacted them, they'll be better for iit next year

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="608368" data-time="1471932948">
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Ummm...nope that's not how you're getting! I don't know if you recall the davidav/Toeava thing too well.
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Could be wrong, I'm sure he talked him up when everyone else was putting him down.....
 
Aw I gotcha, no one is putting Moala down......yet......but when they do I'll be ready to get all internet tough guy and stand up for him.

Bones

Hah, brilliant.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="608391" data-time="1471938194">
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Sanzar is expanding because they want more money and not "to grow the game."
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Absolutely, this was a financial decision not an on-field product and for the good of the game decision

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608394" data-time="1471938380">
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In fact, given the depth, the old system of 5/4/3 would lead to a higher quality offering. Kings most certainly superfluous. Suspect, based in excellence of Pumas, Jaguares will soon develop into a force.
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I reckon you could have a Super 14 if we are talking about quality of the rugby on the field. 5 for us, 4 for SA (they can barely manage that), 3 for Oz, 1 for Argies enlarging to 2 if they continue to improve

Bovidae

SA calls the shots as they provide the bulk of the broadcasting money so they will get the number of teams they want. Australia on the other hand...

pakman

Returning to the theme of the thread (extraordinary tangent I know: 
Crockett/Canes/Franks 
Sam/BBBR 
Cane/O/Skip 
Nugget/BB 
Fekitoa/Tamanivatu 
Bus/Dagg/BFA. 
Only query is Seta but my read on Fozzie is no debutants. 
Bench: 
Hames/Charlie 
Parsons (see above re debuts) 
Savea 
Squire/Pat T/Dixon -- depends how wise men are thinking about EOYT 
TJP/Crudes 
ALB( would be logical to get a gallop outside AC

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608430" data-time="1471947496">
Returning to the theme of the thread (extraordinary tangent I know: 
Crockett/Canes/Franks 
Sam/BBBR 
Cane/O/Skip 
Nugget/BB 
Fekitoa/Tamanivatu 
Bus/Dagg/BFA. 
Only query is Seta but my read on Fozzie is no debutants. 
Bench: 
Hames/Charlie 
Parsons (see above re debuts) 
Savea 
Squire/Pat T/Dixon -- depends how wise men are thinking about EOYT 
TJP/Crudes 
ALB( would be logical to get a gallop outside AC</blockquote>
 
Think you're not far off. 
Would love Pat T off the bench. Either him or Squire. Nkt a fan of Dixon. 
Wouldn't object to ALB to start but can see why thry wouldn't.

cgrant

Will Ioane be on the bench because he covers wing and centre ? Maybe Sopoaga instead of Cruden ? Otherwise, there will be no surprises in the starting XV IMO.

pukunui

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="608401" data-time="1471940603">
Could be wrong, I'm sure he talked him up when everyone else was putting him down..... 
Aw I gotcha, no one is putting Moala down......yet......but when they do I'll be ready to get all internet tough guy and stand up for him.</blockquote>
 
Not sure if im missing something here but DavidAV's quest in life was to tell everyone how shit Toeava was and how he never should have been picked for the ABs regardless of how well Toeava actually played. Got a bit silly the years where Toeava was close to the best player in super rugby (2007?) 
Unfortunately that form never translated to his AB career so im sure DavidAV feels justified even though he was full of shit.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="608456" data-time="1471963106">
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Not sure if im missing something here but DavidAV's quest in life was to tell everyone how shit Toeava was and how he never should have been picked for the ABs regardless of how well Toeava actually played. Got a bit silly the years where Toeava was close to the best player in super rugby (2007?) 
Unfortunately that form never translated to his AB career so im sure DavidAV feels justified even though he was full of shit.
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Weirdly 2010 EOYT they shifted him to wing & he looked outstanding, him & Hosea Gear destroyed.. someone... then just when it looked like he had made it they dropped him for the once in 10 years fit Kahui & he took his broken hip off to Japan

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="608457" data-time="1471970451">
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Weirdly 2010 EOYT they shifted him to wing & he looked outstanding, him & Hosea Gear destroyed.. someone... then just when it looked like he had made it they dropped him for the once in 10 years fit Kahui & he took his broken hip off to Japan
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Absolutely superb performance. Toeava was probably MoTM coming off the bench early in the game where we held SA scoreless at home in 2008. Toeava was class from pretty much 2008 onwards. I think some remember his early struggles in 2006, barely remember the abridged 2007 season and the tests after that a majority of which were away.

The Silver Fern

Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.