Australian Rugby union chief executive Bill Pulver has boldly predicted three local teams will make this year’s Super Rugby finals.
Last year, Pulver predicted an Australian team would win the competition and NSW Waratahs delivered on that, earning their maiden title.
Australia has had two Super finalists on a few occasions, but Pulver’s optimism for 2015 is based on the performances of the five franchises last year and the quality of their recruiting for the coming campaign.
“2014 was the strongest year of Super rugby we’ve ever had, we won more games in 2014 than ever before,” Pulver said at the Australian Super season launch in Sydney on Wednesday.
“If you look through the five squads, there’s been some very interesting new players coming forward this year and I have no question they are all going to perform well again.
“I think the real prediction is that in a finals series where you only have six teams Australia will get three in the finals series this year and that would be a superb outcome.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who also coaches the Waratahs, didn’t feel Pulver’s prediction would put added pressure on his defending champion side and the other Australian franchises.
“That’s the marketing department working overtime,” Cheika said with a chuckle.
All five Australian teams will play a trial match this weekend, with the season starting on February 13.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The hide of the CEO to talk up Australian rugby. He should be telling everybody how sh1t it is like everybody else here.
My keg only has grape juice in it, not fermented :)
Chivas
Guest
Just buy them a gold watch or do you like drinking from the same keg as redsfan :-)
The Battered Slav
Guest
Haha, punishment via the boredom induced by being made to read legislation. Ouch.
In 2012 SA conference was strong, Stormers 1st, Bulls 5th, Sharks 6th and Cheetahs a respectable 10th winning half their interconference matches. Only Lions were weak. 2013, we had Bulls 2nd, Cheetahs 6th, Stormers 7th, Sharks 8th, with Kings last. 2014 our whole conference suffered, only Sharks were successful in the Antipodes. But I suspect we will again struggle in the Antipodes. Neutral referees is still not a priority for SANZAR
44bottles
Roar Guru
Generally it helps quite a lot. You would need weak teams if the other conferences aren't weak. In both 2012 and 2014, the Aussie and SA conferences respectively were very weak. So there was never going to be a second team reaching the finals. I miswrote that. I was meaning you need either the strong weak combo, OR a weak other conference. My bad.
Buzzard
Guest
Crikey grapeseed....throw another shrimp on the barby cobber, you lost me at income tax.... Go the Reds!
Daz
Guest
I'd love to see a breakdown of how that $6.9 m was spent. That's a hell of a lot of long lunches.
Thanks for that, you just saved me 10 000 minutes, I have no need to follow the Super XV ;)
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
Swap the Blues with the Canes.
grapeseed
Guest
Reds will finish 1 and 2, so will sit out the first week of the finals, but ultimately end up playing themselves in the GF. The weird thing is that, due to Richard Graham's coaching, they lose.
grapeseed
Guest
Buzzard, I hear what you're saying, but what about your income tax laws? Stick with me on this - From New Zealand Income Tax Law 2007: Business exclusion from sections CB 6 to CB 11 Exclusion: (1)Sections CB 6 to CB 11 do not apply to a disposal of land if— (a)the land is the premises of a business; and (b)the person acquired and occupied, or erected and occupied, the premises mainly to carry on a substantial business from them. Who exclusion does not apply to: (2)The exclusion does not apply to a person who has engaged in a regular pattern of acquiring and disposing, or erecting and disposing, of premises for businesses. I hope you read all that, that's for making me feel bad about how good NZ is at rugby.
Not Bothered
Guest
The Tahs 14th...I think the Rebels have more chance of topping the table than that happening.
Not Bothered
Guest
Bottles you may aswell have said "you wont make the finals unless you get more points on the ladder than a bunch of other teams". In the final week of the Super comp all 5 NZ teams could make the finals so as I said to LB, nice theory Bottles but it just isnt true. NZ didnt have 2 weak teams.
Not Bothered
Guest
Swap the i and the e in Chiefs.
Buzzard
Guest
2011 - 2014 a golden period for super rugby in NZ. 2 winners & 2 runner ups. Chiefs winners in 2012 & 2013. Saders runner up on the road twice 2011 & 2014. The All Blacks 4 in a row RC champions. World no 1 ranked. TUMEKE!!!
Buzzard
Guest
Chiefs Sharks Brumbies Saders Blues Reds Stormers Canes Bulls Force Highlanders Lions Cheetahs Tahs Rebels Teams won't take the Tahs so lightly or as chokers now and get up for playing against them. Chiefs v Saders final. Beale to go on a bender with JOC mid season and both get suspended.
Jerry
Guest
NZ didn't have 2 weak teams.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Only reason for that was that the SA conference was shockingly poor, right up until the end of the season. That meant that there had to be 3 from one country. With the current system it is very difficult to get 3 into the finals. You need 3 strong teams, 2 weak teams, and a weak other conference.
Not Bothered
Guest
Swap the Force and Canes.