Super Rugby 2025

[African Monkey]

@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2025:

@ARHS said in Super Rugby 2025:

Ake Darry Grindlay Spencer Paul for Blues

Darry & Paul injured obviously

Ake was injured early on and was expected to be named after the bye midway through the season. He tweaked his shoulder injury that week. We never had another update on him.. I assume the shoulder didn't fully recover?

Not sure if they intended to play Spencer this year given all the fullbacks in the squad

They don't seem to rate Grindlay. Another young midfielder, Taele, got plenty of game time

Yeah they obviously see Taele as the man going forward with AJ Lam as Rieko won't be around next season, and Corey Evans can play backup.

Was hoping to see more of Grindlay over the last 2 seasons, but yeah, obviously there's something the Blues coaches don't like about him, similar to Corey Evans under Leon MacDonald.

[Trig]

@ARHS I thought I could remember both Papuni and Wingham being named on their respective teams benches this season, is this the case that they were named and just didn't get on

[Trig]

@Trig I've just double checked, there was a game where Tauelangi was a late call up for Moana Pasifika which I had wrongly remembered as being Papuni called up for. And for Wingham he was named on the bench for the Highlanders against Moana but was not used

[nostrildamus]

@DurryMexted said in Super Rugby 2025:

Was he the one that made that rapid break away try against the ABs that was then disallowed? I remember thinking he looked very athletic for a lock

Yes on YouTube (plus another good one against Canada)
Search 'Warner Dearns disallowed try JAPAN v NZ rugby'

[MiketheSnow]

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025:

For anyone still confused on the finals format for this year's competition, below are all the possible playoff scenarios from the quarter finals this week.

Scenario 1
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Hurricanes (4), Crusaders (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 2
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Brumbies (4), Crusaders (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 3
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Brumbies (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 4
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Hurricanes (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 5
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 6
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 7
Winners: Blues, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Brumbies (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Scenario 8
Winners: Blues, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Hurricanes (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Thanks for taking the time to do this

But with 8 possible scenarios it just emphasises how fucking retarded the whole thing is

English Premiership
Top 4 teams involved
2 Semis
1 Final

It's not fucking rocket science

[Nepia]

@MiketheSnow said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025:

For anyone still confused on the finals format for this year's competition, below are all the possible playoff scenarios from the quarter finals this week.

Scenario 1
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Hurricanes (4), Crusaders (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 2
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Brumbies (4), Crusaders (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 3
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Brumbies (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 4
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Hurricanes (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 5
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 6
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 7
Winners: Blues, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Brumbies (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Scenario 8
Winners: Blues, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Hurricanes (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Thanks for taking the time to do this

But with 8 possible scenarios it just emphasises how fucking retarded the whole thing is

English Premiership
Top 4 teams involved
2 Semis
1 Final

It's not fucking rocket science

We measure everything against the NRL and they have system where top teams get extra chances so we have to do the same, just shitter.

[Tim]

If theyr'e going to have a "lucky loser" then that team should drop to the bottom spot.

[Bovidae]

@MiketheSnow said in Super Rugby 2025:

But with 8 possible scenarios it just emphasises how fucking retarded the whole thing is

It's all about maximising the games played to please the broadcasters. Common sense never applies.

[DaGrubster]

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby 2025:

Only super team he follows on insta

I’d take him over Tucker any day then.

It would be nice for the Canes to have a lock over 6ft

[Mr Fish]

@Tim said in Super Rugby 2025:

If theyr'e going to have a "lucky loser" then that team should drop to the bottom spot.

Couple of things to consider here.

1/ That effectively means whether you're seeded first, second, third or fourth, the 'lucky loser' reward is the same if you're the only loser in that contingent.

2/ Probably more importantly - and I'm sure they consulted with the teams on this - it can unfairly punish higher-ranked sides who don't lose. If the Chiefs were to lose against the Blues this weekend then suddenly the Crusaders would end up playing the minor premiers in their next match, which probably isn't an ideal outcome for them.

That's not to say this isn't a silly system at all, just that there are a lot of factors that have to be weighed up when introducting the whole lucky loser concept. There's really no good system with a six-team final.

[KiwiMurph]

They would have been better off doing a top 7 and the top seed gets a bye

That way they get their 3 games in playoff week 1 yet no lucky loser bullshit

[Mr Fish]

@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby 2025:

They would have been better off doing a top 7 and the top seed gets a bye

That way they get their 3 games in playoff week 1 yet no lucky loser bullshit

They would've consulted on this too and I'm sure every team would have said they don't want a bye going into the finals. It was useful when the competition was cross-continental, but otherwise it's a massive momentum killer.

[sparky]

Given the amazing record in recent years in the Super Rugby playoffs, surely the Crusaders should be seen as the most likely team to lift the trophy this year.

[WestieFella]

Yeah, there's no prefect system with an 11 team comp, especially if you want all playoff teams playing with no byes.
I'd prefer no byes because as already mentioned, it can be a momentum killer, for the team and fans alike.
8 out of 11 playoff teams is too many.
4 is too few (in my opinion anyway).
5 would be a good number, but how do you get 5 down to 4 then 2, without it being convoluted.
6 I like, but as mentioned before, the scheduling of 3v4 last is just daft.
The downside of the current system is that the lucky loser could be the 4th ranked team.
So if 1,2 & 3 win then 4 gets rewarded for lossing, and as they are already the lowest seed they don't get punished.

I hope either the chiefs or the crusaders lose (especially the chiefs, I'm a blues fan) so as the Brumbies v hurricanes match isn't a dud.

Having said that, I'm happy to see how it plays out.
This round is just to determine the semifinal line up, then it's total knockout.

[Landers92]

Will post in here because there’s no Canes 2026 thread.

Some inside word on Warner Dearns to carry on from yesterday discussion. I put some feelers out and got told this.

The Hurricanes have got him but it’s all very under wraps right now. His team in Japan is announcing he is heading off over the next week or 2 and then the Hurricanes will follow suit - It’s a 2026 only sabbatical to my understanding at this stage.

There you go Canes fans. Big news.

[Canes4life]

@Landers92 said in Super Rugby 2025:

Will post in here because there’s no Canes 2026 thread.

Some inside word on Warner Dearns to carry on from yesterday discussion. I put some feelers out and got told this.

The Hurricanes have got him but it’s all very under wraps right now. His team in Japan is announcing he is heading off over the next week or 2 and then the Hurricanes will follow suit - It’s a 2026 only sabbatical to my understanding at this stage.

There you go Canes fans. Big news.

Fantastic news. I wonder if that will mean he plays NPC rugby for Wellington, considering he's from here.

[Canes4life]

@sparky said in Super Rugby 2025:

Given the amazing record in recent years in the Super Rugby playoffs, surely the Crusaders should be seen as the most likely team to lift the trophy this year.

This Crusader's team is beatable. The Reds this week, and the Brumbies/Canes next week need to find a way to not get overawed by the Crusaders, the cold and their record.

I still think the Chiefs are favourite if they keep home advantage.

[Dan54]

@MiketheSnow said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025:

For anyone still confused on the finals format for this year's competition, below are all the possible playoff scenarios from the quarter finals this week.

Scenario 1
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Hurricanes (4), Crusaders (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 2
Winners: Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Brumbies (4), Crusaders (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 3
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Brumbies (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 4
Winners: Chiefs, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Chiefs (1) v Reds (4), Hurricanes (2) v Crusaders (3)

Scenario 5
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Brumbies
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Brumbies (3)

Scenario 6
Winners: Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Crusaders (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Hurricanes (3)

Scenario 7
Winners: Blues, Reds and Brumbies
Semifinals: Brumbies (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Scenario 8
Winners: Blues, Reds and Hurricanes
Semifinals: Hurricanes (1) v Blues (4), Chiefs (2) v Reds (3)

Thanks for taking the time to do this

But with 8 possible scenarios it just emphasises how fucking retarded the whole thing is

English Premiership
Top 4 teams involved
2 Semis
1 Final

It's not fucking rocket science

Which is what I prefer, but also I think when we look at it's not rocket science, they get paid by how many games are on tv, and finals rate higher. Hell I would drop finals altogether and have first past post which is an indication of whole season.

[nzzp]

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2025:

@MiketheSnow said in Super Rugby 2025:

But with 8 possible scenarios it just emphasises how fucking retarded the whole thing is

It's all about maximising the games played to please the broadcasters. Common sense never applies.

This is modern Super. It's not 'best rugby' any more, it's driven by broadcaster imperatives. Which ironically weakens the comp and makes it less valuable.

12 teams. Full round robin. Semis and finals. Epic. It worked.

[Duluth]

@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2025:

This is modern Super. It's not 'best rugby' any more, it's driven by broadcaster imperatives

..and one of things they want to avoid is a 4 teams finals with no Aussies. In most year all that would take is the Brumbies to have a below par season

6 teams makes it much more likely that there are 2 Aussie sides. Brumbies are a small market so they really want a NSW or Queensland there

Yes it distorts things but that's the reality