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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
Super Rugby Round 17 Review – Top Six Revealed 3 views
07 June 2015 by The Swede Eaters
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Thoughts on Super Rugby Round 17?
The Super Rugby wrap of Round 17 is here, here are six things that have now been revealed.
1) We now know which teams have qualified for the Top Six finals, but we just don't know the order yet. The Hurricanes have guaranteed the top spot, while the other five teams in the Top Six lie at least 14 points behind the Hurricanes, with the Waratahs looking likely to win the Australian conference courtesy of winning more games than the Brumbies, despite being on the same points and having inferior points differential. The Brumbies have the harder game of the two Australian leaders, against the Crusaders while the Waratahs play the Reds. South Africa only has one team in the finals and the Stormers are likely to finish third, with the sixth highest number of points. The Chiefs and Highlanders will be battling to finish fourth and host a virtual Quarter Final next week, with the Highlanders more likely to beat the Blues than the Chiefs are to beat the Hurricanes. The Crusaders and Lions will just miss the cut. Amazingly, the Crusaders have the second best points differential of 130 points.
2) What a tragic loss the death of All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins was. It must have been so hard for the Hurricanes and Highlanders hearing the news just before kick-off, especially given his connection with so many of the players, administrators and coaching staff involved in that match. The Hurricanes had to beat the Highlanders, inspired by Collins. It was hard enough for the Highlanders without their All Blacks as it was!
3) Are we watching the demise of South African rugby when you realise that the Stormers who will win the South African conference, have got only the sixth highest number of points?
4) In Super Rugby Round 17 most matches were largely as predicted, with the Rebels win over Sharks the main game to split the tipsters. The draw between the Stormers and Lions was not only the first draw of the season, but because virtually no one picked that result, while almost everyone picked the winners of five games, that draw cost many people, including yours truly, a Grand Slam Bonus Point which is the ultimate prize for any tipster.
5) The average winning margin in Super Rugby Round 17 was 17 points. Much like the average winning margin in Round 16 was approximately 16 points. This brings the overall average winning margin up to 12.2 points. There were only two home wins, while the margins were such a mixed bag given that the average winning margin was 17 points, yet there was a draw and a one point margin, yet the rest of the margins ranged from 13 to 36 points. Fortune favoured those who went for large margins in tipping competitions.
6) Other questions: Does anyone else feel disappointed that the Top Six is decided already? Who will finish sixth and probably play the Stormers in Cape Town? Does anyone else find it strange to see the Crusaders missing the finals for the first time in 14 years? Is the conference system justified when the top South African team is guaranteed at least third spot on the table, despite having the sixth most points? Does it feel strange as a fantasy rugby manager having to sell players from the best two teams, going into the finals, as they have the bye in the first round of the finals? Can the Stormers win without Duane Vermeulen? Was anyone else wanting the Reds to kick the ball into touch rather than letting the Chiefs in for a four try bonus point at fulltime in their match?
Thoughts after Super Rugby Round 17?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2015/06/super-15-rugby-round-17-review-top-six.html
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