[2019 Super Rugby] Round 18 (14 & 15 June 2019)

[Kiwiwomble]

....w...t....f.....this is without bender I remind you all....

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I was listening to The Short Ball podcast, and they mentioned that the 'Tahs will be resting a bunch of Wallabies this week, so it may be that the Highlanders end up crushing them pretty badly.

It was interesting, too, to hear them complaining about that phenomenon - their take is, you can't call your competition (in this case, Super Rugby) the best if you routinely rest players to keep them fresh for a different competition. I see the logic in that, and if I have tickets to the Hurricanes game this weekend and didn't get to see Laumape because they're just giving him a rest, I'd be pretty ******. On the other hand, this is something every top league has to do, right? So, in a way, if it's a built-in handicap for all, you could still technically assert that Super Rugby is the best league, right?

Tough problem, I really see no way around it...

The tahs indeed got thrashed.

The best competition only had to be better than the other competitions. If it could be better for not resting players doesn't mean it would be more best. In terms of resting players I don't really think it lessens the competition. It's good in the long run to give players a rest so it's not that different from what the coaches might do anyway.

Whether it is the best or not is another story.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I was listening to The Short Ball podcast, and they mentioned that the 'Tahs will be resting a bunch of Wallabies this week, so it may be that the Highlanders end up crushing them pretty badly.

It was interesting, too, to hear them complaining about that phenomenon - their take is, you can't call your competition (in this case, Super Rugby) the best if you routinely rest players to keep them fresh for a different competition. I see the logic in that, and if I have tickets to the Hurricanes game this weekend and didn't get to see Laumape because they're just giving him a rest, I'd be pretty ******. On the other hand, this is something every top league has to do, right? So, in a way, if it's a built-in handicap for all, you could still technically assert that Super Rugby is the best league, right?

Tough problem, I really see no way around it...

The tahs indeed got thrashed.

The best competition only had to be better than the other competitions. If it could be better for not resting players doesn't mean it would be more best. In terms of resting players I don't really think it lessens the competition. It's good in the long run to give players a rest so it's not that different from what the coaches might do anyway.

Ok, obviously 4 nz teams will make the playoffs, which means the chiefs and highlanders will win with bonus points, the lions will lose without a bonus point. There's my prediction, the rest don't matter.

Number 1 of 3, tick.

 

[Larksea]

chiefs are 2 up, fingers crossed >.<

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Rebels chance to make it to the playoffs.

 

[petite]

man this is a night Mr Cooper would like to forget.
4 chiefs tries where his fault!

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Now the bulls are certain, the chiefs are certain. Two of the highlanders, lions, sharks, and Stormers will make it. The winner of Stormers sharks match will make it, and the lions will make it if they get at least a bonus point , if not the highlanders will make it.

Here's hoping for a bulls win by 7 or more points.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Hard to believe it's the last weekend of the regular season... Somehow, Super Rugby has seemed to pass by much quicker than the Pro14 or the Premiership, maybe it's because of all the side cups and competitions...

In any event, gimme my Highlanders at home against the stumbling 'Tahs;
Rebels to defend the home field with a narrow win against the Chiefs;
Jaguares should destroy the poor Sunwolves, who get to fly halfway around the world to finish a season in a league where they're not wanted... Sad.
'Canes should be way too much for the Blues, even if they decide to rest some people;
I like the Brumbies, who've been looking sharper, at home over the Reds;
My gut says the Sharks will come into Cape Town and get out with a tough win over the Stormers;
And the Bulls should win fairly comfortably, it feels like the Lions' tires have collectively come off, lots of dissent is being rumored...

In "tooting your own horn news," last week I got 'em all right except for the 'Landers drawing... And you'd have to remove the word "boring" from my Reds/Blues prediction:

(From week 17 thread
Gimme my beloved Highlanders over the sometimes-frightening Bulls,
The Reds to eke out a close win in a boring installment of the Purple Cup,
Crusaders to crush the Rebels, just to make sure they can take it easy fully next week,
Brumbies to get a nice away win at the 'Tahs,
The Hurricanes to shock the Lions with a blowout win at altitude,
Stormers to easily beat the hapless Sunpuppies, and
The Jaguares to keep up their winning ways over the visiting Sharks

Hey I just wanted to offer my condolences about Stanley.

 

[petite]

Landers
Rebels
Jaguares
Canes
Ponys
Stormers
Bulls[

rebels?

 

[BobbyM]

Now the bulls are certain, the chiefs are certain. Two of the highlanders, lions, sharks, and Stormers will make it. The winner of Stormers sharks match will make it, and the lions will make it if they get at least a bonus point , if not the highlanders will make it.

Here's hoping for a bulls win by 7 or more points.

Just spent a good 10 mins there on the train looking at the standings and the remaining fixtures to get this right in my head, come on here and someone had already done it; thank you

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Just spent a good 10 mins there on the train looking at the standings and the remaining fixtures to get this right in my head, come on here and someone had already done it; thank you

No worries. But I should have said "...bulls win by more than 7" as opposed to "7or more".

 

[mdaclarke]

The Bulls and Lions will both qualify unless the Lions lose by more than 7. The New Zealanders will have a field day.

 

[Larksea]

I'm trying to figure out how so many people picked the rebels after the last couple weeks results1?! I know Rugby isn't paper scissors rock but the chiefs comfortably beat the crusaders and the Crusaders then Thumped the Rebels, pretty telling results. Pretty clear the Rebels are not the team they were early in the comp and the chiefs are on a surge since Cane came back.

 

[Al Bangor]

The Melbourne Rebels in the second half of the season.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I know Rugby isn't paper scissors rock but the chiefs comfortably beat the crusaders

True, but the crusaders had nothing to lose. The rebels did and they were playing at home.
And to be fair, that's the kind of comment you make before the game starts.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

So... so the landers need the lions to loose by more than 7?

 

[Umaga's Witness]

The Bulls and Lions will both qualify unless the Lions lose by more than 7. The New Zealanders will have a field day.

Nah We expect to have 4 teams in the playoffs, anything less and we will have an anti-field day.

 

[Al Bangor]

I've watched most of the Sunwolves matches this season and they don't roll over (like the Rebels did in that 66-0 loss to the Crusaders). The Sunwolves rarely win, but they play hard and I admire that. The Jaguares lead at half time, as expected.

 

[petite]

why aren't the sunwolves field other prop as hooker?

 

[argie]

I guess the first line should be specialists.