Thanks Ray

Hi Ray

You going to have a crack at Super Rugby again this year? Hope so. Look forward to your great predictions for 2020

Cheers

Hi Fatcat. Thanks for the reminder. Sure, I wouldn't miss Super Rugby for anything. I'm starting the new season setup right now!

Cheers,

Ray

Here we go with another entertaining season.

My ratings start where we left off after last year's final. It takes about 4 weeks to adjust to all the new players and coaching ideas.

Will the Sunwolves respond after having the World Cup to inspire them before they leave Super Rugby or will they be as inconsistent as last year.? We will soon know.

Cheers,

Ray Stefani

Attached Files

Super Rugby Round 1.doc (52.5 KB, 1693 views)

Cheers Ray,,thanks

Would you believe,,every single player contracted to the Sunwolves last season,,bar three,,is no longer at the club
Those remaining are Jaba Bregvadze,,Tom Rowe & Hencus van Wyk

Most interesting addition is Ben Te’o
He is a veteran of eight NRL seasons & three State of Origin series
Switched to Rugby in 2014,,playing for Leinster,,Worcester Warriors & Toulon since
Will probably be their player to watch

NZR will persist with Super Rugby rest protocols for top players this year

Two games off (on top of each teams' two byes)
No more than six games played in succession (byes and rest weeks reset the count)
A 180-minute cap on game time over the first three rounds & including load building e.g. 40 minutes,,then 60,,then 80

Could be some changes to the rest policies next season though with three fewer regular season games for each team & the switch to the round robin format

Super Rugby 2020 winner

Crusaders $3.20
Chiefs $5.00
Hurricanes $9.00
Blues $14.00
Highlanders $15.00

Those Sunwolves off-season moves really aid off in Round 1. If anyone bet on them , they got a nice 6.00 payoff.

Here comes Round 2 with the usual comment that we need to see how the ratings move due to off-season changes for a few weeks.

The plan for a round-robin schedule next season has some issues that come with it. The home-away schedule only balances after every two seasons.

Australia teams will have 3 games against domestic opponents instead of 6. NZ teams will have 4 games against domestic opponents instead of 8.

Good luck,

Ray Stefani

Attached Files

Super Rugby Round 2.doc (52.5 KB, 1607 views)

Round 2 had some exciting moments. The Chiefs beat the Crusaders and have made a lot of upward movement since the end of last season. The Hurricanes made a stirring comeback in the last minutes to beat the Jaguars away.

We need to give the teams two more rounds to make sure the big ratings movements over the first two Rounds are justified.

Enjoy Round 3.

Ray Stefani

Attached Files

Super Rugby Round 3.doc (52.5 KB, 1603 views)