It seems that after just seven rounds of Super Rugby in 2012, Australian teams are falling off the pace of the high-flying Kiwis and Saffers.
New Zealand is slightly edging South Africa thus far, with two SA and four New Zealand teams making up the top six of a combined points log.
If we count only non-neutral matches, New Zealand and South African teams have met 10 times, with five wins apiece. There are three away wins for New Zealand versus two away wins for SA. Evenly matched.
SA and Australian teams have faced off six times, with four wins for SA versus two for Australia. Two of the SA wins came in Australia, while none of the Aussie wins were in SA.
This gives SA a slight advantage over the Aussies.
New Zealand and Australian teams have played eight times, with six wins for New Zealand versus two for Australia. New Zealand have claimed two away wins; Australia has none.
It has been a one-sided affair.
In summary, it seems that the Aussie conference is somewhat weaker and more evenly spread than the others.
With the top Aussie side guaranteed a finals spot, yet currently lying seventh on the log, it adds fuel to an already under-fire qualification system.
South Africa 5 – 5 New Zealand
South Africa – 4 – 2 Australia
New Zealand – 6 – 2 Australia
New Zealand – 11 wins, seven losses for a win ratio of 61 percent (away wins 45 percent)
South Africa – nine wins, seven losses for a win ratio of 56 percent (away wins 44 percent)
Australia – 4 wins, 10 losses for a win ratio of 29 percent (away wins – 0 percent)
*Only non-neutral matches have been counted.
Moaman
Guest
Mortlock had hair??? ;-)
Ivan
Guest
If the Wallabies had Peter de Villiers, Dick Muir and Gold coaching them for 4 years they'd be thrashed. Australian rugby would currently be in total rabble. They'd be ranked 10th in world rugby.
MR
Guest
SA: Hard as Nails Aus: Tactics AB’s: Talent, Tactics & Hard as Nails (though perhaps a few to many pies for one of the ABs)
matthew
Guest
Any rugby fan with half a brain knows that SA have stronger players than Aus. AB's: Talent and Tactics SA: Talent Aus: Tactics
AndrewCT
Guest
I think you're missing the coaching factor, but I agree that Aus deserved the second spot last year.
Ivan Nel
Roar Rookie
I havent read anyone making such a claim - until we beat the ABs more often than they us (Boks) nobody has the right to make such a claim - I do however think that this year the Boks will be very strong. Some incredible new talent to pick from.
Justin
Guest
More depth, not way more by any stretch. By the way Suzy did you watch the abomination of a match in Auckland? The standard was woeful...
matthew
Guest
Agree Suzy. It's excruciatingly painful for Bok fans knowing we've got the talent to compete with the All Blacks, (a 50/50 record over the last 8 games), but braindead conservative tactics, coaching and selection are always enough to fell even the strongest teams. There's no way Australia should have been winning so many games against the Boks lately, but the facts are that they played a far smarter, spriited game with less resources at their disposle.
Suzy Poison
Guest
I meant Heynejke Meyer...too many wines.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Wallabies are way better the Boks. Three zip, last year, proves that point. ( And I am a Saffa ) Australia just know how to use the ball. We Boks just kick it away. What the Super 15 shows is that South Africa has way more depth overall than Australia. However at a national level, the Boks play boring and brain dead footy. Simply put, poor selection ( John Smit, Pierre Spies, Morne Steyn) and poor coaching nullifies any decent talent that they have to chose from. As a Saffa, I am hopefully that Heyneke Muller might overturn this waste of talent, but not holding my breath. It is interesting that Johan Goosen ( Cheethas number 10 has been selected for the first Bok camp) But sadly it so political in SA, Heyneke will no doubt chose his Bulls buddies. Australians may struggle to understand just how political it is.The Currie Cup is more than a hundred years old. You simply don't go play for a team, in a region, you don't grow up in. Perhaps the only way, to grasp it, is to think of the Brumbies of old. They were made up of NSW and Queensland rejects, but man, did they prove a point. There still exists that kind of inter-provincial angst, even now in. SA.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I love it when South African's claim the Springboks are stronger than the Wallabies... it always makes me laugh.
stuff happems
Guest
Good post.Unbeaten on the road is a big challenge. Not sure how often it's been done. The Stormers game tomorrow against the Crusaders & next week against the Reds should be a real pointer to the final stages. But as you say, long way to go.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
the wallabies were at home and at near full strength. If we really were 'the n2 team in the world ' we should have done better than getting smashed by the n10-12 team imo.
bluerose
Guest
so that means Samoa beat an A Wallabies team last year? or its only applies to the Boks
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
True, i had forgotten they had put their A side for the second TN test in Durban sorry guys.
dcnz
Guest
I think the ABs will retain the Bledisloe but I expect SA to be very strong, they have loads of in-form talent to choose from. Houggard is the best 9 in the world at the moment and Alberts and Broussow will challenge the ABs up front. Australia will have their backs to the wall and pull off some surprise wins ...
Markus
Guest
Would have been an even better game if Jason Little marked his man :P
Justin
Guest
Nick thats not right actually - we smashed the A team in AUS and then beat their proper side in SA - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tri_Nations_Series
Riccardo
Guest
Yep. What he said...
Ryan
Guest
Actually was not possible to do any better than that.