2012 S15 Australia Conference
- Thread starter PaarlBok
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kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Obviously it's a matter of convenience for some fans of the competition, and an annoyance for others. It's not a matter of fairness. So long as it is the same for all at the end of the season then it is fair. Everyone can still add numbers together.
Saying it should be two points doesn't have much merit. That's just the average points for an average team. It's neither here nor there. The average team doesn't make the cut for the finals anyway.
Zero-point-byes are actually worse. Having no points for byes just keeps a more accurate ladder at the losing end and does not help with the rest of the table.
Super Rugby has got it right on this question. Four point byes are the way to go because the top of the table is what counts, especially near the end of the season. The poor to average teams must give way to what matters more, a more accurate ladder at the top of the table.
Saying it should be two points doesn't have much merit. That's just the average points for an average team. It's neither here nor there. The average team doesn't make the cut for the finals anyway.
Zero-point-byes are actually worse. Having no points for byes just keeps a more accurate ladder at the losing end and does not help with the rest of the table.
Super Rugby has got it right on this question. Four point byes are the way to go because the top of the table is what counts, especially near the end of the season. The poor to average teams must give way to what matters more, a more accurate ladder at the top of the table.
SuperGrover
Darby Loudon (17)
Waratahs didn't lose at home to the Reds last year. They won quite handsomely.
T
TOCC
Guest
I know there is some debate that the Australian performance has been rather lackluster so far, given the events at the Brumbies and Force i think that was always going to happen in some regard.
But also, we are missing 3 of Australia's best play-makers in Beale, Quade and Barnes. Understood the Crusaders are also missing Dan Carter, and thats probably reflected in the loss to the Highlanders, so whilst it may appear as though Australia is currently lacking the fluency of New Zealand and South Africa to some regard, there is a fair light at the end of the tunnel.
But also, we are missing 3 of Australia's best play-makers in Beale, Quade and Barnes. Understood the Crusaders are also missing Dan Carter, and thats probably reflected in the loss to the Highlanders, so whilst it may appear as though Australia is currently lacking the fluency of New Zealand and South Africa to some regard, there is a fair light at the end of the tunnel.
Brisbok
Cyril Towers (30)
TOCC you should know that if you say anything slightly negative about Aus Rugby in comparison to SA or NZ rugby you will have Qwerty swiftly on the defensive! Even if your comments were looking at the positives in that some of the teams were expected to start slowly and that they should only improve from here.
Qwerty, the SA derbies have been "woeful...and a disgrace" but you're not prepared to say anything (or let anything be said) about the Aus derbies? They have been great spectacles of fluent, flowing rugby haven't they?
In fairness I would say all of the games in this year's Super Rugby (with the exception of one or 2 games) have been rather scrappy affairs with a lot of dropped ball and with combinations still trying to gel and adapting to the way the refs are blowing the ruck area in particular. Things should only get better as the season goes on (well let's hope so anyway!).
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Round three was the first round where we got a look at some inter-conference match ups and it wasn't pretty. So far you'd have to say:
Reds: Very lucky to be 3 from 3. Had real trouble with the Force, who were smashed next week by the worst NZ franchise.
Waratahs: 1 from 3 but appear to have played with the most intensity. Cake-walked the Rebels, who one week later ran the Reds close.
Brumbies: 2 from 2 plus a bye. Have not looked good and if the Cheetahs (worst SA conference team) hadn't capitulated in the last 20 mins they were done.
Rebels: 2 losses from 2. Easily beaten by the Tahs but gave a poorly performing Reds team a fright. May be the improvers but will not cope with the Kiwi intensity at the breakdown.
Force: Are in a really bad place and you'd expect their coach to be on the block within weeks. Lost to the worst NZ team by plenty with 70% possession. Injuries to their best backline players, Ripia's self-inflicted. The bookies knew something I didn't when they made them favorites for the wooden spoon. They should be pressing for a semi-final spot with that pack.
What have the Australian coaches been doing over the pre-season? Compared to the Kiwis our forwards lack intensity, breakdown skills, lineout plans and our backs are attacking with all the impact of a marshmallow. Unless our confernce completely steps up its going to be a very long season.
Reds: Very lucky to be 3 from 3. Had real trouble with the Force, who were smashed next week by the worst NZ franchise.
Waratahs: 1 from 3 but appear to have played with the most intensity. Cake-walked the Rebels, who one week later ran the Reds close.
Brumbies: 2 from 2 plus a bye. Have not looked good and if the Cheetahs (worst SA conference team) hadn't capitulated in the last 20 mins they were done.
Rebels: 2 losses from 2. Easily beaten by the Tahs but gave a poorly performing Reds team a fright. May be the improvers but will not cope with the Kiwi intensity at the breakdown.
Force: Are in a really bad place and you'd expect their coach to be on the block within weeks. Lost to the worst NZ team by plenty with 70% possession. Injuries to their best backline players, Ripia's self-inflicted. The bookies knew something I didn't when they made them favorites for the wooden spoon. They should be pressing for a semi-final spot with that pack.
What have the Australian coaches been doing over the pre-season? Compared to the Kiwis our forwards lack intensity, breakdown skills, lineout plans and our backs are attacking with all the impact of a marshmallow. Unless our confernce completely steps up its going to be a very long season.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Talk about glass half empty.
Reds - Not in great form but are still winning, equal first and undefeated.
Brumbies - Very fit, showing very sound composer. This played a massive part in any Cheetahs capitulation.
Waratahs - Only one from three but are showing promising signs. If they showed the composier the Brumbies did, they would of won their first game.
Rebels - Only two games under the belt but are showing good structure and new combinations will gel as they play a bit more.
Force -Can we just forget the Force please.
Reds - Not in great form but are still winning, equal first and undefeated.
Brumbies - Very fit, showing very sound composer. This played a massive part in any Cheetahs capitulation.
Waratahs - Only one from three but are showing promising signs. If they showed the composier the Brumbies did, they would of won their first game.
Rebels - Only two games under the belt but are showing good structure and new combinations will gel as they play a bit more.
Force -Can we just forget the Force please.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
We have a new leader here and a quick gap closing situation which is encouraging.
Australian Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Brumbies 4 3 0 1 98 95 3 8 7 1 17
2 Reds 5 3 0 2 101 135 -34 8 15 1 13
3 Waratahs 5 2 0 3 127 113 14 13 9 5 13
4 Rebels 4 1 0 3 81 108 -27 6 12 2 10
5 Force 5 1 0 4 106 150 -44 10 15 3 7
Weekend fixtures
30 Highlanders v Rebels Rugby Park, Invercargill 08:35
31 Chiefs v Waratahs Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 08:35
31 Brumbies v Sharks Canberra Stadium, Canberra 10:40
31 Force v Reds NIB Stadium, Perth 12:40
Australian Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Brumbies 4 3 0 1 98 95 3 8 7 1 17
2 Reds 5 3 0 2 101 135 -34 8 15 1 13
3 Waratahs 5 2 0 3 127 113 14 13 9 5 13
4 Rebels 4 1 0 3 81 108 -27 6 12 2 10
5 Force 5 1 0 4 106 150 -44 10 15 3 7
Weekend fixtures
30 Highlanders v Rebels Rugby Park, Invercargill 08:35
31 Chiefs v Waratahs Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 08:35
31 Brumbies v Sharks Canberra Stadium, Canberra 10:40
31 Force v Reds NIB Stadium, Perth 12:40
liquor box
Greg Davis (50)
I can only see one Aussie team getting through, I dont think our second place team will have enough points to play finals
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