The top SuperRugby teams?

[nato]

Well I don't normally watch rugby in the southern hemisphere unless it's a international match but I am going to start watching the super 15. But the problemo is that I don't know what team to support? Also I know the super 15 is like half way done but i dont mind to start watching it now. I see that the blues are in the lead right now then the reds then the crusaders/ stormers. I just want to know what SuperRugby teams you support so I can get an idea of what team most of the trf members support.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

It all depends on what type of rugby you like.

The Sharks, Crusaders, Reds and Blues all play a fairly attacking style in which they mainly rely on their backline breaking through the opponent's defense. These teams are characterized by the flowing type of rugby which results in scornig a lot of tries but also conceding one or 2.

When it comes to tight defense and a very solid basis, go for the Stormers or the Waratahs.

In the end, I think you should pick a team which gives you a certain feeling. I support the Sharks because of my wife's parents who are Sharks fans, but at the same time I have had a weak spot for the Cheetahs and Reds. It's difficult to explain though why.

 

[Black Heart]

It depends on what style of rugby you enjoy watching I guess.

I support the Hurricanes though it's proving to be a bit redundant this year lol. The 'Canes have traditionally been the most explosive team in the comp with powerful, fast backlines with current players like Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Corey Jane and Conrad Smith. However their downfall has always been incosistant performances due to impatience and a lack of dicipline.

You can put the Blues in that same catagory but they have produced more efficient seasons with 3 ***le wins and obviously they are having a very good run in 2011 thus far.

The Crusaders are the most successfully side in Super rugby because they are highly structured and are a very patient team. Some one once put it that "most teams will practice 10 things. The Crusaders will only practice 5 things but will perfect them." The Bulls and Brumbies have generally played a very similar style to the Crusaders (though the Brumbies have fallen in form in the last few years).
The Stormers are a highly structured side aswell but are very defence orientated.

The Highlanders are a foward orientated side and it's been working well this year. I can't see them winning the comp IMO but they have proven to be a solid unit under Jamie Joseph.

The Chiefs are far too inconsistant for me to bother with.

The Reds have been a wooden spoon side for many years but in the last 2 seasons they have really produced something special with internationals like Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

The Waratahs have the goods and they have had several chances to take the ***le over the years but they just lack that x-factor that teams like the Crusaders and Bulls have. They've had a history of bolting from the blocks at the beginning of the seasons but dropping off half way through.


If you're wanting to jump on a bandwagon then you can't go wrong with the Crusaders. They rarely loose and when they do it's generally because they havn't played to their own standards.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I support the Chiefs as I used to live in the Waikato region, but I like all NZ teams.
This season the table is slightly different with the Highlanders performing exceptionally well and the Hurricannes not really finding there drive.

 

[Shaggy]

I've supported the Crusaders since the start of Super 12 Rugby, where they weren't very good and used to finish near the bottom of the table, because I was brought up in the area ... not saying you should support them, although they are a pretty good team

Maybe the Melbourne Rebels are a good choice, as they are newest team, and are in their first season, and they have a few Northern Hemisphere players that you might recognise ... my advice is to watch a few games and see which teams you like, and then choose

 

[Amobokoboko]

You could also see what country you like most and then work your way through the 5 franchises per country. If you like some players that play for a national side you could check out there Super Rugby team as well. Keep us posted.

 

[nickdnz]

As a Hurricanes fan, I must tell you. Don't support them. They'll produce something just mind boggingly brillaint with running rugby, but for every amazing thing they do, they produce five errors. Usually they make it to a semi final, but they'll unlikely ever win the thing. Save yourself the heart ache.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Same goes for the Sharks...

We made the play offs 6 times, the final 3 times but we never won the tournament... I think that is the most any team has reached the final without winning the trophy. Oddly enough, with football I have the same problem since I am Dutch. Holland has made the World Cup Final 3 times and lost all 3

 

[nickdnz]

Same goes for the Sharks...

We made the play offs 6 times, the final 3 times but we never won the tournament... I think that is the most any team has reached the final without winning the trophy. Oddly enough, with football I have the same problem since I am Dutch. Holland has made the World Cup Final 3 times and lost all 3

Canes have also made the play offs six times, but only one final.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

So you guys are more like Sweden, with 1 final

 

[monkeypigeon]

This is all very pleasant and constructive...Super 15 sucks!!!


I joke. I find it impossible to support any of these teams. Last year I had a bit of a soft spot for the South African teams after becoming familiar with them from the Lions Tour and there easier to watch because they have a similar time zone to us.

So Usually I see what the most interesting match played in South Africa is on a weekend and watch that and I usually just cheer for Rugby in general and enjoy the show.

I quite like the Sharks and Stormers. The Cheetahs too but I find them very frustrating, they only seem to play well at home or against other South African teams...

 

[Amobokoboko]

Or Australian teams ( this season)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

They have beaten the Waratahs in Sydney, the Brumbies yesterday and get the Rebels at home in week 14.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I know but they haven't beaten them yet. Fingers crossed.
On a side note, the Chiefs have proven themselves strong against SA sides, hope they can beat the Bulls today.

 

[lynam1104]

I was in a simalar place as you at the begging of last season and then in round 2 the saders v the reds after that I supported the Reds due to the rugby that they could produce and the fact that I knew that they were the underdogs.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

western force are the best team because of my god next year it will be the rebels

 

[JJR]

Sharks and Crusaders. Both teams have the ability to play multiple brands of game; they can kick, can use the forwards,can use the backs. Both of these sides have a strong squad; Sharks possibly have more Depth; Crusaders are not the same when they get injuries; Crusaders Depth is being put to the test currently and not doing too great in my opinion. Not the same without Carter and Read.

After this round of rugby is completed i would say it is Sharks/Stormers/Crusaders/Reds to be in the final; one of these four will win. Not sure how Reds will do in Knockout rugby though. That is how i see it currently.

 

[nato]

Thanks for you're opinions on the teams, I just watched the hurricanes/reds match It was a good match reds were unlucky too loose to that last minute penalty.
I think i might have a go for crusaders, I am a bit of a Dan carter fan boy and They also have Richie McCaw. I really wanted to watch the crusaders match but it was on the same time as the munster match. Any body know what the score was?

 

[Bossco]

42-30 to the saders from memory, scoreline flattered the force a bit.

Best teams to follow from an outsider would be the reds, sharks, blues and crusaders, rugby porn right there.

 

[d1e1m]

I think the biggest mistake watchers of NH rugby make is to assume the SH defences are crap because the scorelines are consistently double that of NH teams. That may be true for some teams like current Canes and Cheetahs that do have soft wide defences. The pace of the attack is the key difference in that just like when the Test nations play each other, the SH attacks are much faster and stronger than the NH ones.

I personally like the Crusaders because of their balance in defence and attack, just look at the games versus the Bulls and their game away to the HIghlanders, not the recent one in which they were way off form. They have the ability to wait for that turnover then kill their opponent on the counter at blazing speed from anywhere, and I do mean anywhere. Sure they've leaked some soft tries (v Sharks and recent Highlanders game), but their defense can front against any in the comp with their speed and dynamism, combined with some hard hitters like Franks, Crocky and Thorn.

EDIT: I think 20 of those points from the Force were from OConnors boot, to be fair, the Crusaders were messy at the breakdown. Could've been a lot more to the Saders considering this is the first full game for Richie in quite a while and I don't rate Whitelock highly in the loose. Can't wait for Read to start so its McCaw, Todd, Read starting, thats a damn fast trio.