Battle for the Spoon!

[The Red Baron]

With so much focus on the race for the Super Rugby finals, I decided a change of tack was in order. Shifting my attention to the bottom of the ladder, there are 3 clear candidates for the Super Rugby wooden spoon this year, and the rivalry is intense.

The bottom of the ladder as it stands is:


W L F A D BP Points
Blues 3 12 329 414 -85 8 28
Force 3 12 282 402 -120 7 27
Lions 3 12 297 423 -126 5 25


Only a couple of points separate these teams. This weekends fixtures are:

Blues vs Brumbies
Force vs Crusaders
Lions vs Bulls

The most likely scenario is that all three of these teams will be flogged, and hence the bottom of the ladder will stay exactly the way it is now. However;

If the Blues lose to the Brumbies, and the Force AND Lions gain wins, then the Spoon will head to Auckland.

If the Lions win against the Bulls, and the Force lose against the Crusaders, then the Spoon will head to Perth. Anything the Blues do will not affect the Forces chance of the spoon here. They are masters of their own destiny!

The Lions need a win to avoid the Spoon. But they also require both the Blues and Force to lose IF the Lions want to avoid the spoon finding a new home in Johannesburg.

Now there is a possibility that the Rebels would do the back to back. This scenario relies on the Force and Blues notching up wins, the Lions securing a bonus point win over the Bulls, and the Rebels losing without a bonus point to the Stormers. As the Rebels are on 30 points, the Lions would draw level with them on points and wins. The Lions, with a superior for/against than the Rebels, would climb to 14th.

Basically, all three main spoon contenders would have to win, with the Lions winning well, in order for the Rebels to secure their second ever spoon!

Fascinating stuff! Who will win the Super Rugby Wooden Spoon in 2012 and why?

 

[RugbyReg]

like it. Can we make that a blog post?

 

[Brisbok]

Mate, I'm pretty sure the Lions have this one well and truly sewn up! The only way I can see them not taking it out is if they lose to the Bulls by less than 7 points and score 4 tries to get the two losing bonus points. The Force will then need to lose to the Crusaders by approx 13+ points so that they don't get any bonus points. That way the Lions would move onto 27 competition points and have a slightly better For and Against.

Not impossible, but unlikely.

 

[Forcefield]

The Force will get well and truly flogged in Christchurch. The Lions will get well and truly flogged by the Bulls. They just have too much to lose by not showing up. The only conceivable situation where the score line might not reflect this is if either the Crusaders or Bulls coaches roll out the bench at the 50 minute mark to rest the stars for next week after they are 30 odd points ahead and the momentum shifts.

I think it is safe to say that the Lions will be the wooden spooners.

 

[The Red Baron]

I have obtained exclusive pictures of the trophy the Lions, Force and Blues are battling it out for this year:

SANZAR have been generous. Instead of a single wooden spoon, they have included an attractive jar. That way the teams can keep their wooden spoon collection in one convenient location!

Edit: I have updated the spoon jar, which now includes personalised spoons from each of our candidates! Who will win the coveted spoon and jar?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Why do I find this thread so compelling?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I have obtained exclusive pictures of the trophy the Lions, Force and Blues are battling it out for this year:

View attachment 2558

SANZAR have been generous. Instead of a single wooden spoon, they have included an attractive jar. That way the teams can keep their wooden spoon collection in one convenient location!

Mr von Richthofen,

I think you have stolen the plans for the GWS Giants trophy cabinet, and crudely pasted a superugby logo over the top of the artists impression of the said cabinet.

 

[kronic]

The Aussie conference spoon will go west.

 

[The Red Baron]

Mr von Richthofen,

I think you have stolen the plans for the GWS Giants trophy cabinet, and crudely pasted a superugby logo over the top of the artists impression of the said cabinet.

Maybe..

 

[The Red Baron]

Well, now that the Blues have knocked themselves out of the running, the battle of the spoon has narrowed to the Lions and Force. Who wants it more?

 

[The Red Baron]

Force are still fiercely contesting the spoon. All the Lions need to do is lose to the Bulls to wrap up spoon honors though.

 

[ChargerWA]

Thank fuck for the Lions.

 

[vismyr]

Congratulations to the Lions -- 2008, 2010, and now 2012 Super Rugby wooden spooners!

And ChargerWA -- I'm sure last year the Lions were saying thank fuck for the Rebels.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

So the Kings seem to have wrapped up this trophy for 2013 or have they?

Force and The Clan still have an outside chance of forcing their way into the 2013 Super Rugby Wooden Spoon premiership winning position.

 

[southsider]

does anybody else find it weird that south African fans and administration seem to say they have depth and want to have a 5th super team yet one of their super teams quite regularly end up with the wooden spoon?

 

[Athilnaur]

I think the best part of the whole thing is that not only are the bottom two slots occupied by Saffas and Kiwis, but 60% of the kiwi teams lost ten games or more.

Shocking, relegate the buggers I say.

 

[Shiggins]

The force made sure the kings would take it. Great stuff

 

[Ruggo]

I feel a bit sorry that the schoolboys down the bottom of the South Island didn't get it. I thought Jamie Joseph put his best foot forward (and the other in his mouth) to claim the prize.