Super Rugby

[rowan]

Very nice! MY 2 favourite teams got wins this weekend. Well done, Jags. They, at least, are justifying their spot. Kings should be dumped along with the Sunwolves and possibly the Rebels. From the photos it looks like the stadium in PE was pretty empty as well...

[rowan]

& Stormers edge the Bulls to round off week 1, so the table looks like this

[cashead]

And right away, we get the absurdity of the current conference system highlighted. The top 3 teams should be the Hurricanes, the Blues and then the Chiefs.

[rowan]

Looks mighty good to me as it is

[jared_7]

And right away, we get the absurdity of the current conference system highlighted. The top 3 teams should be the Hurricanes, the Blues and then the Chiefs.

Yes I saw it and had to do a double take, then remembered its SANZAR and Super rugby so of course it doesn't make sense.

[J Dory]

When you look at it in the context of potential quarter finalists, it's not so bad.

[rowan]

I guess we'll see the true mettle of the Blues when they front up at the Chiefs this weekend. Saders also have a tough assignment, away to Otago, as do NSW and the Jaguares v. the Lions & Stormers, respectively, in SA. Canes ought to consolidate their now customary status atop the rankings with a home fixture against the Rebels...

& Stormers edge the Bulls to round off week 1, so the table looks like this

[zer0]

The NZ franchises will supposedly be wearing special jersey's the week, which will also be worn in the Lions tour matches. Links to the jerseys: Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders.

[rowan]

Well, the graphic art look may be in vogue, but they're going to have to find alternative strips for the Canes or Landers when they face each other, ditto the Chiefs & Saders. Personally I'll take good, old-fashioned stripes any day - with long sleeves and collars too!

[rowan]

Interesting report in the Observer about next week's meeting on the future of Super Rugby. Mentions a possible Pacific region breakaway - one of the ideas I've been propounding myself (perhaps Roger Davis has been reading this forum)



SYDNEY (AP) — A week before Super Rugby's governing body meets to discuss the future of the competition, the chairman of the New South Wales Waratahs has complained that none of the five Australian teams will have a say in determining which clubs, if any, are cut.

SANZAAR, which is run by the national unions of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, will meet next Thursday to discuss the structure of the competition, including the number of teams. Australian media have speculated that the Western Force, based in Perth, Western Australia, could be cut from the current 18-team competition.

But the teams that play in the competition, including the Force, ACT Brumbies, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels, and the Waratahs, will have no direct input into the decision-making process.

"I've got to be honest with you, that the Super clubs are not involved at all in this discussion I find totally perverse," Waratahs chairman Roger Davis said Thursday. "It's our clubs and our business, but all the discussions are being handled on our behalf by the national bodies."

Davis admitted it would be unwieldy for all Super Rugby teams to be involved in the meeting, but he argued they could be represented.

"There are a lot of understandably selfish interests going on here." Davis said. "A classic situation would be if you were the Western Force and you were bounced out of the competition. You don't get to participate in the trial, you don't get to hear the arguments, you are tried, judged and whipped off to jail without any real right of appeal."

Davis said the Waratahs would like to see an Asia-Pacific competition involving 10 teams from Australia and New Zealand and possibly Japan, which would increase the number of home games and local derbies.

"All the professional sporting codes, AFL, soccer, rugby league, are absolutely staggered as to how we can stay afloat with seven (home) games, it's nonsense," Davis said. "We would like to see more games against the Kiwis and more games against our peers. That would have financial and fan support."

The Tokyo-based Sunwolves and Argentinian side Jaguares are beginning their second year in the competition. They each play in one of two South Africa conferences.

There have been suggestions that Australia cannot support five teams and South Africa should not have six. At the same time, SANZAR chiefs say future expansion has not been ruled out.

http://sobserver.ws/en/02_03_2017/rugby ... future.htm

[rowan]

NB: Surely if an Aussie team were to be bounced out it would be the Rebels, wouldn't it? They joined the comp just six years ago, fully five years after the Force. Western Australia has a much larger local player base and considerable public support was involved in gaining the franchise back in 2006. The Rebels, as far as I know, are privately owned. They've yet to finish higher than 10th. Another advantage of Perth with the current format is that is eases slightly the somewhat more demanding travel requirements of the Saffas (in comparison to the Australasians).

[rowan]

NB: Surely if an Aussie team were to be bounced out it would be the Rebels, wouldn't it? They joined the comp just six years ago, fully five years after the Force. Western Australia has a much larger local player base and considerable public support was involved in gaining the franchise back in 2006. The Rebels, as far as I know, are privately owned. They've yet to finish higher than 10th. Another advantage of Perth with the current format is that is eases slightly the somewhat more demanding travel requirements of the Saffas (in comparison to the Australasians).

The Western Force finished on top in their Australian derby with the Reds in Perth, winning 26-19 despite Eto Nabuli scoring a hat-trick for the Reds. - should help their cause a little . . .

[rowan]

So what might we see coming 2018? If you have any ideas post them here & I'll set up a poll on the General Rugby thread. But be quick, as the decision will apparently be made at a meeting next week. Here's some of the options I think are possible:

1 Status quo.
2 Jaguares move to NZ, Sunwolves to Aussie, SA revert to one conference - total 3 X 6-team groups.
3 Kings, Sunwolves, Rebels (or Force) axed, Jaguares join Aussie conference (perhaps with reduced travel requirements) - total 3 X 5-team groups.
4 Pacific breakaway with Sunwolves joining Aussie conference and a new team (Singapore or Pacific Is) joining NZ. SA & Argentina form an Atlantic conference with a 2nd Argentinean team (& perhaps North American input).

[rowan]

I guess we'll see the true mettle of the Blues when they front up at the Chiefs this weekend.

[rowan]

The Hurricanes pummeled the hapless Rebels 71-6 after scoring 11 tries in Wellington on Saturday.

Even as a Canes fan I am saddened by that scoreline Is this the death knell for the Rebels as the Force achieve victory over the Reds and Sanzaar prepares to meet over the future of the competition next week? I think we should say sayonara to the Sunwolves, Kings and Rebels for the good of the comp.

[zer0]

It's a nice change to see J.Savea start a season without looking like Thomas the Tank Engine's conductor.

[rowan]

Otago spanking the Crusaders right now. Still early days but next week's Chiefs v Canes game could go a long way toward telling us who is going to win the comp this year...

[cashead]

Yeah, about that...

[rowan]

Saders with the incredible comeback. Will this signal their revival - and Otago's demise??

[Len]

It's a nice change to see J.Savea start a season without looking like Thomas the Tank Engine's conductor.

I've never thought he looked overweight TBH. Maybe I've been watching too much rugby in the NH

[Len]

Nehe Milner Stepper back on form. That step makes me sex wee. The run and offload from Barrett junior was mint too.

Good win for the Crusaders also.

[morepork]

Oh Rebels.....

[rowan]

So the Canes have scored more than 150 points in their first 2 games.

Sunwolves lose what is likely to be a bottom of the table tussle against the Kings.

South Africans are actually looking fairly good at this early stage.

Aussies are looking like rubbish again...

[morepork]

Far, what a come back from the Crusaders.

[J Dory]

Nehe Milner Stepper back on form. That step makes me sex wee. The run and offload from Barrett junior was mint too.

Good win for the Crusaders also.

Please explain sex wee, I'm going to use it, I just don't want it to be out of context.