Super 15 2011

[BoyBrumby]

Ha, wow. Must be nearly 80 by now.

 

[Somerset]

Massive surprise although the Reds could do a lot worse for a replacement back. Not sure what to think of seeing so many former NZ players back in the competition - Umaga, Tony Brown and now potentially Ralph (and Reuben Thorne was in the wider Crusaders squad as cover too).

 

[ripper868]

Week Eighteen Fixtures:
Blues vs Highlanders
Rebels vs Force
Chiefs vs Reds
Crusaders vs Hurricanes
Waratahs vs Brumbies
Bulls vs Sharks
Cheetahs vs Stormers

Caleb Ralph? Random call-up by the Reds.

Yep. Good call IMO. Has the experience at the Super Level and understands the professional rugby set-up better than a 20yo winger from club land would - Especially seeing as it'll likely be just this game with Messrs Ioane, Faingaa, Harris and Lucas set to return for the Semis.

 

[Quaggas]

Week Eighteen Fixtures:
Blues vs Highlanders
Rebels vs Force
Chiefs vs Reds
Crusaders vs Hurricanes
Waratahs vs Brumbies
Bulls vs Sharks
Cheetahs vs Stormers

".... it fair to give 2 points for correct tips for both of the semi-final weeks?"

Gets my vote.

 

[Quaggas]

Double trouble

 

[ripper868]

Oh yeah - for the 2 points things.

 

[Athlai]

Blues vs Highlanders
Rebels vs Force
Chiefs vs Reds
Crusaders vs Hurricanes
Waratahs vs Brumbies
Bulls vs Sharks
Cheetahs vs Stormers

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Blues vs Highlanders
Rebels vs Force
Chiefs vs Reds
Crusaders vs Hurricanes
Waratahs vs Brumbies
Bulls vs Sharks
Cheetahs vs Stormers

 

[BoyBrumby]

Week Eighteen Fixtures:

Blues vs Highlanders
Rebels vs Force
Chiefs vs Reds
Crusaders vs Hurricanes
Waratahs vs Brumbies
Bulls vs Sharks
Cheetahs vs Stormers

The 2 point deal for both weeks of semis seems fair.

 

[TT Boy]

Blues
Force
Chiefs
Saders
Tahs
Bulls
Stormers

 

[Somerset]

Blues
Force
Chiefs
Crusaders
Waratahs
Bulls
Stormers

 

[social]

Blues
Force
Chiefs
Crusaders
Brumbies
Bulls
Stormers

 

[Somerset]

Anyone's guess who they'll play but at least the Blues have finally secured a home playoff match (most likely next week). Shame to see the Highlanders finish with a four match losing streak of their own because their progress was fantastic over the first half of the season.

 

[ripper868]

Right then, Let's have a gander at the important positions on the Ladder.

1. Reds

Post ends.

 

[ripper868]

1.Reds
2.Stormers
3. Crusaders
4. Blues
5. Waratahs
6. Sharks
7.Bulls
8. Highlanders
9. Hurricanes
10. Chiefs
11. Cheetahs
12. Force
13. Brumbies
14. Lions
15. Rebels

1 and 2 bye to Semis

3v6 (Crusaders v Sharks in NZ)
4 v 5 (Blues v Tahs in Auckland)

Lowest Ranked winner gos to Brisbane
Highest ranked winner goes to Cape Town

Winners of both Semi's go to Brisbane for Reds v Stormers/Saders GF.

Reds looking at a semi v Blues or Tahs, can't see the Sharks beating Crusaders at home, which will cruelly mean a trip over to the Cape for week 2...you'd rather run 4th than 3rd when a SA team runs 2.

 

[Quaggas]

My vague impression is that NZ teams (and indeed the ABs) go OK in CT; all else equal, playing in the Highveldt is way more alien than the plush fields of the Mother City.

 

[ripper868]

Yeah this be true. But either way the team going to CT, even with the win, then needs to come all the way back to Aus (reds/tahs win) or NZ (Saders/Blues win) for the GF. Massive disadvantage.

 

[Smudge]

A truly remarkable effort by the Crusaders to win the NZ conference without a single game in their home base of Christchurch.

 

[Quaggas]

True, true. Of course, the Stormers gonna win the whole ball of wax, so no biggie.

Edit @Ripper, and yeah agree re Crusaders.

 

[ripper868]

Indeed a sensational performance by the Crusaders, as always.