Super rugby table at round 13

[austingtir]

Who would of predicted this at the start of the season? Its looking quite likely that SA might not get two teams through as the other teams above the red line are almost a game ahead on points differential. The reds could still dip out as they are two games ahead of the crusaders and one ahead of the cheetahs but its looking quite likely the table could be pretty similar to how it stand now by the end of the season.

The Reds in particular have suprised me and the Cheetahs. The lure of playing the lions has clearly made Cooper and Genia step up and the rest of the team is very structured under Mckenzie. Cooper is even making effective tackles this season! I certainly dont rate them to win it though they are very well coached but they dont have enough quality players imo. You could say this about the Brumbies but that Jake White is clearly a very smart coach aswell.

IF the NZ teams get lured into playing a style that suits the reds or brumbies in the semi's it could be a bit of a mess for the NZ teams hopefully the Blues in particular learnt something from that semi against the reds a few years back.

 

[austingtir]

Just looking at the crusaders draw they could easily drop out also as they have drawn some hungry teams in the next few rounds. Could Australia get three teams through in the waratahs? It looks possible but unlikely.

 

[nickdnz]

Hurricanes have a very hard schedual ahead of them. Have to face the Chiefs - bye - Brumbies - Chiefs - Highlanders - Crusaders. The only team which we are ahead of on points and form is the Highlanders. Certainly will be tricky. And every time the Canes win a match other than against the Brumbies, it puts another NZ team further out of the competition.

 

[Regan]

Hurricanes have a very hard schedual ahead of them. Have to face the Chiefs - bye - Brumbies - Chiefs - Highlanders - Crusaders. The only team which we are ahead of on points and form is the Highlanders. Certainly will be tricky. And every time the Canes win a match other than against the Brumbies, it puts another NZ team further out of the competition.

The Canes have one of the hardest roads ahead. However in terms of play off spots if they are to win their games they're playing the right teams to secure a play off spot. Rather than playing teams all below them and have to hope teams above them don't do so well.

Pretty simple for the Canes really. Win 4/5 of their games and they should be in.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

You have to remember that the table doesn't show how many rounds each team has completed, nor how many byes each team has had.

Basically, take four points off all the Australian teams to give you a better indication of the standings at the moment. Best table to look at for up to date standings is actually the one on the Wiki page (2013 Super Rugby Season).

I'm surprised at how well the Cheetahs have done so far, but expect them to start falling now. Reds I'm a bit surprised at - not at their placing (easy Oz games), but at how well they've done against non-Oz teams. Waratahs I expected to do better, but are starting to perform better now. Otherwise it's the usual, Kings better, Highlanders worse etc. Sharks are a bit surprising too, I suppose.

The Chiefs may well drop out of contention in the next two weeks. If they lose to both the Crusaders and the Hurricanes I would say their season is over. They have too many injuries now, and their performances have been sub par. With Horrell and Kahui injured (Kahui gone for the season, Horrell possibly), and TNW out till June, it could be a very bad few weeks ahead. Ngatai will hopefully be back next week though. At least Robinson has returned, though of course Anscombe is now out.

 

[The big Kangaroo]

I'm surprised at how well the Cheetahs have done so far, but expect them to start falling now. Reds I'm a bit surprised at - not at their placing (easy Oz games), but at how well they've done against non-Oz teams.

The only thing the reds have found easy is knocking off your kiwi teams! reds have 2 wins out of 5 against Aussie Teams and 4 wins out of 4 games when versing you kiwis. easy Oz Games you go to be kidding or your following the wrong year

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Whoops, should have said easy Oz teams, not games. Yeah, the NZ teams have performed like crap against the Oz teams (though it's now a lot more even than a few weeks ago).

 

[The big Kangaroo]

haha dam it i was gearing up for an argument

 

[smartcooky]

Just looking at the crusaders draw they could easily drop out also as they have drawn some hungry teams in the next few rounds. Could Australia get three teams through in the waratahs? It looks possible but unlikely.

Keep in mind that four of the Aussie teams are about one round ahead of the rest. No Australian teams will be playing in week 19 (July 5-7) and they are not byes so they wont be getting 4 points in that round. (all due to the Lions tour.

 

[austingtir]

Keep in mind that four of the Aussie teams are about one round ahead of the rest. No Australian teams will be playing in week 19 (July 5-7) and they are not byes so they wont be getting 4 points in that round. (all due to the Lions tour.

I was talking more in relation to the SA teams missing out on a second or third team into the semi's than us. Even with the aussie teams dropping some points they will still be ahead assuming they win most of their games they've drawn. The SA sides below the bulls are struggling a bit. The Stormers have probably the easiest run from here out though and i wouldnt be suprised if they won every game.

 

[tenpm]

I think we'll see two teams from each conference.
The Bulls are likely to win all three games in Loftus, possibly with bonus points (they have Highlanders, Kings and Sharks), and if they win at least one of their away games, that should be enough.
The other SA team would be either the Stormers or the Cheetahs - depends on whether the Cheetahs come back from the loss this round. They both have relatively easy games. Especially the Stormers, but they are further behind on points.
I have no idea who is going to go through out of the New Zealand teams. We might even end up with three teams, or only one, if the Hurricanes do the same thing as last year and win enough games to inconvenience other New Zealand teams but not enough to get in the playoffs.
The Rebels and the Force have improved since last year, but I can't see them winning their games against the Brumbies and the Reds. With the Reds having had their games against the Force (where they struggled) and a bye to spare, that should be eight guaranteed points each.

My prediction:
1. Bulls
2. Brumbies
3. Chiefs
4. Reds
5. Crusaders
6. Cheetahs

I went with the Cheetahs ahead of the Stormers because I think they are more likely to get bonus points out of games, and also because I like them better
I dropped the Blues as well. They are still inexperienced, and I don't think they are as good as the Crusaders are at winning the crucial games, as much as I support them.
The Sharks, the Hurricanes and the Waratahs I can't see getting into the playoffs, but they might cause some upsets and disrupt the rankings.

 

[Gena_ZA]

My prediction:
1. Bulls
2. Brumbies
3. Blues
4. Reds
5. Crusaders
6. Stormers (easy road home - just need 3 wins to be in contention again)

Chiefs losing the plot and Cheetahs just missing out
Warrants to make a strong challenge but too late

 

[Larksea]

chiefs haven't lost the plot, they have just lost basically a whole back line and 3 #8's to injury

but one thing you should notice about the chiefs is they just keep winning. They have won more games than any other team in the competition. It's it's mainly because when players get injured the team keeps on winning.

Doesn't look good for the chiefs but at the same time

Messam, Cane, Clarke, TKB and Cruden are still standing. They will surely still pick up points and wins, enough to get to the playoffs and by that time the injury situation should look better.

Really important Robbie Robinson finds form fast with Anscombe out with a broken foot.

 

[Larksea]

find it interesting how the NZ table is obviously the strongest again even though it was shaky for a long time. basically up till a couple of weeks ago.

 

[smartcooky]

Here is what the table looks like with byes removed. It gives a better idea of where everyone is in relation to each other...

 

[Larksea]

oh no! you took away half the highlanders points!

things still look good for the crusaders and Blues, the fact that the highlanders have been so bad this year may help get 3 NZ teams into the playoffs.

 

[TRF_heineken]

find it interesting how the NZ table is obviously the strongest again even though it was shaky for a long time. basically up till a couple of weeks ago.

The same could be said about the South African conference. The only conference where every team has won 3 or more games. The only problem is the derbies which are so damn rough on the teams. With the strength of the SA teams, and with the injuries, they are basically making it tougher on one another to qualify for the playoffs. That being said, my team is in the best position, and I hope they end in the top2. Getting a home semi-final. And we all know how hard it is to beat the Bulls at Loftus, especially in a final or semi-final.

 

[Larksea]

yeah SA table is very even, Cheetahs have been a surprise package while the Stormers and sharks have probably underperformed while the Kings you would have to say have been a success with 3 wins and some entertaining rugby.

not as even as the NZ table though where you have 3 teams basically dead even with 6 wins each.

Highlanders, well you have arguably NZ's strongest team on paper but they just can't seem to click. Seem to play with the run of the green against them every week. I think their points differential compared to the kings and Rebels is a better indication of where they are. And they still have the player power to beat any team.

I mean you would expect a squad with: Hore, Woodcock, Thorn, Hoeata, Aaron Smith, Colin Slade, Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear and Ben Smith to do better. They are basically even with the Force and the Force are essentially a team of no-names.

One has to wonder how long Jamie Joseph has left. Losing to the kings is a hard result to find excuses for.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Interesting if you add up the point totals for each conference. NZ 140, Aus 134, SA 128.

 

[Draggs]

I'd like to see it if we pull the double derbies out for each conference team.
Would change the a bit in NZ and SA where no team lost to the lowest in their conference.