[2015 Super Rugby] Chiefs vs. Hurricanes (Round 18) 13/06/2015

[nickdnz]

Why do the Tahs get a home semi (and a quarters bye) when they have less points than the Highlanders? I assume it must be a conference thing?? Just another reason for me to hate the conference system I guess...

Its kinda BS the more I think about it. If a team finishes the regular season on more points they should get some advantage going into the semi?? Surely? To me the Tahs should bypass the quarters but give up there home semi! Thats more fair to my mind.

Well yes and no. For a starters we knew the setup before going in.

But let's say for example the Australian conference had the Waratahs and the Brumbies as two reasonably strong teams - and then the three remaining teams never won a game all season (except against each other). The Waratahs and Brumbies would by necessity have more points than the other teams simply by being in the weakest conference and playing those teams twice.

The tough part is New Zealand have the strongest conference (in terms of wins of team from outside their conference) - so they may well have the best two or even three teams - but it still safeguards teams from not massively benefit from a potentially very weak conference getting the top spots.

For the record I hate the conference system and much preferred the round robins, and the new format will be an entirely new level of bull ****.

 

[Kiwi_]

No panic required as was only a dead rubber game for the Chiefs last night having already secured a playoff spot..
..definitely missing the attacking prowess of Tim Nanai Williams last night - maybe he was being rested the way the Stormers have rested their stars...can see Damien McKenzie also being more heavily involved and starting at standoff next week which will improve things as well...workhorse Sam Cane the tackling machine was rested and will be back..

...Remember, what happened up til now all counts for nought once the playoffs start and we'll see who's saving their best for last...without Cruden t'was always gunna be an uphill battle but we made it through regardless thanks to the depth in the team and great coaching staff..

But be warned sudden death football is a whole new kettle of fish and unlike the Highlanders and Hurricanes, the Chiefs have actually been involved in a few semis over the last few years...It's what you bring from now on in that counts so better bring your A game otherwise the Mighty Chiefs will kick your butt...

Mate, you are coming down to a packed Dunedin stadium, with a fired up Highlanders team on a cold Dunedin night. You guys are f*cked.

 

[Jaguares]

Hey fellas. Where is my Chiefs jersey with the sponsor: "AON" on the collar??

 

[bazwaz]

Mate, you are coming down to a packed Dunedin stadium, with a fired up Highlanders team on a cold Dunedin night. You guys are f*cked.

Mate ...and your point is?...

 

[Kiwi_]

Mate ...and your point is?...

No chance Not even a glimmer!

 

[smartcooky]

Well yes and no. For a starters we knew the setup before going in.

But let's say for example the Australian conference had the Waratahs and the Brumbies as two reasonably strong teams - and then the three remaining teams never won a game all season (except against each other). The Waratahs and Brumbies would by necessity have more points than the other teams simply by being in the weakest conference and playing those teams twice.

The tough part is New Zealand have the strongest conference (in terms of wins of team from outside their conference) - so they may well have the best two or even three teams - but it still safeguards teams from not massively benefit from a potentially very weak conference getting the top spots.

For the record I hate the conference system and much preferred the round robins, and the new format will be an entirely new level of bull ****.

Nick, you're right. The new format will be even worse.

The whole format seems set up to benefit the South African teams and is heavily weighted in their favour. They are guaranteed two home quarter-finals when they only have six teams in the competition, while NZ and Australia have five teams each and only one home quarter final each. Its much worse than what we already have; its a crock of sh¡te!!

How it should work is that the Top 8 should be seeded on the number of points on the overall log, and that's it, with no reserved places for conference winners. If a conference winner has the fifth highest log points total, they should be the fifth seed. If one country has the top three log points totals, they should be 1,2 and 3.

 

[SomeOke]

Nick, you're right. The new format will be even worse.

The whole format seems set up to benefit the South African teams and is heavily weighted in their favour. They are guaranteed two home quarter-finals when they only have six teams in the competition, while NZ and Australia have five teams each and only one home quarter final each. Its much worse than what we already have; its a crock of sh¡te!!

How it should work is that the Top 8 should be seeded on the number of points on the overall log, and that's it, with no reserved places for conference winners. If a conference winner has the fifth highest log points total, they should be the fifth seed. If one country has the top three log points totals, they should be 1,2 and 3.

Completely agree. We can hardly support five teams these days let alone 6 especially with so many players leaving the country, politics and money driving everything. This is one of the worst decisions Sanzar has ever made and ultimately I can see it bombing within a year or two.
I also think SA will withdraw from Super Rugby and join Europe within five years which will be a shame.

 

[Car]

Completely agree. We can hardly support five teams these days let alone 6 especially with so many players leaving the country, politics and money driving everything. This is one of the worst decisions Sanzar has ever made and ultimately I can see it bombing within a year or two.
I also think SA will withdraw from Super Rugby and join Europe within five years which will be a shame.

It's OT here, but what do you mean with politics? Rugby politics or politics politics?
But I agree, the level is low enough already. I'm watching far more rugby from Australia and New Zealand and we have the same time zone as South Africa for half of the year (DST) and are only an hour apart for the rest of it.
Having a Japanese team in the SA conference is even worse, especially since SA teams originally objected to Japan since there are no direct flights.
I'm not too sure if the European teams would want that. Sure, the money would be nice, but they're not used to travelling such distances and the fans wouldn't be keen on it either.

 

[SomeOke]

I mean politics politics, PM me if you're interested but it's a long story that has been discussed here before. It has to do with rectifying the inequalities present in rugby in terms of race, caused by apartheid.

 

[Car]

I sent you a PM.

 

[bazwaz]

No chance Not even a glimmer!

Mate,... I take it you're writing the Chiefs off completely then..?

 

[Kiwi_]

Mate,... I take it you're writing the Chiefs off completely then..?

Not entirely, but it will take more than a good performance from the Chiefs. It's very unlikely. Highlanders are a better team and at home in front of massive crowd, they will be pumped up like never before. You're going down Mulu men, it will be 3 in a row.