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I'd say, for this particular year, at full strength, and taking home advantage out of the equation (which I believe is worth 10 to 15 points), the Reds, Brumbies, Canes, Highlanders, Bulls, and Sharks are roughly equal. The Stormers and Crusaders are the strongest sides at full strength IMO...

So, based on your BP analysis local derbies did not give any team any advantage to the stronger Aussie teams. Good work. I was wrong on this point.:) It does show NZ sides score more 4 try bonus points against non-NZ sides and that Aussie side concede more. Thanks for confirming what I though...

Okay forget bonus point being accumulated more easily in the easier home conference. I can't be assed going through that. I retract that part of my point (even though i am probably right on it) Non-conference wins , despite your protests, is a fair way of calculating conference strength...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7292292/John-Kirwan-to-coach-Blues-as-Lam-shown-door Former All Black John Kirwan is the new head coach of the Blues, with incumbent Pat Lam being shown the door after four years in charge. Kirwan returns to coach in New Zealand after stints with...

If thats the case, the Reds will do very well to win. The Sharks front row is the Boks front row. Bismarck is my favorite non-kiwi player.

A post I read on the fern. (15th Feb this year) Lions beat the Kings 88-0 last night. The Kings sure look ready for Super Rugby.

Burke should not be a rugby journalist.

Conference strength can be estimated by counting the wins outside of the conference. Not by looking at how they play against one another - as relative strength means they cancel each other out - on average. Your point about stronger teams "eating each other" is exactly what happened in the NZ...

You Aussies ARE a positive lot aren't you. We try and keep your head under the water to drown you and you just keep popping up full of vigor and positivity just like Skippy the fucking Kangaroo.

Hugh you should know better than to disrespuct the King. If, by some miracle, he did enter the judiciary room, there would be playing of trumpets, a red carpet, and the citing commissioner would bow.:)

You are over complicating it. The Aussie conference is clearly the easiest, making it much easier to get easy wins for the strongest teams in it. The fact they were closely fought is not a reflection of the Force, for example, actually being strong. This is an objective analysis, not based on...

The analysis above suggests, for this season, the Cheetahs did better than the Tahs, Force, Rebels and Lions. Actually, the Cheetahs have improved. They are certainly nowhere near as bad as the Lions.

I think they overachieved. They were organized and effective, like the Highlanders, but in the end, they lack class in the big games.

I went through the games each team played outside of its own conference to try and see compare the relative strength of the conferences and see which teams were benefited/harmed by being part of each conference. (and yes I know this is not commercial reality now, but I wanted to see which...

No, because the Saffas didn't need to rely on a leg-up to get a home play-off.:rolleyes: I think the Reds deserve to be there. Don't get me wrong. Just not a home-semi based on the current format. I think your observation that the bonus point points decide teams that are even with the number...

I am not twisting anything. I'd apply it regardless of country. Wrong. The Reds got 58 points. The Sharks and Bulls got 59 points. The Saders got 61 points. The Reds were 6th. Okay. I'll stop now because I probably sound like a Kiwi with a "chup" on his shoulder.

I have a solution for the "bleaters" like me addressing the unfairness the conference system. As in, the Red finishing 6th yet getting the huge advantage of a home playoff for monetary reasons as well as getting to play the weaker Force, Rebels and Waratahs twice in a season. If you finish...

The Sharks are a rapidly improving side with a superior tight 5 to the Reds. I think it'll be very close, especially if Quade Cooper gets suspended.

Was Quade trying to prove he's a hard man or that he knows how to tackle?;)

Reds take 3rd, despite finishing behind the Crusaders and a way inferior points differential. Unfair.:mad: But I have been told this conference system is about the money.