Lions v Hurricanes (SF)

Stargazer

On TV 1, they had what looked like the kick-off time on screen: 12:30am, but nothing confirmed on SANZAAR, NZR, Hurricanes or Lions website or social media yet.

Stargazer

The team left Sydney for Africa on Sunday, with a full complement of players to pick from.

That includes centre Vince Aso, who passed a Saturday morning fitness test and immediately flew out to join the team in Sydney.

Hooker Ricky Riccitelli was the only potential injury concern out of the Brumbies game but, so far at least, has shown no ill-effects of a first-half hit that required a concussion test.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/95022692/the-hurricanes-know-what-to-do-in-johannesburg-super-rugby-semifinal

Rugger Quizzes

Looks like a 12.30am kickoff time for NZ viewers. Past my bed time normally but makes it easy to stay up. Go the Canes.

Goosen on the bench I think. Aso to 13, Jordie 15, NMS 14.

canefan

@Rugger-Quizzes said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

Looks like a 12.30am kickoff time for NZ viewers. Past my bed time normally but makes it easy to stay up. Go the Canes.

Goosen on the bench I think. Aso to 13, Jordie 15, NMS 14.

I agree. JB made a decent fist of 13 at short notice but Aso will give us more of a cutting edge and hopefully free up Laumape too. JB can inject himself into the line and kick 60m penalty goals

NTA

Recon the Canes will do this. Saw some of the Lions shitty effort against the Shorks and they were fucking weak. Scrum half surely can't be the best they've got.

First Kiwi opponents for them and last for this year. Title fight will be in Christchurch methinks.

hydro11

@NTA said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

Recon the Canes will do this. Saw some of the Lions shitty effort against the Shorks and they were fucking work. Scrum half surely can't be the best they've got.

First Kiwi opponents for them and last for this year. Title fight will be in Christchurch methinks.

Faf de Klerk has had a shit season for them after being a revelation last year. Has meant that they aren't as strong.

No Quarter

Pretty difficult one to call as the Lions haven't faced any NZ teams, but the fact they are the best of SA/Aus/Arg/Jap is not a fluke. They were great last year and have obviously continued with that (I haven't even seen them play this year!).

They'll be well up for it given they got so close last year and if the Canes start slow it might be a long day as the crowd wills the Lions on.

Should be a cracker of a game in (hopefully) good conditions for running rugby - can't wait.

Rancid Schnitzel

Will be interesting to see what happens here. I remember the Lions doing over the Highlanders last year. They'll always be dangerous at home.

NTA

@hydro11 said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

Faf de Klerk has had a shit season for them after being a revelation last year. Has meant that they aren't as strong.

I think its another bloke - tweeted last night the 9 was shit and someone said they're missing deKlerk ?

Winger

It annoys me that once again the incompetent super rugby administrators have stuffed up the semis. It should be 1 (Lions) against 4 (Chiefs) . and 2 against 3. These would have been great games. as it is the Chiefs will be stuffed with excessive travel. And if the Canes win likewise. But I should just accept how things are. Super rugby is being run by people who are not that good

G-Man

@NTA said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@hydro11 said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

Faf de Klerk has had a shit season for them after being a revelation last year. Has meant that they aren't as strong.

I think its another bloke - tweeted last night the 9 was shit and someone said they're missing deKlerk ?

Ross Cronje. Yea he had an off day as Elton with not taking his kicking boots. Faf has been on off this year, but he is going to Worcester after SR.

Ross has been brilliant all season, so I'll give the off day. News is that Franco Mostert brother, JP, who is the captain if the Flacons rugby, the East Rand of Jozzi, was in a car accident Friday night and it seems he has broken his neck.

Being a very tight knit team, I think it did play on their minds a bit.

But write the Lions off at your own peril. The Canes being the last team to win at Ellis Park on Rnd 2 or 3 in 2016. Since then the Lions has been undefeated at home.

So yea nervous about this game, but funny enough after the last round I was more nervous then facing the Guppies, now not really. I believe the Lions will take it through.

pakman

@Winger said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

It annoys me that once again the incompetent super rugby administrators have stuffed up the semis. It should be 1 (Lions) against 4 (Chiefs) . and 2 against 3. These would have been great games. as it is the Chiefs will be stuffed with excessive travel. And if the Canes win likewise. But I should just accept how things are. Super rugby is being run by people who are not that good

I do accept that for the fans it is easier to know the draw. But if one wants the highest quality fixtures travel would be minimised. So if two teams in Africa for quarters and winning home one is highest seed then winning away team goes there might work. Which this year and last would have led to Chiefs staying and playing Lions instead of heading back. Stormers/Lions/Saders a hell of a lot easier than Stormers/Saders/Lions for example.

hydro11

@NTA said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@hydro11 said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

Faf de Klerk has had a shit season for them after being a revelation last year. Has meant that they aren't as strong.

I think its another bloke - tweeted last night the 9 was shit and someone said they're missing deKlerk ?

de Klerk was on the bench and has been there for most of the season.

taniwharugby

@Winger I don't think you can get that under the current format.

The Brumbies were the fly in the ointment with the least points but sitting in the 'top 4' with a home semi.

Only way it could work would have been if it was a true 1 v 8, but then Aussie would not have had a home final...which would have looked like this I think

Lions v Brumbies
Crusaders v Sharks
Hurricanes v Stormers
Chiefs v Highlanders

Which would likely have seen semis of....
Lions v Hurricanes
Crusaders v winner of Chiefs/Highlanders

booboo

@taniwharugby said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@Winger I don't think you can get that under the current format.

The Brumbies were the fly in the ointment with the least points but sitting in the 'top 4' with a home semi.

Only way it could work would have been if it was a true 1 v 8, but then Aussie would not have had a home final...which would have looked like this I think

Lions v Brumbies
Crusaders v Sharks
Hurricanes v Stormers
Chiefs v Highlanders

Which would likely have seen semis of....
Lions v Hurricanes
Crusaders v winner of Chiefs/Highlanders

Hate to say it but I agree with @Winger

Would it be hard to implement the SFs being drawn on rankings in round robin?

They do that in AFL and I'm pretty sure NRL.

booboo

@booboo said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@taniwharugby said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@Winger I don't think you can get that under the current format.

The Brumbies were the fly in the ointment with the least points but sitting in the 'top 4' with a home semi.

Only way it could work would have been if it was a true 1 v 8, but then Aussie would not have had a home final...which would have looked like this I think

Lions v Brumbies
Crusaders v Sharks
Hurricanes v Stormers
Chiefs v Highlanders

Which would likely have seen semis of....
Lions v Hurricanes
Crusaders v winner of Chiefs/Highlanders

Hate to say it but I agree with @Winger

Would it be hard to implement the SFs being drawn on rankings in round robin?

They do that in AFL and I'm pretty sure NRL.

Quoting myself ...

... or did we have that argument last year when the finals were fucked up then in another way?

taniwharugby

@booboo how would your finals format work, with the teams that finished as they did under existing ranking format?

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KiwiMurph

@taniwharugby In the semis you have the top ranked team play the lowest ranked team.

Lions finished highest after round robin, Chiefs lowest (of those remaining) after the round robin.

Then the middle two teams play each other, with the higher ranked team at home (Crusaders).

Cyclops

@KiwiMurph said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@taniwharugby In the semis you have the top ranked team play the lowest ranked team.

Lions finished highest after round robin, Chiefs lowest (of those remaining) after the round robin.

Then the middle two teams play each other, with the higher ranked team at home (Crusaders).

That was the system last year and the teams agreed to the change to have less possible destinations and therefore less costs associated with holding multiple sets of flights.

booboo

@taniwharugby said in Lions v Hurricanes (SF):

@booboo how would your finals format work, with the teams that finished as they did under existing ranking format?

I cant see how it could have been done any differently as it stands.

Of the 4 teams that make the semis the highest ranked gets to play the lowest ranked, not the winner of a given game.

2nd highest plays the 3rd ranked.

Teams still have to wait to see who wins what to see where they travel to.

Where anomalies may occur is if a conference winner has an undeserved higher ranking. But we get that now.

(The AFL/NRL system does gives teams 1 through 4, and POTENTIALLY 5 and 6 a second chance, but there is an extra week of playoffs as only two teams drop out per week.)

The Silver Fern

Lions v Hurricanes (SF)