I'd have Rebels above Highlanders (having beaten them) but yeah agree with that.KOB's power rankings:
1. Blues
2. Hurricanes
3. Chiefs
4. Reds
5. Brumbies
(the above are the only deserved finalists IMO, at this stage)
6. Crusaders
7. Drua
8. Highlanders
9. Rebels
10. Tahs
11. Force
12. Moana
They'll cover that by oranges, I reckon.KOB's power rankings:
1. Blues
2. Hurricanes
3. Chiefs
4. Reds
5. Brumbies
(the above are the only deserved finalists IMO, at this stage)
6. Crusaders
7. Drua
8. Highlanders
9. Rebels
10. Tahs
11. Force
12. Moana
Edit: its probably more relevant in the SRP24 thread but its a response to the table here, feel free to move it mods.
Back to the game: Brumbies by 16
Consistent KOB. The only two sides to beat the Brumbies have been two of the top 4, both on the ladder and in your mind-game power rankings. The Reds otoh have been beaten by both the top two, by the Brumbies and by one or two sides below them in the competition. Your anti-Brumbies stance is showing up again. Ah well, these ranking are of no use at all to anyone else, so go for it.KOB's power rankings:
1. Blues
2. Hurricanes
3. Chiefs
4. Reds
5. Brumbies
(the above are the only deserved finalists IMO, at this stage)
6. Crusaders
7. Drua
8. Highlanders
9. Rebels
10. Tahs
11. Force
12. Moana
Edit: its probably more relevant in the SRP24 thread but its a response to the table here, feel free to move it mods.
Back to the game: Brumbies by 16
It's not an anti-Brumbies stance at all, it's a stance about how they limped home against the Drua at home, 'power rankings' have a higher weighting on the more recent performances. It's only my opinion and I don't really care whether it turns out I'm wrong or right that I have the Reds rated higher than them. It's also probably worth pointing out that I mention those 5 teams as being the only ones worthy of finals contention out of the 12 teams in the comp, and that I have the Brumbies winning by a fair margin, a margin which is only that close due to the fact they are playing in Sydney and the Tahs generally lift for this fixture at home.Consistent KOB. The only two sides to beat the Brumbies have been two of the top 4, both on the ladder and in your mind-game power rankings. The Reds otoh have been beaten by both the top two, by the Brumbies and by one or two sides below them in the competition. Your anti-Brumbies stance is showing up again. Ah well, these ranking are of no use at all to anyone else, so go for it.
Yeah, but look at the Tah's squad that's out injured etc - there's no way we're lifting by that much to get over the BrumsIt's not an anti-Brumbies stance at all, it's a stance about how they limped home against the Drua at home, 'power rankings' have a higher weighting on the more recent performances. It's only my opinion and I don't really care whether it turns out I'm wrong or right that I have the Reds rated higher than them. It's also probably worth pointing out that I mention those 5 teams as being the only ones worthy of finals contention out of the 12 teams in the comp, and that I have the Brumbies winning by a fair margin, a margin which is only that close due to the fact they are playing in Sydney and the Tahs generally lift for this fixture at home.
I didn't say we are getting over them, I have Brumbies by 16Yeah, but look at the Tah's squad that's out injured etc - there's no way we're lifting by that much to get over the Brums
KOB = GAGR's preeminent authority on rugby football.KOB's power rankings:
1. Blues
Could be that by halftime - betting has that @6.I didn't say we are getting over them, I have Brumbies by 16
which means play this game 6 times and once out of those 6 games the Brumbies will be 15+ ahead. 5 times out of 6 they won't be.Could be that by halftime - betting has that @6.
Saturday is that one (not that your stats are valid - but no issues!) .which means play this game 6 times and once out of those 6 games the Brumbies will be 15+ ahead. 5 times out of 6 they won't be.
KOB it is a bit of a truism but there's not a lot between the teams in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific). It's true that results often reflect the team that turns up on the day to get the win. In this case, however, the Tahs also have to contend with an horrific injury roster. I think the Brumbies will be fronting a side that looks more like a SS team than a Super Rugby team. I will be very disappointed if they (the Brums) don't come away with a bonus point win. The Tahs have had a catastrophic year with injuries, especially in the engine room.Yeah I just don't think the Brumbies are going that well that they are going to thump us. Will the Brumbies win? In all probability, yes. Will they flog us? No I don't think so. The guys have a bit of heart, they won't capitulate easily.
I'm not quite sure it's that bad. The centres are the critical point, and I doubt all 3 of them are injured that badly that at least one of them can't play. We will roll out something like:KOB it is a bit of a truism but there's not a lot between the teams in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) (Super Rugby Pacific). It's true that results often reflect the team that turns up on the day to get the win. In this case, however, the Tahs also have to contend with an horrific injury roster. I think the Brumbies will be fronting a side that looks more like a SS team than a Super Rugby team. I will be very disappointed if they (the Brums) don't come away with a bonus point win. The Tahs have had a catastrophic year with injuries, especially in the engine room.
Is there anyone in the squad who could be selected for 16-23 or will they all be ring-ins. I suppose they could select Tuipolotu and Wilson at 12 and 13, but given what the coach thinks of them based on the rest of the season, that's dubious.I'm not quite sure it's that bad. The centres are the critical point, and I doubt all 3 of them are injured that badly that at least one of them can't play. We will roll out something like:
1. Thompson-Stringer
2. Fonokalafi
3. Johnson-Holmes
4. Sinclair
5. Amotesero
6. Swinton
7. Gamble
8. Holloway
9. Gordon
10. Harrison
11. Pietsch
12. Edmed
13. (the one who's not injured!)
14. Reilly
15. Nawaqantawase
I'm not claiming that is a vintage lineup but its certainly better than SS. The bench will be the worry.
I wondered about those two as well, I'm sure if they are asked to play they will. I think the bench will nearly all be SS players ex Grant, and if Jorgensen is OK and maybe another centre it won't be too bad unless one of the starting front row needs to get replaced early. The silver lining here is that players who weren't expecting to be called upon are going to get some decent experience.Is there anyone in the squad who could be selected for 16-23 or will they all be ring-ins. I suppose they could select Tuipolotu and Wilson at 12 and 13, but given what the coach thinks of them based on the rest of the season, that's dubious.
Is this just unbelievably bad luck (again) or do we have a need for better S & C. We seem to have ended every season of the last four or five with about half our squad unavailable. Needless to say this has not been the NZ teams' experience.
That's not a silver lining. Those players that were not expecting to be called upon are, in the coaches opinion, not ready to play Super. Assuming the coach's opinion is correct, all this will do is put players on the field who are not properly prepared and who could be severely damaged career-wise by being exposed too soon.I wondered about those two as well, I'm sure if they are asked to play they will. I think the bench will nearly all be SS players ex Grant, and if Jorgensen is OK and maybe another centre it won't be too bad unless one of the starting front row needs to get replaced early. The silver lining here is that players who weren't expecting to be called upon are going to get some decent experience.