The run home: the comp gets serious

[RugbyReg]

good work Lang, mate I've just takent the liberty of labelling games Home (H) and away (A) which i think is relevant.

 

[cyclopath]

Except the Tahs play the Canes at Home (Sydney), Noddy. Not that that seems to help us against them!

 

[fatprop]

with the Sharks beating the Blues it open a bit of a gap and look like a 5 horse race fighting for 4 places

sharks have lost 5 already, they will have to get 4 try bps for the rest of the season to have any chance at all, and play the Bulls, Stormers and Force


no chance

 

[Ruggo]

I am not writing the Saders off yet. The loss to the Force will have them pissed off. The Stormers will be in for a hell of a battle and this game could go either way.

Reds have a big banana skin game this week but hey, their entire season has been built off of getting certain monkey's off of their backs.

Bulls and Sharks could go either way. Springbok jerseys must be a huge incentive for the Sharks to have a blinder. Y bet is they have the cattle to roll the Bulls.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja the Stormers vs Saders will be tough but the Stormers will be something different in a pack Newlands, the Bulls will roll the Sharks in the Ring with ease and it will open up the Guppies for the Stormers the next week, making the final match on Newlands a battle Royal.

 

[Blue]

If anyone can travel to SA and beat the Bulls and Stormers, it's the Crusaders.

Whilst unlikely, they are a crafty bunch.

The Sharks showed nothing against the Blues to suggest they can beat the Bulls in Pretoria. They defend well, hit the ball up well and that's it. When they canlt break the line with their big runners they have no plan B becuase they have a very limited 10/12/13 combo unable to create space and change lines of attack.

They couldn't get a single maul going last night against the Blues.

 

[Ishmael]

The interesting this is that if both the Reds and Tahs win their last three games (probably unlikely but entirely possible) then both will almost certainly finish in the top 4, since they're respectively equal with and one point behind the Stormers and Crusaders. Since those two have to play each other, one will inevitably drop at least one game. If the Reds and Tahs both win their remaining games then it's almost impossible for the loser of the Stormers v Crusaders game to make up the difference with bonus points.

However, chances are both the Reds and Tahs will drop at least one more game this year and so the whole thing will probably come down to bonus points.

 

[Pfitzy]

1. Bulls (50)
2. Stormers (49)
3. Reds (48)
4. Waratahs (46)
5. Crusaders (39)
6. Hurricanes (33)
7. Brumbies (31)

That is all.

 

[cyclopath]

1. Bulls (50)
2. Stormers (49)
3. Reds (48)
4. Waratahs (46)
5. Crusaders (39)
6. Hurricanes (33)
7. Brumbies (31)

That is all.

One way or another, this post will be quoted back at some stage, only issue is whether it's NTA or someone being mean!

 

[Pfitzy]

or someone being a fluffybunny!

Fixed.

 

[cyclopath]

or someone being a fluffybunny!

Fixed.

You are nothing if not reliable, mate.

 

[Ruggo]

Point of interest is the Reds sit below the Crusaders on equal points with only an 8 point gap in points differental.
this is massivly significant.

 

[DPK]

Point of interest is the Reds sit below the Crusaders on equal points with only an 8 point gap in points differental.
this is massivly significant.

Next week may sort that out if the Brumbies stay in the form valley of death.

Crusaders take on the second best defence in the comp (is this right?).

 

[Pfitzy]

DISCLAIMER: these table figures come from rugbyheaven.

Points conceded table is apparently:

1. Bulls 106
2. Stormers 127
3. Crusaders 191
4. Reds 196
5. Waratahs 227
6. Brumbies 236
9. Sharks 236
7. Hurricanes 243
8. Blues 263
11. Force 296
10. Chiefs 309
12. Highlanders 318
13. Cheetahs 337
14. Lions 437

That is the current ladder spot next to them. Funny how the top 6 are also the best defenders. Looking at the points scored line:

1. Bulls 359
3. Crusaders 299
5. Waratahs 297
4. Reds 295
10. Chiefs 274
6. Brumbies 273
2. Stormers 271
7. Hurricanes 265
8. Blues 258
14. Lions 234
12. Highlanders 232
9. Sharks 231
13. Cheetahs 192
11. Force 189


And now points differential:

1. Bulls 253
2. Stormers 144
3. Crusaders 108
4. Reds 99
5. Waratahs 70
6. Brumbies 37
7. Hurricanes 22
8. Blues -5
9. Sharks -5
10. Chiefs -35
12. Highlanders -86
11. Force -107
13. Cheetahs -145
14. Lions -203

 

[cyclopath]

Except the Bulls have conceded 253 points after last night and their PD is 106 - so they're back to front there. I haven't checked all the others. Although, points diff won't be a factor for them if they stay clear on the ladder.

 

[naza]

Looking at the points scored line:

1. Bulls 359
3. Crusaders 299
5. Waratahs 297
4. Reds 295

So the Waratahs' attack is superior to the Reds ? Interesting..

 

[James Buchanan]

Except the Bulls have conceded 253 points after last night and their PD is 106 - so they're back to front there. I haven't checked all the others. Although, points diff won't be a factor for them if they stay clear on the ladder.

The rest look pretty right. I've been watching the +/- column for the last few weeks and they all fit. You're right about the bulls though.

Only other one that might be off would be the Stormers. I think they were around +146 last week though so +144 seems about right.

 

[waratahjesus]

Looking at the points scored line:

1. Bulls 359
3. Crusaders 299
5. Waratahs 297
4. Reds 295

So the Waratahs' attack is superior to the Reds ? Interesting..

with the number of line breaks QLD are making compared to NSW, NSW are much more cut throat in actualy converting theres to points.

 

[cyclopath]

No, the Tahs stats are way skewed by the Lions and Cheetahs capitulations. No way do they have a better attack than the Reds. Let's get serious guys, not even Sir Humphrey Appleby can spin that shit.

 

[DPK]

No, the Tahs stats are way skewed by the Lions and Cheetahs capitulations. No way do they have a better attack than the Reds. Let's get serious guys, not even Sir Humphrey Appleby can spin that shit.

Oh come on, of course he could...