2015 Super Rugby Season - Predictions

[ChargerWA]

Rightio, keen to see what everyone else is thinking in regards to results and other possible happenings.

My prediction for winner is Tahs beating a kiwi team. I know with a new coach it shouldn't be the Canes, but for some reason with Barrett and Smith the halves pairing I just have a feeling the young guns will play the house down leading up to the RWC.

In local news I would love to be wrong, but I see about 10th place for the Force. I think we will miss Hayward, though hopefully Morahan has a full season and can fulfil the promise he showed at the start of 2014.

In miscellaneous, I predict the first coach to be given the DCM will be Richard Graham in round 12.

 

[KevinO]

Winner: Crusaders (Have not won since 2008 so they are due) Slow start as usual and coming home strong.

Aus Conference
1) Tahs
2) Force
3) Brumbies
4) Rebels
5) Reds

I think the Reds have lost to much talent in the last two years and have the worst coach in Australia. With QC (Quade Cooper) out for a while and Genia's questionable form they should be off to a slow start and not recover.

I think the Australian conference is going to be tight, with the Tahs finishing top but third on the table.

Sharks to top SA top again.

 

[Alex]

Chiefs, Tahs and Sharks to top the conferences. Saders to be in the mix at the business end with the last two finalists to come from the Canes, Brumbies and Bulls - tough to call. Les Blues are the France of Super Rugby - you wouldn't put money on them but you can't rule them out.

I think the Chiefs will be hard to beat in the finish. Would love to see the Tahs in the final but I am not sure if they have the depth in the tight five for the inevitable attrition of the season and am afraid the Aussie conference winner will not finish in the top two.

It is really important for Australian rugby that the Aussie teams in the bottom half of the table last year improve their final position this year - and I think they can and should. Would love to see the Force do as well or better than last year, but I am afraid I cannot see it. They will test teams, particularly at home, but last year they won a higher percentage of the tight ones than you can reasonably hope for. Will be a tough to repeat it.

 

[Benaud]

I think for the Reds: Thomson, Khunt and JOC (James O'Connor) are huge signings. Injuries hurt them last year and losing Cooper early is a blow but very hard to see them not improving. 7th.

My sense with the Force this year is a bit like the Cheetahs last year. Miracle run last year. Be very surprised if it is repeated. 12th.

Expect the Brumbies to be thereabouts again, particularly if they can have a relatively injury-free run. Playing their 2nd string side in the finals like last year won't cut it. 5th.

Tahs basically unchanged in the off season. They'll be in the finals mix again. Although I can't see them going back to back. 4th.

Rebels likely to be firmly in the bottom half again. 13th.

In Kiwiland, the Chiefs made 2 massive signings in Gear and SBW. They are clear top pick for the title for me. Just an all-star lineup. Premiers.

Crusaders basically unchanged are the biggest dangers. Easily the best Super Rugby franchise ever but tipping to fall one short again. Runner Up.

Hurricanes also have a serious side. They look amazing on paper every year and inevitably fail but I just can't leave them out. 6th.

Can't get 4 Kiwi teams into the finals but the Blues are a serious side as well. Very tough conference. 9th.

Highlanders, like the Force, to fade from last year's surprise. 11th.

Over in South Africa, I'm expecting Jakeball to fall this year and I'm not sure the Shorks will be able to adapt well enough to save the slide. Quality side, dated strategy, probably my biggest call. 10th.

The Cheetahs look positively awful this year. Poor last year and almost all of their best players gone. May not win a game. Spoon.

The only dangers to the Cheetahs spoon claims are the notoriously out of their depth Lions. No notable gains and a few key losses this year will see them at the bottom end of the pile again. 14th.

The Bulls have an enviable forward pack again but little backline firepower. Likely to win plenty at home and be uncompetitive away.8th.

Finally, the Stormers haven't made any gains of note but at this stage will field a first string side for the first time in years in round 1. Forward muscle to match the Bulls with an exciting fly half and excellent centre pairing to match. Should top the conference if they can stay injury-free but look a step below the Kiwi pair. 3rd.

 

[qwerty51]

Quality Benaud but swap Chiefs/Bulls and Canes/Crusaders and you've got it!

 

[Brumby Runner]

Going to be a tough year I think with RWC always in the background and players being rested. Probably will affect NZ teams more than others.

What I expect :

- SA conference still the weakest overall. Sharks to go significantly backwards. Stormers and Bulls to fight out for top spot.

- NZ conference to be the most competitive, but Chiefs to finish on top.

- Aus conference to be a mixed bag. Tahs to find it harder this year as other teams know what to expect and have seen the NH tactics successfully employed against the Wallabies. Brumbies to be very susceptible to injuries. If they keep the starting team on the park throughout, they will finish top, but reserves are a bit thin. Reds to have an improved year, as will the Rebels and Force to stay much the same.

Final ladder :

Chiefs, Brumbies, Bulls, Stormers, Tahs, Crusaders, Force, Reds etc.

 

[JSRF10]

Tahs to top the Aussie conference and lose out to a Kiwi team in the final

Tahs, Reds, Force, Brumbies, Rebels

 

[TSR]

Crusaders to start poorly, get written off then storm home into the final only to get beaten.

No idea about the rest. I can see the Reds going either way, but I am cautiously optimistic at present.

 

[daz]

Rebels to launch from the 2014 canvas and avoid the wooden spoon in 2015.

As far as prognostication goes, that's all I have.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Here's what the punters* think:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...avourites-to-win-this-years-super-rugby-title

* am I the only one pissed off with lazy journos writing "bookies" when all they really do is set an opening price (if in doubt, home team $1.85, away team $2.10) then react to where the bettors decide to stick their hard- earned?

 

[Blue]

Anyone who writes the Sharks off have not looked at their roster, nor do they understand the significance of their new coaching team.

Read my preview on the blog. They have recruited VERY well and in Gary Gold and Brendan Venter they have smart, astute coaches who will allow them to play much more to their strengths than Jake did.

They will make the semis. I predicted on the blog that they will be losing finalists but I revise that as it was announced today that the SA teams have come to agreement with the Bok coaches and the Boks game time will be managed.

No way the Bulls win the SA conference. Not a chance.

Chiefs will win it. Beating the Tahs or Crusaders in the final.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Struggling to understand why so many people have a hard-on for the Chiefs this year. Yes, they've got an awesome-looking backline & a decent enough first-choice pack but take, say, Retallick out & who's next? Ditto Afeaki (when/ if he's cleared of his "head issues") & Big Ben.

That said, NZ Conf should be a Chiefs/ Crusaders shootout (both to qualify), Aus conf will be won by the 'tahs with Brumbies & Reds scrapping it out for a place in the playoffs, Sharks look good for SA conf but not too sure after that - Bulls look to be still a work in progress so maybe Stormers? Lions & Cheetahs in 3-way battle for Spoon with Rebels.

Said it before but The Clan are my dark horse IF everyone stays healthy - only 3 AB to shuffle & Joseph has built himself a handy looking pack, albeit with not much depth, while the backs look pretty flash. They won't win it but if NZ does get 3 in the last 6 they'll be the 3rd IMO.

 

[Dan54]

Geez WOB,don't you rate Fitzgerald and Symons at lock, while neither are world beaters, both are good honest players that tend to go well at this level. Not saying the Chiefs are going to win it, but tend to think they'll be thereabouts. Like you wouldn't be surprised if the Clan are up there, but have feeling their lack of real depth may bite them at some stage, of course I would love to shout to everyone that the Canes are going to bolt in, but have been a Canes man too long to really believe it, so shall just remain hopeful again!! You would have to suspect the Tahs for Aussie, though one would wonder if Cheika can do 2 jobs adequately, maybe Gibson will take more responsibility. Not sure about SA, haven't really looked at squads etc enough as yet to offer much of an opinion.

 

[Blue]

Struggling to understand why so many people have a hard-on for the Chiefs this year. Yes, they've got an awesome-looking backline & a decent enough first-choice pack but take, say, Retallick out & who's next? Ditto Afeaki (when/ if he's cleared of his "head issues") & Big Ben.

That said, NZ Conf should be a Chiefs/ Crusaders shootout (both to qualify), Aus conf will be won by the 'tahs with Brumbies & Reds scrapping it out for a place in the playoffs, Sharks look good for SA conf but not too sure after that - Bulls look to be still a work in progress so maybe Stormers? Lions & Cheetahs in 3-way battle for Spoon with Rebels.

Said it before but The Clan are my dark horse IF everyone stays healthy - only 3 AB to shuffle & Joseph has built himself a handy looking pack, albeit with not much depth, while the backs look pretty flash. They won't win it but if NZ does get 3 in the last 6 they'll be the 3rd IMO.

I've had the Clan as dark horse more times than I care to remember. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Courier Mail did a four-page Super Rugby lift out, obviously Reds-focused, that included these predictions:

Jim Tucker, Courier Mail rugby writer: 1. Crusaders, 2. Waratahs, 3. Chiefs, 4. Sharks, 5. Hurricanes, 6. Reds had me until Horrorcanes at 5.

Greg Martin, loudmouth fucktard for hire: 1. Chiefs, 2. Waratahs, 3. Brumbies, 4. Hurricanes, 5. Sharks, 6. Reds must be smoking some rilly, rilly good shit.

Eddie Jones, screwball coach for hire: 1. Waratahs, 2. Crusaders, 3. Chiefs, 4. Highlanders, 5. Sharks, 6. Reds.

 

[Blue]

Courier Mail did a four-page Super Rugby lift out, obviously Reds-focused, that included these predictions:

Jim Tucker, Courier Mail rugby writer: 1. Crusaders, 2. Waratahs, 3. Chiefs, 4. Sharks, 5. Hurricanes, 6. Reds had me until Horrorcanes at 5.

Greg Martin, loudmouth fucktard for hire: 1. Chiefs, 2. Waratahs, 3. Brumbies, 4. Hurricanes, 5. Sharks, 6. Reds must be smoking some rilly, rilly good shit.

Eddie Jones, screwball coach for hire: 1. Waratahs, 2. Crusaders, 3. Chiefs, 4. Highlanders, 5. Sharks, 6. Reds.

Don't drink the water and only drink beer if it's from interstate.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^ used to have a mate who reckoned you should never drink water 'cos fish fuck in it.

 

[Lindommer]

Why, oh why, do lazy journalists bother quoting Eddie Jones? He's a legend in his own household, and nowhere else.

 

[gel]

RG to be replaced by Brian Smith at round 6.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

RG to be replaced by Brian Smith at round 6.

A result to be devoutly hoped for, but think it will take a little longer.