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'It would be nice to have top six': Dane Coles on Super Rugby Pacific playoffs
Hurricanes star Dane Coles says he would like to see the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs reduced from eight teams to six sides.
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Speaking ahead of his side’s quarter-final clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday, Coles carefully delivered his verdict about the competition’s current playoff structure, which has come under criticism for its bloated nature.
As things stand, eight of Super Rugby Pacific’s 12 teams qualify for the post-season, with the Highlanders claiming eighth place this year despite winning just four of their 14 regular season matches.
That has led to questions about whether the southerners deserve their place in the post-season, and while the current playoff system has been defended by some in recent days, Coles said he would like to see a format change.
“It would be nice to have top six, but the Landers are going to go out there and try beat the Blues, aren’t they?” Coles said on Thursday.
“None of us can control how they do the top eight or top six, but, maybe looking forward, you want to look at it a bit differently.
“I know those Landers boys have thrown a bit on social media and they’re pretty keen to get stuck into the Blues. Fair credit to them, they’ll turn up and play, but that’s out of my packet to restructure the comp.”
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The clash between the Blues and Highlanders will take place only a couple of hours before the Hurricanes do battle with the Brumbies in Canberra for a place in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals.
Both teams head into that match on the back of losses, with the Hurricanes having fallen short against the Western Force in Perth last weekend.
The Brumbies, meanwhile, will be aiming to snap a three-match losing streak after suffering defeats to the Crusaders, Blues and Moana Pasifika.
However, the Brumbies have also enjoyed plenty of success against Kiwi opposition this season, having beaten the Highlanders, Hurricanes and Chiefs earlier in the year.
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It’s for that reason that Coles said Australia’s top-ranked side cannot be taken lightly by the Hurricanes, who have been bolstered by the returns of Jordie Barrett and Julian Savea into their match day squad.
“I think obviously the weekend was disappointing, but I think the big thing for us is we’ve had to move on pretty quick,” Coles, who has been named to start at hooker against the Brumbies, said of the Force loss.
“Not dwell on it too much because we’re into the business end of the season, so we took a few little learnings out of it.
“I think the excitement of just playing the Brumbies in a quarter-final, obviously the record’s not great, but what a challenge for us of going out and putting a performance we can be proud of.
“They’re a quality team, but there’s massive belief in this group that we can give it a good crack.”
Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Gibbes echoed that sentiment, noting that while there was a sense of “complacency” from his side against the Force, there is a strong feeling within the squad that they can beat the Brumbies at GIO Stadium.
“All our energy’s gone into this. We’ve worked really hard during the regular season to get to this point. We’re in the playoffs and we get 80 minutes to prove how good we are, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Gibbes said.
“We’re excited as hell about it, there’s a lot of belief in the group that we can achieve this, so we put our energy into that and it’s exciting.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
4 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
4 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments