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2012 Super Rugby Finals top 6 predictions

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No4918

No4918

John Hipwell (52)
Less than a week to go and trials are over. Must be time to have our guesses at the top sides this year.

The NZ conference looks like the toughest so will be harder for the sides to get high up the board but think both can take it out once finals start. Looking forward to seeing the Blues this year.

SA conference looks a bit disappointing outside the Stormers and Sharks. Bulls have lost a few and will push sides but predicting they will be 4th and the Lions will win 3 for there best season in years.

Aus conference will be interesting. Injury looks to be hurting the Tahs already but i'd rather them now than just in time for the finals again. Force for the wooden spoon. Hopefully the Rebels can put together a few more wins and Beale and Biebs to win them 3 games on their own if forwards can achieve parity. Brumbies - who knows? Hope they beat expectations.


1. Stormers
2. Reds
3. Blues
4. Tahs
5. Sharks
6. Crusaders
 
Bowside

Bowside

Peter Johnson (47)
1. Crusaders
2. Blues
3. Reds
4. Tahs
5. Stormers
6. Highlanders

Im terrible at predictions.
 
Hawko

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
No4918 said:
Less than a week to go and trials are over. Must be time to have our guesses at the top sides this year.

The NZ conference looks like the toughest so will be harder for the sides to get high up the board but think both can take it out once finals start. Looking forward to seeing the Blues this year.

SA conference looks a bit disappointing outside the Stormers and Sharks. Bulls have lost a few and will push sides but predicting they will be 4th and the Lions will win 3 for there best season in years.

Aus conference will be interesting. Injury looks to be hurting the Tahs already but i'd rather them now than just in time for the finals again. Force for the wooden spoon. Hopefully the Rebels can put together a few more wins and Beale and Biebs to win them 3 games on their own if forwards can achieve parity. Brumbies - who knows? Hope they beat expectations.


1. Stormers
2. Reds
3. Blues
4. Tahs
5. Sharks
6. Crusaders
Click to expand...

In the NZ and Oz conferences I think you've got the right two, but the SA conference could be anything. Stormers will probably get there but I think the Lions might surprise to take out the Sharks and the real smokey are the Cheetahs, who will have Brussouw and maybe Juan Smith all this year. That could be dynamite for some of the weaker packs across the conferences. I expect the Hurricanes to take the spoon from the Chiefs, Rebels and maybe the Bulls as they rebuild.

I don't think the NZ conference is the toughest with two poor teams and one team of limited triers with a couple of stars. The Rebels are another smokey with Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) but you'd doubt their forwards. With the team they have on paper the Force should be fighting for a spot in the six, but the coach seems unable to install any sense of self-belief in them. The Reds had a really cushy draw last year but the downside of that is that this year they get a real tough one. They could lose out to the Force despite their star quality if the Force becomes one.

Top NZ team will be close this year, Blues seem to have recruited very well. I suspect they might take top in their conference. Tahs had the draw from hell last year so correspondingly they get a good one this time. If the injury gods would just go away I think they'll top their conference.

So I would propose two possible top sixes - one for favourites and one if the outsiders can step up:
  • Favourites: 1. Blues 2. Waratahs 3. Stormers 4. Crusaders 5. Lions 6. Reds
  • Smokeys: 1. Blues 2. Waratahs 3. Lions 4. Crusaders 5. Force 6. Cheetahs
On balance I expect the favourites to come through.
 
Hawko

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
light said:
1. Blues
2. Crusaders
3. Reds
4. Stormers
5. Waratahs
6. Sharks
Click to expand...

Further to this post and qwerty's too, these may be the table as to points but the top three places are reserved; one for each conference. So in Light's case the order is 1. Blues 2. Reds 3. Stormers 4. Crusaders 5. Waratahs 6. Sharks

(Bloody pedant, should have been drowned at birth)
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
Bit nervous about the Tahs at this stage: down Turner and Vickerman already, and Mitchell and Elsom may now not be back for a while, whilst Barnes is already struggling.

To come one or two I think you need better luck with injuries than the Tahs are already having.
 
Jnor

Jnor

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Ash said:
Bit nervous about the Tahs at this stage: down Turner and Vickerman already, and Mitchell and Elsom may now not be back for a while, whilst Barnes is already struggling.

To come one or two I think you need better luck with injuries than the Tahs are already having.
Click to expand...
Actually thats a dislike but I agree with you, Ash
 
suckerforred

suckerforred

Chilla Wilson (44)
1. Blues
2. Reds
3. Stormers
4. Crusaders
5. Brumbries
6. Cheetahs

I just think that the Brums coiuld surprise us all this year. Bit like the Reds in 2010. And the Tahs have started the season in exactly the wrong way.
Cheetahs are roughies. But did show some sparks last year.
NZ Conference really a given. Even though I would love to see Highlanders step up.
 
armatt

armatt

Fred Wood (13)
1. Reds
2. Blues
3. Saders
4. Shorks
5. Stormers
6. Tahs

I think the Reds might be able to open a bit of a gap (not much, but enough) on the rest of the Aus conference and can thus get the benefit of a few extra points, whereas the Blues and Crusaders will give each other closer beltings for shared points in the NZ conference. The Sharks have shown some good signs and should top the SA conference over the Stormers. Tahs to compete but not quite make it... again.
 
tigerland12

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
Agree with most of you on this one. In no particular order

Reds,Stormers,Blues,Crusaders,Sharks, Waratahs/Highlanders
 
Blue

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Interesting to see a few people have picked the Blues above the Crusaders. The Blues have acquired well but the Saders have been building so I still see them topping the log. Scary monster that black and red thing. It's only just growing up again.

The Reds should top the Aussie conference because the Tahs have injury issues already and will have their depth tested once again. Seems the injury gods just don't like Sydney. It's way too early for the Brumbies to make a charge.

I don't think the Stormers will win the SA conference. They have front row issues (no real experience), and they don't know who will be their openside or flyhalf. Two key positions. I can's see how they will improve over last year. They have acquired poorly for a team that got as far as they did. The Bulls with a young side have really good depth as a result of good acquisition and their development structures bearing fruit. They will not make the playoffs but I fear that for the Stormers the Bulls will partially be responsible for them missing out, as will the Stormers derbies with the Lions and Cheetahs.

I think the Bulls and Lions will finish more or less on par. The Lions are a couple of injuries away from being a very average side. They benefited last year from the other Currie Cup teams missing their Boks and they were the same squad all through the 2011 Super tournament and the Currie Cup. I think they will be better but won't get near the playoffs. Cheetahs will upset a couple of teams but that will be about it.

To me the Sharks could surprise a few teams with a different way of playing. The boring, mind numbing Sharks style will be replaced with something more inspirational as for the first time in a decade they have a 9, 10 and 13 who are able to attack and do so instinctively. They have also gotten rid of the confusion of having John Smit shift around the front row every week. My only concern for them is their second row which is pissy at best.

Top 3 to me looks like:
1. Crusaders
2. Reds.
3. Sharks

4, 5 and 6 in any order: Tahs, Blues, Highlanders.

Crusaders to smoke the thing.

That said I am probably wrong. :)
 
I

Ilie Tabua's Shadow

Guest
Book my place on the Lions' bandwagon and for the Bulls to finish last in SA.

Highlanders to win NZ and Reds to sweep to the title.

(Although me getting something like this correct is about as likely as predicting a Greek economic miracle :rolleyes: )
 
Blue

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Ilie Tabua's Shadow said:
Book my place on the Lions' bandwagon and for the Bulls to finish last in SA.

Highlanders to win NZ and Reds to sweep to the title.

(Although me getting something like this correct is about as likely as predicting a Greek economic miracle :rolleyes: )
Click to expand...
Lay you 2:1 that you will be wrong on both scores.

Heyneke Meyer has been focusing on building depth and contracting for four years knowing full well the big guns would retire, It will take 2 years to gel but the talent in the Bulls squad is going to surprise people.

Lions built momentum in the Currie Cup against the bigger teams playing without most of their top players. When the Boks came back after the RWC the Lions had momentum and a ton of self belief. A couple of losses on the road will sow the seeds of doubt and they will fizzle out. Don't get me wrong, they will be exciting to watch, and will claim some big scalps, but beating the Sharks and Stormers to top the group? Not a chance in hell. A second place finish in the group will be a near miracle.
 
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