Former All Black bucks trend and praises 'outstanding' Super Rugby finals format
The Super Rugby Pacific format has been widely criticised ever since it was announced in August that eight of the 12 teams would be involved in the finals.
With just four sides missing out on the sudden death stages of the competition, many felt poorly performing teams could still be rewarded with a finals berth at the end of the season.
In 2022, such an event has transpired with the Highlanders securing eighth spot over the weekend following a bonus point loss to the Melbourne Rebels in Dunedin, despite the southerners mustering just four wins throughout the year. As such, the Highlanders will take on the Blues at Eden Park this Saturday in a repeat of last year’s Trans-Tasman final and while they will unsurprisingly enter the match as massive underdogs, it would be foolish to write them off completely – at least according to two Super Rugby centurions.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, panellists Bryn Hall and James Parsons both suggested that while it would take a mammoth effort from the Highlanders to get a win at Eden Park this weekend, it’s certainly not out of the question entirely.
“They’re always a chance,” said Crusaders halfback Hall. “I think any time you want to take the Highlanders lightly, they love that (underdog) tag.
“They would have loved to have their form a lot better, and been able to be more confident around that but look, you’re in the playoff, you’ve done enough to be able to get there and you’ve got nothing to lose. All the pressure isn’t on them, it’s on the Blues. The expectation is for the Blues to win that comfortably and the Highlander can just throw the kitchen sink.”
Former Blues hooker Parsons noted that the Highlanders have some experience taking on the Blues in a knockout game at Eden Park, citing last year’s final as a match for the southerners to take heart from.
“They will have learned a lot from that, they’ll take a lot from that,” he said. “And it was very similar that night, the Blues were expected to win and they just stayed in that fight.
“I think it will be a big ask [but] I still think they’re always a chance.”
Hall and Parsons also both defended the finals format for this year’s competition as it ensured results were crucial right down to the final game of the regular season. Had the Highlanders not earned a bonus point in their defeat at the hands of the Rebels, for example, the Western Force would have taken their spot in the top eight.
“I think it’s outstanding because I don’t know how many more eyes would have tuned in on the weekend but I’m sure they did after the Hurricanes’ loss (to the Force on Saturday night). It made it interesting,” said Parsons. “We’re talking about games that wouldn’t matter if it was a top four. It keeps people engaged.
“I know some people see it as ridiculous and so forth but I just don’t. I just think it makes it entertaining because there’s something on the line. If there’s nothing on the line, what’s exciting about it?
“If the Highlanders go on to win, it’s a reflection of how hard this comp is. Either way, it’s an advert for the comp – which is what we need, people being engaged in our game. No team wants to have a win-loss record that’s heavily weighted (towards losses) but you’re not always going to get the top sides always winning.”
Hall also reaffirmed the benefits of doing away with the conference systems of old which oftentimes saw the top Australian and South African sides rewarded with home finals, despite finishing in a poorer position than their Kiwi counterparts.
“There’s been a little bit of disagreement around previous competition structures around the conference system and the Australian and South African teams getting a home final – or a home semi-final or quarter-final – with New Zealand teams having more points. So I’ve actually really enjoyed that you’ve actually been rewarded around your performances throughout the year and you’re getting home advantage based on just your points,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve enjoyed. If you win and you’re consistent throughout the whole year, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, which country you’re from, being able to get rewarded with that with a home quarter-final.”
The Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals kick off on Friday with the Crusaders hosting the Reds in Christchurch before a triple-header on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments