The Rugby Union General Discussion thread

R15 Tips...

Crusaders (In Fiji) ~ [Can't believe I'm going against my chiefs, but I have a feeling about this one).
Brumbies
Waratahs
Hurricanes
Stormers
Cheetahs
Lions
Highlanders
Bulls

Ok my opts

Crusaders
Brumbies
Waratahs
Blues
Stormers
Cheetahs
Highlanders
Sharks
Bulls the way argie played against france will be the same for jags.....maybe.

The only diff is i got blues, u got hurricanes, and i got sharks u got lions hmmm may the best man win this round.

Are u shurrre ya wanna bet on Crusaders???

Originally posted by 4x4niner:
Are u shurrre ya wanna bet on Crusaders???

The weather has convinced me even more, 4x4.


Although I want my Chiefs to win anyway. Stuff the tip, we need this game.

Usually it takes the Cru to build momentum after a break, theyll be right, in a game or two.

Originally posted by 4x4niner:
Usually it takes the Cru to build momentum after a break, theyll be right, in a game or two.

Advantage to the Chiefs right now. They have a tough road home though, nervous final 2 rounds... (I was pretty nervous about the Chiefs v Crusaders in Suva, so I tried a bit of the old tip the enemy reverse psychology ... Worked like a charm, maybe I should tip against them the final two rounds? )

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Explanation of the SR - Wild Card - Playoff System:

The wildcard teams – five to 8.

The teams who finished in places numbered from 5th place to 8th will also qualify for the play offs as wild card teams but they will have to travel to the teams who finished above them. As in the past the highest ranked team will play the lowest ranked team. The second highest plays the second lowest and so on.

Wildcard qualifiers will come from the best THREE teams from the The Australasian Group and best placed team from the The South African Group that did not win a conference. This means that there will be Five teams out of eight from the Australasian Group and just three from the South African Group.

The seeding's for the play offs will be as follows.

http://www.superxv.com/format/

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Current 8 - (Playoff teams)

(Conference Leaders)

African Conference 2 / Lions - 47
New Zealand Conference / Chiefs - 46
African Conference 1 / Stormers - 41
Australian Conference / Brumbies - 39

(Wild Card Teams)

(Australasian Group WC x3)

Crusaders - 45
Hurricanes - 44
Highlanders - 43

(African Group WC x1)

Sharks - 35

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Run Home - Final (2) Rounds [16 - 17]:

(AUS CON)

Brumbies (Con Leader): R16 - (Blues / Away) ~ R17 - (Force / Home)

Waratahs: R16 - (Hurricanes / Home) ~ R17 - (Blues / Away)

(NZL CON)

Chiefs (Con Leader): R16 - (Reds / Away) ~ R17 - (Highlanders / Away)

Crusaders (WC): R16 - (Rebels / Home) ~ R17 - (Hurricanes / Home)

Hurricanes (WC): R16 - (Waratahs / Away) ~ R17 - (Crusaders / Away)

Highlanders (WC): R16 - (Jaguares / Away) ~ R17 - (Chiefs / Home)

(AF1 CON)

Stormers (Con Leaders): R16 - (Force / Away) ~ R17 - (Kings / Home)

(AF2 CON)

Lions (Con Leaders): R16 - (Kings / Home) ~ R17 - (Jaguares / Away)

Sharks (WC): R16 - (Cheetahs / Home) ~ R17 - (Sunwolves / Home)

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Notes:

~ Chiefs have a difficult final two rounds to try to hold on to top spot in the NZ conference. The Crusaders have the easiest run home in that conference.

~ The Brumbies & Waratahs competition for top spot in the AUS conference will go down to the wire. Blues could play the spoiler to both teams. Brumbies have the slightly better road home.

~ All the South African teams are benefiting from weak African conferences. The Lions should finish top overall & lock up home ground advantage throughout the finals, if they win out. Stormers have the easiest run home, but are fortunate to play in that conference as three NZ teams currently sit on a higher points total.

NZ men's team:

Scott Curry (captain) (Bay of Plenty)
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Gillies Kaka (Hawke's Bay)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Regan Ware (Waikato)
Joe Webber (Waikato)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)

Travelling reserves: Sione Molia (Counties Manukau), Lewis Ormond (Taranaki),

NZ women's team:

Shakira Baker (Waikato)
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
Gayle Broughton (Taranaki)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland)
Sarah Goss (captain) (Manawatu)
Kayla McAlister (Auckland)
Huriana Manuel (Auckland)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Ruby Tui (Canterbury)
Niall Williams (Auckland)
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau)

Travelling reserves: Michaela Blyde (Manawatu), Shiray Tane (Hawke's Bay).

The Blues played a cracker against the Hurricanes on Saturday, 4x4... They ended up losing, but there are signs of a really good team. Next year with SBW & co they should be competing for the conference. If the didn't play in the NZ conference they would probably be doing a lot better. 11th/18 isn't too bad.

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I see Jaguares beat the Bulls on the weekend as well. Good for them.