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Super Rugby Pacific 2025

Adam84

John Eales (66)
Christchurch is a nice place to base yourself out of for some of the hikes and sights around the region, I wouldn’t stay a long weekend just in Christchurch.

There’s some decent little bar areas, but not a lot of short-stay accommodation or hotels available which is the bigger issue for these events. Compound this with limited flights, and the premium created by limited supply will make It an expensive weekend for a tourist IMO
 

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Ngani Laumape signs with Moana for 2 years

1749516293747.jpeg

They have a lot of ground to make up after all their departures, but this is a fantastic start.
 

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
What has his form in Japan been like? There's a guy on Reddit at least claiming Laumape had been sounding out all the NZ franchises but Moana was the only one interested.
That wouldn't surprise me. Not sure of how he's gone in Japan, but not sure a 33 yo 12 would be high an any Super teams in NZ. Most have reasonable cover there. Look at Blues Lam and young Taele, Chiefs have Tuapaea, ,Wrampling etc,Canes have Jordie, Higgins and Umaga-Jensen, Crusaders have Havili etc, Clan have TT and co. Good for MP (Moana Pasifika), as JS is probably past use by date?
 

waiopehu oldboy

Rocky Elsom (76)
Super Rugby finals system to be reviewed

Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said he was aware of the criticism, and it would be factored into a post-season review.

“We will definitely do a review. Clearly with the in-practice versus on-paper, you always learn things, and by seeing people’s response to it,” Mesley said.

“Part of that review will be us looking at how complicated was the structure? There was also discussion last week around the scheduling, and can we do it in a way that makes the most of every match?


 

Dismal Pillock

Michael Lynagh (62)
What has his form in Japan been like?
Seen him play 2 games and he's been laughably bad. Comes off the bench and somehow vanishes immediately. Out of camera shot at all times. Its almost as if he switches sides of the field to avoid all the action.

What makes it even odder is he is in supreme physical condition. Just a wrecking ball of a physique.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Super Rugby finals system to be reviewed

Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said he was aware of the criticism, and it would be factored into a post-season review.

“We will definitely do a review. Clearly with the in-practice versus on-paper, you always learn things, and by seeing people’s response to it,” Mesley said.

“Part of that review will be us looking at how complicated was the structure? There was also discussion last week around the scheduling, and can we do it in a way that makes the most of every match?

That's a decent response in my view.

A six team final series is always tricky. Teams 1 and 2 don't really want a week off in the first week of the finals because the extra home final is worth a fair bit of money. Until last weekend it is pretty much unheard of that a sixth placed team will beat the minor premiers.

One of the things I read about the final series originally is that the matchups (and a progressing loser only dropping one place) was designed as the method which ensured there couldn't be a repeat matchup from week 1 to 2.
 

Tomthumb

Ken Catchpole (46)
That's a decent response in my view.

A six team final series is always tricky. Teams 1 and 2 don't really want a week off in the first week of the finals because the extra home final is worth a fair bit of money. Until last weekend it is pretty much unheard of that a sixth placed team will beat the minor premiers.

One of the things I read about the final series originally is that the matchups (and a progressing loser only dropping one place) was designed as the method which ensured there couldn't be a repeat matchup from week 1 to 2.
Honestly if no one wants a bye, it should just be a straight elimination playoff. Chiefs had a home game vs the worst playoff team, the fact they lost doesn't mean they weren't given enough advantages or that the regular season didn't matter, it just means the Chiefs weren't good enough

It's a weird contradiction in that trying to make the regular season matter more, they have made the playoffs matter less
 

JRugby2

Phil Hardcastle (33)
That's a decent response in my view.

A six team final series is always tricky. Teams 1 and 2 don't really want a week off in the first week of the finals because the extra home final is worth a fair bit of money. Until last weekend it is pretty much unheard of that a sixth placed team will beat the minor premiers.
I'd imagine neither does the competition considering they get an extra fixture.
One of the things I read about the final series originally is that the matchups (and a progressing loser only dropping one place) was designed as the method which ensured there couldn't be a repeat matchup from week 1 to 2.
Even this could have been managed - it could have just been a case of the final fixture is decided when the teams are decided and you make sure they don't clash. It's not like finals venues and teams are locked in far in advance anyway.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Honestly if no one wants a bye, it should just be a straight elimination playoff.

Can't really do that with six teams.

11 is definitely too few teams to have an eight team finals. People complained about that when there were 12-15 teams.

Four out of 11 isn't enough for the finals in my view and would too many teams out of contention too early in the regular season.

They were surely spend a fair while rejigging the finals format and the lucky loser system after this season and then it will be another decade before the first or second placed team in the regular season loses that first round finals game so it won't matter.
 

Tomthumb

Ken Catchpole (46)
Can't really do that with six teams.

11 is definitely too few teams to have an eight team finals. People complained about that when there were 12-15 teams.

Four out of 11 isn't enough for the finals in my view and would too many teams out of contention too early in the regular season.

They were surely spend a fair while rejigging the finals format and the lucky loser system after this season and then it will be another decade before the first or second placed team in the regular season loses that first round finals game so it won't matter.
All fair points. Understand there isn't an easy solution with the amount of teams in the comp, but it just feels a bit micky mouse

Honestly the Chiefs losing made it less silly for me. If that didn't happen we would have had a "playoff" game that was literally pointless as both teams would have already been in the semis before the QF kicked off
 

PhilClinton

Paul McLean (56)
1st and 2nd get the first week off and host a home prelim the following week - 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th in knockouts to start off.

Winners of those games play 1st and 2nd. Winners of those games in the GF.

The main headache would be if the team scheduled for the final round BYE ended up finishing 1st or 2nd, as that would mean a 2 week break which isn't ideal. But that can be solved by putting the Drua, Moana or Tahs in that slot.
 

JRugby2

Phil Hardcastle (33)
1st and 2nd get the first week off and host a home prelim the following week - 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th in knockouts to start off.

Winners of those games play 1st and 2nd. Winners of those games in the GF.

The main headache would be if the team scheduled for the final round BYE ended up finishing 1st or 2nd, as that would mean a 2 week break which isn't ideal. But that can be solved by putting the Drua, Moana or Tahs in that slot.
Just had to have a passing swipe
 
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