Super Rugby Pacific 2024

sydthebeat

so heading into the final regular round the QFs look interesting.

while the crusaders have been pretty dog sh!te this year, they can still cause damage should they get to the play offs.

they host moana this weekend who have had a good season so far, on 4 wins currently, which is 3 more than last season.

both moana and crusaders have an outside chance to making the play offs, all depending on the Drua losing against the rebels. Its a pity this game isnt in Suva where i would have the drua as favourites. As it is in Sydney that brings things closer, but i still expect the drua to fall over the line here. Hopefully they dont "fiji" it. The rebels are already safe for a play off spot, which would probably equate to a decent season for them, so there may not be much fight in them and they will probably rest players.

similarly for the highlanders away against the canes. They can only be leapfrogged by the rebels, so they will know before they take to the pitch what is needed. Should the drua win, this could turn into an exhibition game.

the reds are locked in in 5th place regardless of what happens anywhere, but still expect them to put a good win over the terrible waratahs.

while the blues and chiefs looks like a good game on paper, the chiefs need nothing and cant catch the brumbies in 3rd

so most of these game slack jeopardy and i expect the table to remain exactly the same after round 14, with the only change being crusaders moving up 1 spot above the force, but still losing out on the play off positions (as deserved)

projected QFs:

Blues v Drua

Canes v Rebels

Brumbies v Highlanders

Chiefs v Reds

and id expect 4 home wins from those games

sydthebeat

looks like weakened sides almost everywhere for this round, which is disappointing.

looks like crusaders / moana and canes / highlanders will be a rout for the home sides.

blues v chiefs looks like it will be the best game of the round

Dillonb3

Looks like the Rebels are gone. Application to compete next year was rejected

sydthebeat

We could find a nice cushy home for the Tongan Thor ....

Joking aside, that's going to really hurt Southern hemisphere rugby.

Will sanzar go back cap in hand to the jaguares I wonder??

fitz

Ben O'Keefe doing his usual minimizing of dangerous play in the Blues/Chiefs game. Penalty only for player diving over the top of a ruck and clashing heads with the 9...penalty only cause he wasn't aiming for the 9, but trying to counterruck. Madness.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209308#Comment_122209308

Ah but he didn't dive over the ruck though.

He counter rucked rickitelli but bounced up off his shoulder and went upwards and over him.

I've some sympathy for that decision, whereas moody yesterday should have had a clear red card for a swinging forearm to the face with no attempt ever to be legal

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209317#Comment_122209317

Yeah, the Moody one was bad alright.

But there's no way that play today wasn't dangerous play warranting a card. Completely reckless and never in control of his own force, and ends up sticking the nut on the 9.

BOK always fobs off dangerous stuff as if the players have no responsibility - long ago gave up trying to guess how he'll interpret any given foul play incident, but generally it's safe to assume he's going to minimise it.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209373#Comment_122209373

Yeah I could have seen Jacobsen today get a yellow and I wouldn't have had a complaint, but at the same time I can see where the decision came from.

There is absolutely a schism in how these situations are viewed between North and South.

NZ learned the hard way in the last RWC

sydthebeat

Great finish to the blues chiefs game.

Last minute ioane try to take the TBP from the blues and regulate them to second place.

Quarter finals are now set:

Canes v Drua

Blues v Rebels

Brumbies v Highlanders

Chiefs v Reds

sydthebeat

Frank Murphy showing its not only SH refs that come up with bizarre decisions when head contact is involved

sydthebeat

Three cracking tries so far by the chiefs

Dillonb3

Chiefs ruthless that first half

sydthebeat

Yeah it's game over. Reds had chances there but poor mistakes on their own behalf

Ben Bailey

Chiefs on fire. ALB & DMcK brilliant.

sydthebeat

blues v brumbies

canes v chiefs

should be two cracking semi finals, after the disappointment of 4 blow out quarters.

a 24 point average difference across the 4 games shows the difference between the top teams and the pretenders.

really it should be a hurricanes v Blues final in Wellington, but the chiefs will really test the canes. the blues will have more than enough for the brumbies, once they are at the right physical pitch, their easy victory over the drua wasnt great prep.

predict blues by 15

canes by 5

sydthebeat

Akira Ioane to leave the Blues after 10 years, heading to Japan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122247883#Comment_122247883

Eligible to play for Japan from November next year (2025) too.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122247994#Comment_122247994

Interesting!!

I also read that he's eligible for Samoa as well. He's one of those players who would have had a much longer test career had he played for another country. He's unfortunate to have just had better players ahead of him in NZ.

In other bad news for Aussie rugby and Joe Schmit, carter Gordon has switched codes and signed for rugby league team Gold Coast Titans. Aussie rugby simply cannot survive when it's best up and coming players are leaving the 15s game, with carter joining marky mark in the nrl

sydthebeat

Blues already looking way too strong for the brumbies.

12-3 up after 9 mins

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122257719#Comment_122257719

Simple errors on restarts & poor discipline giving Blues easy entries.

Not that the Blues need help.

Ben Bailey

Better 2nd half from Brumbies as the game lost shape. All the damage done by the Blues in the 1st quarter & they ruined Brumbies lineout throughout.

Ref Doleman didn't go well.

Digifriendly

Still a significant gap between NZ and Aussie sides.

Dillonb3

Chiefs and Hurricanes should be a good game

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122261110#Comment_122261110

Hopefully.

Regardless of the winner, I still have the blues as favourites for the final

AbusesToilets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122248907#Comment_122248907

Shite news alright, especially since they could do with a quality 10. Always blows my mind that such an inferior game like League is so successful in Australia

Brief_Lives

anyone watching?

The chiefs almost scored the try of the season…. almost…

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122261653#Comment_122261653

Some great tries (& nearly tries).

'Canes never really in it. Chiefs march on. Cortez Ratima is some rookie.

sydthebeat

Absolutely cracking game!

Canes errors cost then dearly, and chiefs kicking game a notch or two better.

Some fantastic trys scored and also not given.

Thought Gardner didn't have a great game either, let absolute mayhem go at the breakdown and didn't reward the defense much at all

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122248907#Comment_122248907

I always felt he never reached the heights he should have. The potential he showed at U20s and 7s, e was phenomenal. The talent he has, he should have been a test regular and dominant force. Have heard stories that he had a bit a lazy attitude towards training and doing the extra work required to be a really top player.

Samoan father, kiwi mother, born in Japan. @[Deleted User] does being born in Japan qualify him?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122265620#Comment_122265620

does being born in Japan qualify him?

Yes. Eligibility criteria are entirely based on place of birth rather than citizenship.