Wykes, Hayward return to run with the Bulls

[shasta]

Now, thanks to the Blues and Brumbies a win can see us leapfrog both the Chiefs and Waratahs into outright third and take a bye and a heap of confidence to ZA. Aim up boys.

[valzc]

YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
C'mon C'MON THE FOOOOOORCE!!!!!!!!!!

[Alison]

Anyone know where in Margaret River is likely to be showing the game tomorrow night? TIF??

[jargan83]

Anyone know where in Margaret River is likely to be showing the game tomorrow night? TIF??

Probably any pub with Fox Sports

[Sheikh]

Now, thanks to the Blues and Brumbies a win can see us leapfrog both the Chiefs and Waratahs into outright third and take a bye and a heap of confidence to ZA. Aim up boys.

No; we might get more points than the Chiefs, but they retain 3rd place as the best from their conference (unless the Hurricanes beat the Reds, when the Canes would take 3rd). It's a problem with the conference system, but the top three places are reserved for the top team in each conference, even if they have fewer points than teams in 4th, 5th, 6th, etc. In order to get into the top 3 we'd have to lead the Australian conference.

[travelling_gerry]

Probably any pub with Fox Sports

Knights Inn, Settlers, and even most of the motels

[shasta]

No; we might get more points than the Chiefs, but they retain 3rd place as the best from their conference (unless the Hurricanes beat the Reds, when the Canes would take 3rd). It's a problem with the conference system, but the top three places are reserved for the top team in each conference, even if they have fewer points than teams in 4th, 5th, 6th, etc. In order to get into the top 3 we'd have to lead the Australian conference.

You are right, of course, and you can look at it that way if you want. I'll still be seeing us as third, and as long as we stay around there finals are on the agenda. Should a team finish, say 6th best on points but top of conference; are finals rankings, and thus home finals, worked on total points or does the lowest ranked conference winner just assume third place overall?

[WFDom]

Anyone know where in Margaret River is likely to be showing the game tomorrow night? TIF??

Margaret River Hotel Alison. Watched a few games there last year. Big screen round by the pool table.

I found that viewing was enhanced exponentially by a few Cowaramup Pilsners over at Settlers beforehand!

[maelkann]

You are right, of course, and you can look at it that way if you want. I'll still be seeing us as third, and as long as we stay around there finals are on the agenda. Should a team finish, say 6th best on points but top of conference; are finals rankings, and thus home finals, worked on total points or does the lowest ranked conference winner just assume third place overall?

Lowest ranked conference winner gets third place overall.

I now wonder if it's possible for the lowest placed conference winner to actually finish outside the six...

[shasta]

Lowest ranked conference winner gets third place overall.

I now wonder if it's possible for the lowest placed conference winner to actually finish outside the six...

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is. This is not something we have had to put a lot of thought into so far.
I've always thought such a system is a joke; but to possibly finish lower on points and still be third seed in play a play-off series is an embarrassment to the game.

[travelling_gerry]

Highlanders had a 4 try win against the Sharks last night and leapfrog us.

[Sheikh]

Lowest ranked conference winner gets third place overall.

I now wonder if it's possible for the lowest placed conference winner to actually finish outside the six...

Theoretically, you could finish 11th and yet still be the best in your conference (highly unlikely, but possible) in which case you would still be '3rd' on the ladder and get a home final. IIRC, the guarantee of a home final was a big selling point to the unions when they decided on the current format.

The system isn't perfect, but presumably was considered the least imperfect system when we went to 15 teams.

[WFDom]

Highlanders had a 4 try win against the Sharks last night and leapfrog us.

Fark! Who saw that coming?

After this weeks results so far, the game for us tonight is getting more important. We missed an opportunity last week, we really need to capitalise tonight.

I don't want to be reading this week how we were just a "flash in the pan". We've proved a lot of commentators wrong this year.... and I get the feeling they're willing us to lose to save a bit of face.

Come on fellas, get that win.

[maelkann]

Theoretically, you could finish 11th and yet still be the best in your conference (highly unlikely, but possible) in which case you would still be '3rd' on the ladder and get a home final. IIRC, the guarantee of a home final was a big selling point to the unions when they decided on the current format.

The system isn't perfect, but presumably was considered the least imperfect system when we went to 15 teams.

Yeah, because of the asymmetric nature of the draw I was wondering if it was even possible for the results to fall in such a way to get the lowest conference winner to be in 7-11 place. At a rough guess, losing all games outside your conference, splitting every match pair inside it with no bonus points, where every other match in the other conferences gets a bonus point would probably push you down to 11th for your top based team.

But honestly, if the results are that evenly matched across the rounds, the finals are probably a crapshoot anyway...

[travelling_gerry]

Fark! Who saw that coming?

Even the cheerleaders had a bad night.