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| I'm sorry Gale, but we are talking about a country that managed to deliver an untraceable 'stomach bug' to the AB's in 95. Anything is possible over there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gale you are right again .lol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rhino, The planets are aligned mate. I've just agreed with you on another thread. Don't worry though - it won't happen again! LOL!!! |
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| By some f...ing miracle i think your dead right gale. The sader's not quite the same at the end of this season ripe for the picking. |
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| Agreed. This is a professional competition. South Africans love their rugby to much to 'throw' a game. I just highly doubt this is the case. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There is this opinion around that Jaapies 'threw' the match last year so that the Sharks could get thru. The scoreline certainly indicated it. And I know I said that the Lions would seemingly lose their form of recent weeks. It does however, sound very unlikely that a provincial side in either country would throw a game. Particularly when playing for pride and places in the national team. I'd be very surprised if all teams didn't have a fair crack in the last round. |
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| I think most teams will gladly help out their fellow countrymen teams by "beating" a team not of the same country which will improve their fellow countrymen's chances, they would be trying to do this anyway. I don't think that ANY teams would throw a game, or play below par against another team to help their countrymen's chances, SA, AUS or NZ. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| e.g. you will never hear an Aus S14 coach saying: "well if we beat (e.g.) the Crusaders, we will be happy to help out (e.g.) the Waratahs in their finals run". Lions coach a few weeks back said that they will be happy if beating the Tahs helped out the cause of their fellow South Africans. This wasn't the first time... PS I think this is a good thing! At the end of the day it's a 3 nation comp, the provinces should offer at least a bit of support to each other! It just doesn't happen here in Aus cos they hate each other too much. Other opinions welcome. |
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| sa_american, no I didn't. Apologise it I'm wrong... although coaches quite regularly make comment in the press that they don't mind helping out their fellow SA franchises. At the same time I know there's some vicious rivalry between the provinces at Currie Cup level. But there is one distinct difference: SA teams barrack for other SA teams more than they do here. There seems to be a greater camaraderie than here in Aus. Aus teams will knock any of their fellow Aus S14 teams out of the comp at any opportunity. I think it is similar in NZ. Hey only my opinion anyway... |
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| jimmy, "SA teams seem to like helping their brother teams out in S14, so the Lions will probably 'let them win' " you probably did not watch the sharks vs cheetahs game with a statement like that. |
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| Gale, I like your analysis. Sounds very plausible. I also hope you're right. After watching both NSW/Stormers and Qld/Saders, I think NSW are far and away the better team. Queensland show some promise but are too inconsistent, and lack experience particularly in the forwards where you need it most. Tahs to run away with it in the second half after the fire and brimstone runs out. I also think the Blues will win. There's equally as much in it for them as the Canes, and they're at home. History: Blues have won 8 out of last 12 encounters (4 home, 4 away + a draw), although the Canes have the edge in the last few years winning in 2005, 06 and 07 (05 and 06 away). With key players missing, and playing in SA (hardest place to play in the world) against the Sharks, Chiefs will lose. Regardless, they're only a mathematical possibility anyway. Likewise, the Stormers will likely thrash the Lions. SA teams seem to like helping their brother teams out in S14, so the Lions will probably 'let them win'. This is very unlike Aus and NZ, with derbies the hottest contests on the schedule. I like your predictions better than mine (below). NSW are better than I gave them credit. |
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| Sorry, re-read your message and that is what you are saying. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Infact they have a better points differential than all of the contenders which may come into play. But reality says they will have to beat Auckland to get in and if they do it will mean a home semi. |
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| Gale, It's points differential isn't it? Not points for. If so the Canes lead that by 23 points. |
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| Chiefs could be without Lauaki, Sivivatu and Donald, and have lost three props and Kahui. The Sharks wont be to unhappy about that. |
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| And my other bold tip is that Saders won't win the comp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saders - 57 Waratahs - 43/44. They will beat the Reds away Stormers - 42. They will BP beat the Lions, who will strangely appear to have lost all their form Then there could be 3 teams on 41: - Blues - 41. With 2nd best for points should score 4 tries & beat Canes at home. Canes - 40/41/42. Will lose to Blues. Lose by 8 or more and less than 4 tries, finish on 40 and out. Lose by less than 7 & 3 tries or less, they get BP and end up on 41 ahead of Blues on for/against. Lose by 12 or more but score 4 tries, end up on 41 but behind Blues on F/A. Lose by 7 or less & score 4 tries, go to 42 and into finals on superior for/against. Sharks - 41/42. Will beat Chiefs, but can they earn BP for 4 tries? Their for record is ordinary - only better than Force & Lions. Defence is great. Chiefs D is average - marginally better than Reds. Could be the 'upset' 4-try BP winners. My tip is Blues. Final 4: Saders - 57 Tahs - 44 with BP Stormers - 42 with BP Blues - 41 with BP & superior F/A |
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| Say that does happen too, and they are the final 4. So, the Saders play the Blues in C'Church, and the Sharks play the Canes in Durban. Blues are fired up for losing a few weeks back to the Saders, and step up and win. The Sharks manage to pip the Canes in SA, leaving a Sharks/Blues final in SA. This would leave the two teams who were inform at the start of the comp playing it out for the final. Either way I don't really mind what happens, providing Cantebury loses! Go the Tahs (of course!), but whether they're good enough to win the comp is another thing... |
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| Blues are real chance (at beating Canes) as are the Reds (beating NSW). Likewise, the Sharks will probably beat the Cheifs, although this will undoubtedly be another toughie. How about this scenario: Saders 57 (BP win) Sharks 42 (BP, win) Canes 41 (BP, lose) Blues 40 (win) Good for NZ, so no good for everyone else. Personally I'm with you Zedds on the results, but this could happen just as easily, knocking both the Tahs and the Stormers out. Even if the Tahs get a BP and lose, the Blues can pip them if they win based on for/against. But it's a toss of the coin, isn't it? |
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| Just makes me sick to the stomach looking at the table.The anticipation as to the outcome this weekend is causing me some major "IBS". Even if the blues got the bonus point against the Canes but win by 7 on less the canes still get through.So i'm going to sit back and hope , The sharks and Stormers to get the 5pts...see who they playing?The Tahs lose to Qld by more then 7 ....?? Wishfull thinking the blues get in with a chance... |
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| Go the chiefs - it is not over until the fat lady sings. Don't count the chiefs out yet - although a few things have to go their way. Blessings Mel |
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| Or the Canes could loose, Stormers knocked off by the Lions and Sharks beaten by Chiefs letting Chiefs in. KOB |
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| Then again, the Canes could lose and not get a bonus letting in the Sharks if they beat the Chiefs. Or Auckland could win with a bonus not letting the Canes get a bonus and the Chiefs could beat the Sharks letting Auckland in. Fook me anything could happen, it's doing my head in. Bring it on. |
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| Crusaders vs Who cares Hurricanes vs Auckland (Canes away) Waratahs vs Reds (Tahs away) Stormers vs Lions (Stormers away) Sharks vs Chiefs (Chiefs away) I am going to say that the Hurricanes to beat Auckland, Tahs will beat the Reds, The Stormers will beat the Lions and I am not sure but will have to go for the Sharks over the Chiefs. Final four: Saders Canes Tahs Stormers |
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| P W D L F A B Points 1. Crusaders 52 2. Hurricanes 40 3. Waratahs 39 4. Stormers 37 5. Sharks 37 6. Blues 36 The only garanteed spot is the Crusaders ? Wicked end to the season. |
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