rugbyAU
Desmond Connor (43)
Agree, Reds have been a bit dissapointing this year
Super Rugby Pacific 2025
- Thread starter rugbyAU
- Start date
dru
David Wilson (68)
I actually think we have had at least two of "those" games by now. At least.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
LeCheese
John Hipwell (52)
Well deserved, but I do remember that someone on here predicted this outcome as soon as the voting method was announced, given its potentially perceived shortcomings.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
It's all speculation given the minimal comms but it sounded like Salakaia-Loto might be back but Uru was no chance.
Reds should absolutely get it done either way, but helpfully that Hurricanes v Highlanders game looked like carnage for the canes a week after they lost Naholo. Certainly if they play how they did in that game it should be the Reds easily.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
You hoping they will have covid ripping through them again Wilson??
RiverinaRascal
Frank Row (1)
Any breakdown of what day the finals are being looked at playing.. guessing there will be 2x in NZ and 2x in Aus?
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Quarter Finals are on 7 June. At whichever home ground of whomever #1, #2 and #3 are on the table
Wilson
John Eales (66)
More talking about the Highlanders already having ripped through them - looked like Iose, Sullivan and Punivai all went off injured with Higgins and Proctor also playing hurt at the end when there were no subs left. Not yet clear how many of them will back up, but it won't help them in a must win encounter.You hoping they will have covid ripping through them again Wilson??
Wilson
John Eales (66)
I don't think this is too much a flaw of the method, it's pretty hard to argue with the performances Ardie has put in and the degree to which it has transformed Moana - exactly what you're looking for in an MVP.
The issue here is that unlike something like the Dally M which makes the votes secret from the middle of the season they continued to publish weekly votes. If they do want to get serious about this going forward and do things like a proper award show, then they need to keep the scoring secret for a big reveal.
zer0
Greg Davis (50)
If they want weekly content, then they can introduce a NZ (inc. Moana) and Aus (inc. Drua) player of the week like you have in the NFL. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the NFL weekly awards are stats driven while annual awards are votes, which could be copied. Then have the relevant weekly shows in Australia and NZ include it as a segment focusing on some details of that players performances (ideally from both countries, rather than just their own).
Can even split it by forwards + backs as well if you want. I.e., Aus forward + back of the week and NZ forward + back of the week.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Looks like we're getting a Club World Champs in 2028:
www.thetimes.com
Top 8 from Europe, Top 7 from Super Rugby and an invited Japanese side.
First rugby Club World Championship confirmed for 2028
The global tournament will involve 16 teams competing for the title in new format, which will replace the knockout stage of the Champions Cup every four years
www.thetimes.com
Top 8 from Europe, Top 7 from Super Rugby and an invited Japanese side.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Surely the top 2/3 in Japan can compete with 5-7 in Super Rugby.Looks like we're getting a Club World Champs in 2028:
First rugby Club World Championship confirmed for 2028
The global tournament will involve 16 teams competing for the title in new format, which will replace the knockout stage of the Champions Cup every four years
Top 8 from Europe, Top 7 from Super Rugby and an invited Japanese side.
I’m glad we’ll see more Super Rugby in it but I’d feel ripped off if it was the Top League. Player wise they have them although I do question the intensity.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
How's that 2028 calendar look? Sounds like a comp that will need 5 weeks to play out.
If so Super Rugby in 2028 will need to be done by lat-May ish (around now). Do they just not have Super Rugby finals that year?
If so Super Rugby in 2028 will need to be done by lat-May ish (around now). Do they just not have Super Rugby finals that year?
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Probably, but more mouths to feed in terms of competitions may have made it more difficult to get this one up. Arguably Europe may have baulked at more Japanese teams from a marketing perspective as well, I'm not sure if they have the same cut through in the North given most of the foreign players filling out the comp are Southern Hemisphere players.
That said, I think the ideal moving forward would be to have a similar qualification process for the Southern side of the draw as the North - get a regular cross border comp going between Super Rugby and Japan (possibly MLR and SLAR in time too) and draw the top 8 from that like they are using EPCR for the other top 8.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
How on earth did we negotiate 7 Super Rugby teams?
And where do South Africa fit into this?
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Play a top 4 instead of a top 6 to get a week back and probably start a bit earlier. I don't think they can afford to go without finals entirely, it's way to damaging to anything they're trying to build with the brand and sacrifices a lot of money (though some of that will be made up by this comp). Broadcasters would likely not give up the finals either - they'll be happy for this new comp, but with games likely to be played in Europe initially it's not exactly a friendly timezone from a product stand point either.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
It looks like it's a consequence of EPCR being the hold out - the 8 teams from the North are determined by pool play there without finals that year:
It means that competition still runs (albeit in a condensed format) and the games that are played are arguably more relevant then the equivalents would be in another year, meaning they don't take too much of a hit to their product.
South African teams are part of that comp now so will come in via that pathway.