Super Rugby

[rowan]

Yes, it was 20 years ago. It was still a S12 back then & Australia only had 3 teams. So I certainly got some things right. But I would do it very differently now. Nonetheless, the mechanisms I used to ensure rotation of non-conference fixtures seems superior to the model they are using today, if you look at it closely. You can change the teams as much as you like, but the format is pretty solid.

Meanwhile, Stransky thinks they should axe the Cheetahs & Kings http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRug ... y-20170404

Not sure why they chose that awful photo of him Meanwhile, the Lions & Cheetahs were once the same team, so maybe they should go back to that. Yes, it didn't work out so great, but neither have the Cheetahs, and If you're looking to merge any of the current sides, that's the obvious starting point. The other would be the Kings with either the Sharks or Stormers.

[rowan]

Improved showing by the Tahs in Wellington, but it's another loss and they were trailing all the way, never really threatening the Canes' lead. Beauden Barrett binned? Needs to sort himself out. Defending champs march on nonetheless.

[rowan]

Sunwolves with a single point win at home against the Bulls today.

Blues currently leading Otago in Dunedin. HT 10-20

[rowan]

Otago came back then. Meanwhile, Sharks just held out Jags 18-13

[morepork]

Beaver is starting against the stormers!

[morepork]

Push and shove in the first minute. Started by....Etzebeth.

[morepork]

Jesus, niggly bastards.

[morepork]

Insane try from their own line by the chiefs.

[morepork]

Messam getting his beans from Etzebeth, who appears to not like Liam very much. Tight game, 17-18 Chiefs.

[rowan]

Stormers won. I said we'd see a few South African victories when the Kiwis travelled over there.

[rowan]

So tomorrow is D-Day. I'm guessing they'll just tweak the playoff system and expect everybody to be happy . . .

SANZAAR have confirmed they will make an announcement on the future of Super Rugby and the tournament format on Sunday.

[zer0]

Back to 15 sides in three conferences for next season. Will also no longer be using geography to determining playoff position (outside of the three conference winners).

• 120 match regular season plus seven match finals series
• 15 teams in three conferences (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)
• 18 rounds (16 matches per team, two bye weeks)
• Each team will play eight matches within its conference (four home and four away)
• Each team will play eight cross-conference matches – against four of the five teams from each of the other two conferences (four at home and four away)
• Each team will play 12 of the other teams within the season (85% of opposition teams which is up from 70% in 2016).
• Eight team Finals Series: three Conference winners and five wild card places – the next best performing teams based on competition points after the Conference winners regardless of Conference. Conference winners and fourth-placed team on competition points will host quarter-finals.

[cashead]

[*]Eight team Finals Series: three Conference winners and five wild card places – the next best performing teams based on competition points after the Conference winners regardless of Conference. Conference winners and fourth-placed team on competition points will host quarter-finals.[/list]

FUUUUUUUCK OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

[jared_7]

[*]Eight team Finals Series: three Conference winners and five wild card places – the next best performing teams based on competition points after the Conference winners regardless of Conference. Conference winners and fourth-placed team on competition points will host quarter-finals.[/list]

FUUUUUUUCK OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Silly stuff, going to massively reduce NZs presence in the finals and reduce the overall quality.

[rowan]

[Lizard]

Stormers defence was excellent against the Chiefs, forcing them into low percentage plays and poor decisions.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

[*]Eight team Finals Series: three Conference winners and five wild card places – the next best performing teams based on competition points after the Conference winners regardless of Conference. Conference winners and fourth-placed team on competition points will host quarter-finals.[/list]

FUUUUUUUCK OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Silly stuff, going to massively reduce NZs presence in the finals and reduce the overall quality.

More than half the league make the play offs...

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Insane try from their own line by the chiefs.

Anyone ever seen a better try?

[rowan]

Happy Days!

Hurricanes and New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett is free to play after a hearing looked into his red card against the Waratahs.

[rowan]

Bulls 26 Jags 13. Hosts on top most of the way. Disappointing from the tourists, who looked a little better during last week's narrow loss to the Sharks. The upsets have been very few and far between this season so far, notwithstanding today's narrow victory for the Rebels over the Brumbies. Lions still look like the only ones who can stop the Kiwis, but they'll probably need to secure home advantage through the play-offs this time to do so.

[rowan]

Realistically, there's not an Aussie team in the top half of the table right now:

[morepork]

James Lowe moving norf is a bit of a loss I reckon. Good footballer.

[rowan]

Saders only unbeaten team left. It's sure to come down to them, the Chiefs the Canes & the Lions . . .

[Eugene Wrayburn]

James Lowe moving norf is a bit of a loss I reckon. Good footballer.

Very. I've never really understood why he hasn't figured more in the AB conversation. I'm afraid I won't be shocked if he's pulling on a green jersey in 3/5 years time.

[zer0]

Very. I've never really understood why he hasn't figured more in the AB conversation. I'm afraid I won't be shocked if he's pulling on a green jersey in 3/5 years time.

Hansen would always prattle on about Lowe being a defensive liability. Then he would turn around and select Naholo. Go figure.