Chiefs vs Crusaders

[Sidbarret]

Competition is damn close. Chiefs and Reds were clear favourites the last 2 years at this stage. This year i'd say there are about 5 sides that could get up.

Dunno, I think your guilty of some revisionist history there.

For better or worse the Reds didn't get much respect despite their results in 2011. I don't think they were most people favourites to win the competition until Genia scored half way through the second half of the final.

Last year the Chiefs didn't even lead the log after the round-stage and the semi against the Crusaders were basically a fifty/fifty game.

 

[Dan54]

Geez that game was close to test match intensity, and I can't help being a bit pleased how well Whitelock, Romano and Retallic are playing as far as ABs go. Just quietly although he only played 20 mins last night I still a huge fan of Cane's workrate, a real quality rather than flashy No 7 in my opinion!!

 

[Bullrush]

This works great for the Blues. If the can get up over the Brumbies tonite, they should go back to 2nd in the conference I think. Possibly 3 NZ teams in the finals!!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The way things are shaping up there will be One Saffer, Two Oz, and 3 NZ teams in the finals.

The $64000 question is which teams, in which order.

Bulls, Ponies and Chiefs look certainties, and will probably have home town advantages.
Reds, Blues, Crusaders look likely to make it.

Cheetahs, Tahs and Canes seem to be the rogue elements, with the Cheetahs being most likely mob to upset the applecart.

 

[FrankLind]

The Bulls have played two less matches than the Chiefs as of Saturday but are six points behind.

I think the Chiefs will lose to the Saders away because it is away as well as the Saders being more desperate.
Secondly, I think the Blues at Eden park is truly a 50-50 match. Again, the Blues will be desperate.
They should beat the Canes at home.

The Bulls should beat the Kings and the Sharks when they play them at home (the Sharks have a terrible injury toll and are out of the running)
That leaves the Stormers, Cheetahs and Sharks away. I think the Bulls can win of these.

Of course, every single prediction here could be wrong.

 

[boyo]

The Bulls have played two less matches than the Chiefs as of Saturday but are six points behind.

I think the Chiefs will lose to the Saders away because it is away as well as the Saders being more desperate.
Secondly, I think the Blues at Eden park is truly a 50-50 match. Again, the Blues will be desperate.
They should beat the Canes at home.

The Bulls should beat the Kings and the Sharks when they play them at home (the Sharks have a terrible injury toll and are out of the running)
That leaves the Stormers, Cheetahs and Sharks away. I think the Bulls can win of these.

Of course, every single prediction here could be wrong.

?

 

[Blue]

?

I think he meant that before the Bulls actually played last night. They still have a game in hand.

The Bulls beat the Sharks away last night. Two more wins will all but guarantee that they win the SA conference but that doesn't mean shit. They have to end second or first on the log to be any chance. This team is not good enough to win a playoff road game.

 

[boyo]

The "?" wasn't about whether or not a team has a game in hand.

 

[Blue]

The "?" wasn't about whether or not a team has a game in hand.

Oh, you were being a grammar asshole?

 

[FrankLind]

Updated

Meaningless predictions follow. (could be some mistakes here as attention to detail isn't my strong point)

The Brumbies are on 50 points with 3 games left.
They play the Canes at home = probable win,
Rebels at home = probable win,
Force away = probable win
= 62 points (bonus points, maybe one or two) = 63 to 64 points

Chiefs are on 52 with 3 games left + bye, so= 56.
They play the Canes = highly probable win,
Saders away = probable loss,
Blues away = probable win based on Blues forward weakness and indiscipline (after watching the Brumbies game today)
= 65 to 67 points (2 wins and 1- 3 bonus points)

Bulls - Bulls are on 50 points with 4 games left. Hard to predict their matches. I guesstimate they will win 2 or 3 and get 1 to 3 bonus points.
= 59 to 65 points

 

[boyo]

So Blue, do you think that it's okay to play the man?