Super Rugby 2012 a success?
July 16, 2012 in Rugby, Super Rugby
So we were left with the last round of the 2012 Super Rugby season to see who the Top 6 would be! The top 2 were basically already established, with the Crusaders also confirmed as finalists, but the Hurricanes, Brumbies, Reds, Bulls and Sharks all had chances to make the finals.
And up to the last game of the last weekend, the final spots have not yet been confirmed.
The Super 15 format has come under much criticism since its inauguration. For South Africa and New Zealand, its duplicated its domestic seasons while adding very little in terms of local games by hosting only 4 international sides, from the 10 opponents. Another criticism was that the season is much too long. Stretching from as early as February, with only 2 byes per side (3 if you finish in the top 2), through a 3 week test series and into August for the finals, amounts to a marathon of a series with very little recovery time for each country’s top players.
Perhaps the main criticism is the odd manner in which the Top 3 sides are determined. With each conference guaranteed a spot n the Top 3, it was predicted that teams who have performed better than at least one of the top 3 sides, will lose out in the end. And so it did in fact happen. The Reds from Australia took up the 3rd spot with 58 points and “earned” a home play-off match, while the Crusaders (61), Bulls (59) and Sharks (59) inhabit the 4th, 5th and 6th spots, getting away playoff’s for their troubles. However, Sanzar CEO Greg Peters have reportedly come out defending the system, stating that the shoe could be on the other foot next year, and that this is the best way to get more people to watch the Rugby. Well, perhaps more people in Australia…but that’s a whole debate on its own.
Had the log been arranged properly, the playoff matches would have been the Crusaders hosting the Reds, and the Bulls hosting the Sharks…instead of the Reds hosting the Sharks, and the Crusaders hosting the Bulls. Two very much different fixtures with two very different outcomes. But in the end, it is said, to be the best you have to beat the best. And if it means that a team like the Sharks will only be deemed the “best” if they travel this week to Brisbane and defeat the Reds, travel back to South Africa and beat the Stormers at Newlands, and then travel back down to Christchurch to defeat the Crusaders…..well, then i wonder how accurate that statement really is.
Compare this with the likely outcome for the Crusaders. A home fixture against the Bulls. Then, if the Sharks manage to defeat the Reds, they will travel as far as Hamilton to face the Chiefs and if the Sharks then defeat the Stormers, the Crusaders will have spent all three weeks on home soil to host an exhausted Sharks side who crossed the globe no less than 3 times in as many weeks. And facing the Crusaders in Christchurch is daunting enough as it is. I guess that is the difference 2 points make on the log though. However, had the log looked as it should have, the Sharks would only have had to travel downunder once, for the final.
The Bulls have another little predicament:
The odds, on the Bulls’ present form, is strongly against them and with the form the Crusaders ar ein, I simply cannot see them not winning this year’s title. Is it worth the Bulls’ while to travel to New Zealand only to lose against the Saders? Yes, they will do the honorable thing and go down fighting. But is it really worth it if we consider that all of them are almost certain to be in the Bok squad for the Rugby Championship. I’ve written before about both the Bulls and Boks inability to give Morne Steyn a break, and one week extra break for the Bulls will give him and some of the other players some much needed rest.
In terms of suspense in the final round, I cannot fault the Super Ruby system this year. Each game had a significant influence on the log this weekend and it was edge of the seat stuff in some cases. But I cannot deny that I’ve been disinterested in the Super Rugby since the anticlimax of coming from test rugby back to Super Rugby and I think the only people who are happy with it, are John O’Neill, the Reds squad and Greg Peters…
- John O’Neill and Greg Peters. Happy with the conference system, of course….
Alas, we’re stuck with it and teams just have to plan to make the best of it. They will perhaps do better if they treat it like a marathon, instead of a sprint and teams like the Crusaders and in some way the Sharks, have managed their journey extremely well and seem to have saved some for the final stretch, while the two log toppers, the Stormers and Chiefs, seems to have run out of some puff in the last few weeks.
My predictions for next week:
- Crusaders to defeat the Bulls
- Sharks to beat the Reds….
powa said on July 17, 2012
This whole system benefits Oz teams only. It stuffs the Currie Cup and is just plain K*K in my opinion. Playoffs should be top 8 if quarters or top 4 if only semis. Better teams are being excluded from the playoffs.
Louie said on July 17, 2012
Think if the Sharks win, they play the Cheifs, well thats according to SuperXV and news24 seems to have it the other way round. Not sure who is right?
Met uysh said on July 17, 2012
The semi finals will be between the first placed team and the lowest placed (on the log) winner of the playoffs. The other semi final will be between the second placed team and the second lowest placed winner of the playoffs.
With the Sharks being lowest placed ont he log at 6th, they will play the Stormers if they win.
If the Sharks lose and the BUlls win, the Stormers will host the Bulls and the Reds will travel to Hamilton.
If the Sharks and the Bulls lose, the Stormers will host the Crusaders and the Chiefs will host the Reds.
I think Super XV is interpreting the log standings incorrectly as they deem the Reds to be lower placed than the 4th to 6th spots because they have less points, where in fact with the conference system they are third and the points are irrelevant going into the playoffs.
Logik said on July 16, 2012
I think it’s terrible. What is the scenario if the Reds and the Crusaders make it into a the final? Will it mean a home final for the Reds, just because they came “3rd” because of the conference system? That would not be fair to the Crusaders, who were the better team, by far, during the season. Get rid of this system. It’s just biased towards the Aussies who don’t have a domestic competition. It’s weakening South African and New Zealand rugby. Let the Aussies have their league and Aussie Rules.
REM said on July 16, 2012
I don’t like this system kak….play top 14 or even 12 teams and klaar…
Ek like it net nie, en nou moet die Sharks en Bulle hulle in hulle moer reis..is maar een van daai dinge ou pal
Two Cents said on July 16, 2012
I dont like this system. The Aussies play in a much easier conference. Lets be real, the Lions might not win the Aussie conference but would likely end mid group, meaning mid standing on the super log. And even if one say you enjoy the new format, i think you are in the minority, look at the stands. And if Super rugby games have poor attendance what is the chance first division and prem currie cup will have spectators.
System is wrong and not for the good of the game!
The Dutchman said on July 16, 2012
If the Brumbies beat the Blues, the conference system would have been perfectly set from 1 to 6, so I have to repeat what I said in the beginning, give it a chance and see how it pans out. 1 win out.
baylion said on July 16, 2012
I don’t really have a problem with the conference system. Other competitions such as the RWC, Heineken Cup etc. use a pool system which also allows “weaker” sides through to the knock out phases. The difference with SR is that we have a hybrid system which looks worse but actually isn’t.
My issue is the way SANZAR decides on the refs’ interpretation and focus, especially at the start of the season.
Last year the props, and especially the loose heads, were blown off the park while this year they blew the attacking side to bits at the break down.
Where games are too dependent on the ref’s interpretation you cannot have a fair contest across the competition.