Blues vs Force Rd 12. Fri May 2, 2025

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Force's season is slipping away from them here. They don't necessarily need to win it, but a thumping will make their job a lot harder.

The Drawn game I reckon fucked them. It’s only BPs keeping them in the season. More loses than wins and a bad +\-. If the Tahs had their record people wouldn’t be so friendly about it.

 

[Major Tom]

Man I don’t know how BOK saw a grounded ball there!

 

[Derpus]

Man surely Potter was taken out?

 

[Wilson]

The Drawn game I reckon fucked them. It’s only BPs keeping them in the season. More loses than wins and a bad +\-. If the Tahs had their record people wouldn’t be so friendly about it.

Bonus points keeping them in it is fine, as long as they can keep accruing them. They're shaky but probably ok if they can deny the Blues a bp here, that leaves them with a bit of breathing room still. If they can get up to a losing bp they're in a decent spot. It's just giving the blues 5 points here (and the damage to their differential) that'll really hurt them.

 

[Major Tom]

What are the commentators smoking debating whether the blues go for BP!

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Bonus points keeping them in it is fine, as long as they can keep accruing them. They're shaky but probably ok if they can deny the Blues a bp here, that leaves them with a bit of breathing room still. If they can get up to a losing bp they're in a decent spot. It's just giving the blues 5 points here (and the damage to their differential) that'll really hurt them.

Just the nature of Super Rugby that 2 undeserving sides in reality make the finals. Rebels last year were the same last year with a losing record.

 

[Aussie D]

I hope the Stan team analyse the Blues tries during the week as the first two tries should have been penalties to the Force.

 

[Wilson]

Just the nature of Super Rugby that 2 undeserving sides in reality make the finals. Rebels last year were the same last year with a losing record.

I just don't agree with that - if you make the 6 (or the 8 as it was) you deserve to be there. That's the measure.

That said it'd be nice if we had full home and away so the table was a more complete reflection of the sides.

 

[Major Tom]

This is dumb rugby. The kick. And then the no kick

 

[Major Tom]

Just crap from the force. Should have scored at the end there.

 

[Wilson]

Man that's a disappointing finish from the Force, denying the Blues a bp would've meant a lot to them and kept them just ahead of the Blues, but instead they barely fire a shot with a golden opportunity.

 

[Derpus]

Force's handling constantly kills momentum and then puts them under pressure. Combine that with a complete inability to make a read in defence and I am surprised they have won as many as they have.

Hate to say the Aussie teams are declining into the end of the season while the NZ teams are growing, as per usual.

 

[Aussie D]

Commiserations Force fans. Feel for your frustration with the team as they seem to find new ways each year to let you down when it comes to finals footy.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Force's handling constantly kills momentum and then puts them under pressure. Combine that with a complete inability to make a read in defence and I am surprised they have won as many as they have.

Hate to say the Aussie teams are declining into the end of the season while the NZ teams are growing, as per usual.

Seems BAU. 2 decent sides and the others are making up the numbers.

I just don't agree with that - if you make the 6 (or the 8 as it was) you deserve to be there. That's the measure.

That said it'd be nice if we had full home and away so the table was a more complete reflection of the sides.

I’m of the opinion losing records shouldn’t be in finals. Says the comps got too many qualifying. Only good thing is that it makes more relevant late season games which is good.

 

[Derpus]

Seems BAU. 2 decent sides and the others are making up the numbers.

I’m of the opinion losing records shouldn’t be in finals. Says the comps got too many qualifying. Only good thing is that it makes more relevant late season games which is good.

Yeah could've called a Chiefs - Saders final after the first few rounds.

Glad to have seen the Tahs win over Chiefs. Bout all I need from Super Rugby.

 

[Wilson]

Force's handling constantly kills momentum and then puts them under pressure. Combine that with a complete inability to make a read in defence and I am surprised they have won as many as they have.

Hate to say the Aussie teams are declining into the end of the season while the NZ teams are growing, as per usual.

Depth is definitely biting, particularly for the tahs and Force. Neither really had a lot behind their frontline and can't carry the injuries they've got.

 

[Derpus]

Guess we'll just have to cut another team, hey?

 

[Wilson]

Guess we'll just have to cut another team, hey?

Nah, things are actually better across the board then last year, and much more importantly the off field looks to be coming together at most sides. That's what will fix the depth - the fringe players coming in settled and well supported with experience in org (even if it's not in super). It takes time and most have been coming from well behind, but if they can stay the course it'll come good. I do still need to be convinced the tahs are actually trying to put the long term work in and not just hoping to do it quick and costly, but the signs are good so far.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Much better. Remember the years where we had a running tally of games since a win over a NZ side?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Loss Bleus go to sixth on PD & barring a massacre in Dunedin should remain there for the coming week.