There comes a time in the Super-14 competition when teams start to panic realising they are at the bottom half of the table. One thing and one thing only will halt their plummet to the bottom of the log, which is the consistency of the team to score four tries per game and lose by less than 7 points in their upcoming encounters over the next 12 weeks.
We hear the mantra from the South African coaches about winning or losing to the New Zealand and Oz sides but it’s not as simple as that. It is how you win, with 4 or more tries, or how you lose, with a margin of less than 7 points. These are the subtle nuances that will catch up with the teams 3 games from now.
The 14 sides all play against one another once in the regular season. With each team granted one bye-week, this phase of the competition runs for 14 weeks with the semis and finals accounting for the last 2 weeks of the 16-week competition.
The teams are ranked according to the number of competition points they accrue throughout the 14-week season and we are now 15% into the tournament, with some sides scrambling over each other like roaches at the bottom of the log.
Competition points are awarded as follows:
Four for winning a match.
Two for drawing a match.
Additional bonus points, which set the men from the boys or the leaders from the losers, are awarded as follows:
One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match.
One bonus point for losing by seven or fewer points.
Teams can score up to two additional bonus points in each regular season match. One bonus point will be awarded to any team that scores four tries or more in a single game, regardless of whether they have won, lost or drawn.
A bonus point will also be awarded to the losing side if the margin of loss is 7 points or less. So only the losing side can achieve the maximum 2 bonus points. Weird ranking, but those are the rules. It is possible to lose by less than 7 points and have scored four tries and wind up with 2 points, which would be three off the side that won, also having scored 4 tries. That was nearly the situation at Loftus on Saturday, which is why the Blues are 5th on the Table and the Stormers 9th! Therein lays the tale.
The Sharks are the only Super 14 side not to have scored any bonus points after 15% of the tournament. Plumtree will surely know what to say to his team this week in Hamilton on Saturday in the team room and again at half time at Chiefs’ home ground. In the last 2 encounters with Chiefs in Hamilton, the Chiefs twice walked with a maximum of 5 points and the Sharks only got one point for the 2 games. Not a good sign.
One would have thought that Sanzar would have attributed an additional bonus point for four or more tries, as that is the spectacle of rugby and that is the grist that brings in the spectators to fill the stadiums. The spectators bring lucre to the home stadium and numbers to the broadcaster and hey presto you have a deal on the table top for the next 5 years.
Why oh why, do we not hear the South African coaches, or their management and public-relations hacks, focussing their teams and their fans on this simple solution?
The Bulls have now learned to run it seems. Instead of the crash-bang-boom up the middle and around the edges, which we normally see week in and week out from the Bulls. They now spin the ball out wide and drop little chips over the rush defence. Pieter Rossouw, their backline coach, must be broadening their repertoire because they have shown they can run and run well. What a liberating feeling it must be for the “running” of the Bulls.
Even though Habana slipped three tackles, each one resulting in a try by the Blues, the Bulls came away with a full house and are positioned number one on the Table with 10 points. What a great position to be in because they are going to need it.
This coming Saturday the Reds meet the Cheetahs in Brisbane. What the Reds did to the Stormers, by offloading with momentum and what the Blues did running the ball against the Bulls and still come away with a bonus point, is exactly what losing teams must aim for. The Blues’ loss, with a second string side, against the Bulls, resulted in a four point difference on the Table and not the massacre the South African media would have you believe from the the final score.
The fact that the New Zealand teams are ranked 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 on the log means that they are at their most vulnerable now and their most dangerous as they face 2 South African teams — Stormers-Blues and Sharks-Chiefs — this weekend. If the Stormers get beaten by the Blues and the Sharks by the Chiefs, you will hear grown men start to sniffle.
The Bulls meet the Lions and although the Lions pipped the Bulls a couple of weeks ago in a warm-up, this will be different and deadly. The Bulls should again come away with another 5 points to increase daylight between themselves and the danger teams, Crusaders and Sharks, who are but 3 and 2 points off the Bulls.
Then to compound matters, expect in the next 2 weeks, post the Sanzar meeting on March 4 in Dubai, for there to be a revelation in Super rugby relating to the expansion of the Super 14, or will it be Super 15. If Sanzar and especially SA Rugby do not hit the right strategic formula for the future of Super rugby in March, they will be in for a torrid time.
Times, they are a changing but it is still a numbers game and the teams in this year’s Super 14 must worry about getting the bonus points to be a contender in 10 weeks. The administrators of Sanzar must seriously worry about getting bums on seats because those stadiums are half empty and the sponsors are walking away and the broadcasters raising an eyebrow.
This year could be a brutal year for rugby.
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18 Responses to “Super 14 for dummies: Bonus points”
I think that there are a few things that one could do to “Weaken the defense” - Flyhalves should be able to kick for their own lineout. Ie if you kick and it bounces in field and then goes out that is the kicking teams ball. This will introduce into the Defense the idea of a “Secondary” - Guys that HAVE to stay back to cover this. that makes it 15 against 12 in favor of the Offense.
Making Truck and trailer legal would be nice, but this may be a bit radical.
Rugby is starting to look a little cloggerd up for the offense. Expect defenses to keep getting better.
Philip - that is a little like reading the tape of a fortune cookie.
The South African rugby scribes pandering to the Bulls fans and team, have revelled in the slaughter of the Blues, by the Bulls, by 30 points.
This scoreline belies the reality that the Bulls stepped off the field with 5 points and the Blues with 4 points. There is no massacre in this.
These are the points that count for the table.
I think the Blues are fully cocked and loaded for this Saturday against the Stormers judging by their sharpness at yesterdays run at Hamiltons rugby club in Green Point.
Against the back drop of local newspaper journalists today calling for a home Super 14 semi final?!
Wait a minute!
There are 11 more cliff hanger games to go and they talk of a home semi final? He was probably up all night watching the Oscars and the red carpet parade and is suffering from sleep deprivation.
“A bonus point will also be awarded to the losing side if the margin of loss is 7 points or less. So only the losing side can achieve the maximum 2 bonus points. Weird ranking, but those are the rules. It is possible to lose by less than 7 points and have scored four tries and wind up with 4 points, (no it’s not) which would be one off the side that won, also having scored 4 tries.”
If you draw a game and score 4 tries you get 3 points and not 4. I think you’re adding a point for not losing by more than 7 which you don’t get with a draw - just the 2 points for the draw. Sorry to nitpick but if you’re trying to make it understood then it’s best to get it right.
The bonus points really do make a huge difference in this competition as a team could lose for example two home games (almost a death-sentence in this competition) but make up for it by picking up 2 BP’s in 4 away games and negate that disadvantage somewhat. Makes me want to kick Francois Steyns butt for his overly-casual-lets-not-mess-up-the-hair try-scoring ATTEMPT which cost the Sharks a point on Saturday. In a competition like this where every point counts, I’d be tempted to drop him to the bench were I the coach and possibly take a pair of clippers to that mop!
Oh and Tony, the Blues walked off with 2 points not 4 as you have erroneously summised (a cursory look at the log will confirm this)
S14 for Dummies: Bonus Point?
I am tempted to add something else here but as I generally like your column I shan’t. This time.
Phil, neither of these two suggestions have a place in Rugby Union I’m afraid. There is already too much kicking in the game as has been evident in the first 2 rounds of the competition this year.
If a team is going to kick away possession they should be penalised for it in my opinion. The introduction of the quick-tap free-kick has already opened up defences on a number of occasions already this year which I would say has improved flow of the game.
The reason for the truck-and-trailer law to remain (and I reckon it should be more stringently enforced) is that our beloved game would stray over to the direction of grid-iron / aussie rules where players are taking out defenders. Already I have witnessed - particularly NZ sides - taking out defenders behind and on the side of a ruck (but not bound) to allow their scrummies to sneak through. It amounts to obstruction plain and simple and whilst I do appreciate that flirting with the laws to gain an advantage is part and parcel of the modern professional era, it is not strictly within the spirit of the game. This self-same spirit that separates our beloved Rugby Union from peasant games like “soccer” or football as some like to call it or Rugby League which is really just a game for ruffians who could never understand the subtle nuances of union.
Craig Millar - What a massive temptation it must have been to flip the “Dummy” label on to me. So I salute your restraint!
You are of course right about the Blues getting 2 points against the Bulls for their 4 tries. My point was they could have lost by less than 7 points and got another bonus point, which I hoped would highlight how the quarter finals and semi-finals will play themselves out before hand if the coaches and teams are not cognizant of how to maximise points on the table.
A so called thrashing by the Bulls of the Blues was enough to put them 4 places ahead of the Stormers.
Craig I am sure you will find this site to your liking as it is for boffins like you -http://www.lassen.co.nz/s14tab.php
Please do correct this dummy, if I err again in the future! I appreciate your comments and corrections.
Thanks Tony thats a really great site, one which I will certainly share with others…once I have used the very comprehensive stats available to make myself look like an absolute master of all that is S14 that is!
Canes, Tahs, Sharks, Bulls, Stormers, Reds and Brumbies to win this weekend, based on home ground advantage and a smattering of parachialism when it comes to the Sharks and the Canes.
tommy is the dummy. if you lose a game you get no points, or one point or maximum two points. one point for losing by a margin of 7 or less. one point for scoring 4 or more tries. the blues against the bulls got one point for scoring 4 tries and the bulls totalled 5 points, 4 for the win and 1 for scoring four tries. even when he is corrected tommy still gets it wrong!
Teddy Page - Tommy here - the paradox here is that you can lose a game, score four tries and get a bonus point - then Teddy - you can lose a game by less than 7 points - get a bonus point and also score four tries and get another bonus point.
Teddy - Tommy always said that the Bulls got maximum 5 points - 4 for the win and a bonus for the 4 tries.
Teddy time for a cuppa java to kick start your synapses.
RugbyHeaven | Friday, 27 February 2009
The South African union is being urged to consider an exclusively black franchise for any Super rugby expansion just days after it questioned hosting the New Zealand Maori team on racial grounds.
Eastern Province rugby boss Cheeky Watson, father of controversial Springbok Luke Watson, is the man behind the quest.
He has urged Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile to intervene and ensure the “Super 15 franchise” issue is on the agenda for an upcoming Sanzar meeting to be held this week in Dubai where the World Cup Sevens is being played.
It will be an interesting outcome with Saru having last week said they could probably not host the New Zealand Maori sides because of a President’s Council ruling that prevented national teams playing sides that were selected on racial grounds.
The Springboks are hoping to play NZ Maori in June in Soweto.
Now there is clearly a push to have a racially-aligned side in Super rugby. It comes at a time when Sanzar are considering expansion plans and new ways to improve their competitions.
“We make no apology that this is a black African franchise that’s going to be launched on June the 16th,” Watson said when he briefed the National Assembly’s sport and recreation committee on a new Eastern Cape rugby franchise.
A South African press Association report said Watson claimed the franchise was more important to the game in the republic than the 2015 Rugby World Cup that Saru are bidding for.
“This is a franchise that’s going to touch every single corner of South Africa,” he said.
“And I really think that this is something that is going to impact and really change the face of South African rugby like never ever before.
“And I think we’ve got to realise that there are one or two people who will stand in the way, but we’ve got to push this thing through, we’ve got to make this thing successful and make this thing happen. ”
Watson reportedly quoted from the Bible and added: “Now is the time to deliver this franchise. Now is the time to launch this franchise”.
“And I think from our side, we’re not going to compromise, we’re not going to stand back, we’re not going to make excuses about raising a black African franchise.
“If you look at the whole design and the launch of this franchise, it is very much African.
“If you take the logo and compare the logo to the rest of the logos in the Super 14 arena, this logo sticks out like a sore thumb.
“It incorporates over 500 years of history in the Eastern Cape. It encapsulates transformation like transformation has never been encapsulated, and it takes us as the Eastern Cape people, and places our heritage, our culture, our history in the forefronts of the world.
Jon - There are multiple reasons for the admission of the Eastern Cape as a franchise. Forget politics right now as I will make this reason the last.
1. The Eastern Cape represents 40% of South African rugby players and require a franchise to grow those partner unions.
2. SA Rugby agreed to this on the 8th June 2005 and reneged on this agreement.
3. A 15th team in the Super 14 as a Super 15 brings extra games to increase the value of the SANZAR broadcast agreement with News Ltd to earn extra income from Broadcast fees and gate-money
4. Cost Effectiveness: A 15 team competition creates three conferences of five teams, which would play one and a half rounds. Each of those conferences is divided into four divisions, with the winner of each division guaranteed a place in the playoffs regardless of their record. This cuts on travelling and hotel costs.
5. It is unethical and unfair to exclude so great a rugby playing area. The new Eastern Cape franchise addresses that, which then opens up the prospect that this side can play the New Zealand Maoris in advance of the Eastern Capes game against the British & Irish Lions and South Africa against the British & Irish Lions.
Tony, I may be opening myself to ridicule here, but after some consideration I think you’ve made a mistake.
You say: “the Bulls stepped off the field with 5 points and the Blues with 4 points”.
Please can you explain how the Blues got 4 points from their game against the Bulls? They lost (0), and they lost by more than 7 points (0) but they scored four tries (+1), so according to my understanding they got only 1 point from the game.
The log table seems to support this conclusion. After two games, the Blues have two bonus points in total: one for a four-try victory over the Sharks, and another for a four-try loss to the Bulls. So unless I’m seriously misunderstanding you (for which, as the writer of this column, you would be at least partially responsible) you are making some grievous errors of calculation.
Paddy II - You are correct that the Blues got a single bonus point but they are but four points in arrears of the log leaders after 18% of the competition under the belt.
The Blues got their 6 points from a 4 point win over the Force plus a bonus point for 4 tries and an additional bonus point from 4 tries against the Bulls - total 6.
This is not that far behind the log leaders the Waratahs and the Bulls - although things are changing fast today.
The Bulls can assume the ascendancy if they put 4 tries past the Lions and win, to attain a 15 point full house.
No misunderstanding here we agree on the same points spread.
Now imagine us having this discussion following a 6-pack, it is enough to pickle the brain.
Tony and Jon, I think you guys are BOTH missing an important point here and that is the competitiveness (or lack there-of) of E.Cape teams for God knows how long now. The dilution of talent that saw the Cats break up into the Lions and Cheetahs has these two teams propping up the bottom - no pun intended - of the table year after year.
In my opinion the fast-tracking of a team from the E.Cape into Super-rugby would be an awful mistake and until they have a side down there that can compete in our domestic competition such a notion is akin to putting the cart in front of the horse.
To respond point by point Tony:
1) I’d like to know where those stats come from - I’m reliably informed that 80% of statistics are made up on the spot
2) SA Rugby were bullied into this agreement in the first place, the reason for them reneging is because they don’t see the idea as viable at the moment, possibly for reasons such as those I’ve mentioned above.
3) A 15th team that receives a whipping every game will do NOTHING to enhance the game and/or increase revenue. Sounding it’s death-knell maybe but certainly not going to increase revenue.
4) wtf? I’ve no idea what you’re trying to explain here but this makes as much sense as your explanation of the bonus points! If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
5) Unethical and unfair? The only fair I know is bus-fair (sp) and if a team wants inclusion they will need to show they can be competitive. They’re looking for a hand-out as is Cheeky Watson who by all accounts is a man hell-bent on dividing people rather than uniting them and the very ugly chip he carries on his shoulder has no place in the sport. Neither does he. His divisive comments and attempts to politicise the sport are repulsive to me and should be recognised for what they are and rejected with the contempt they deserve. Then again thats just my opinion. I’m probably not alone there though.
Craig Millar - The point you are missing is that the Lions have 19 clubs and the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein a similar amount as opposed to the 110 clubs in Eastern Province and 252 in Border. Spot the difference?
Let’s deal with your information.
1. South African rugby has 511,561 players. Do you agree on this? If not, try http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000034/index.htmlto understand the source. The 200,000 of these players come from the Eastern Cape. This is not some bar statistic, but research going back to 2005.
3. Who says the team will get a whipping? You? Look at the Force 3 years ago and their lying 4th on the log today. Focus, Focus, Focus.
4. Cost Effectiveness is the SANZAR reason for going for S15: A 15 team competition creates three conferences of five teams, which would play one and a half rounds. Each of those conferences is divided into four divisions, with the winner of each division guaranteed a place in the playoffs regardless of their record. This cuts on travelling and hotel costs.
5. Let me show you the support for the Eastern Cape franchise. Take a look at some images of the support for this team: http://www.sportsleader.co.za/tonymckeever/2008/06/18/sa-rugby-president-spits-dummy-out-in-parliament/ Now try and tell me that these people are divided? They are unified and want their franchise in the Eastern Cape. Why else is Hoskins meeting the MEC Sport in PE right now? Your eyes will not deceive you and this is no PhotoShop trickery, but there are more fans here than any of the past weekends games turnouts at stadiums in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. These people know it and want their own Eastern Cape franchise, so try telling them that they cannot play Super Rugby.
The Wednesday 4th March SANZAR meeting in Dubai, can cure a lot of the ills in Super Rugby and you as a spectator and fan will get more games to watch and please let’s chat then when the Eastern Cape franchise beats both the Lions and Cheetahs in 2010.
Tony, I stand corrected, I thought it was Stofile with the help of Van-Rooyen who had foisted the Spears franchise plan onto the rest of the unions. The fact that Hoskins reneged on it as soon as he came in seemed to support this.
I also really didn’t realise that there were so many rugby clubs in the E.Cape which does however beg the question, why are their club and regional sides so poor. (The IRB link you gave me doesn’t work btw)
I’ll FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS on the remarkable form of the Force this year (after a few years of poor performances) when an E.Cape side wins the Currie Cup. They’ll need to find a Matt Gitteau though and they are rare and don’t come cheap.
I can still not make head or tail of what you are on about with your cost-effective exercise. 6 Kiwi teams, 4 Aussie teams and 5 SA teams are going to be difficult to divide into three 5-team “conferences” …playing one and a half rounds?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? You’re going to have to draw me a picture I’m afraid. I’ve tried dividing odd numbers by even ones and keep getting fractions. Please help.
As for your photo-shop trickery, those fans will need to come every week (without free t-shirts mind you) and watch a team get klapped for a few seasons and keep up those numbers to have me convinced. Otherwise it’s just another rally. When I spoke of divisive I was referring to SA as a whole and not ECape. Perhaps there will be enough supports who will make the trek to Boet Erasmus (which has a nice big parking area to braai in if memory serves) on a regular basis. It would probably be good to have more players exposed to higher standards of rugby. I stand with my earlier comments that they will need to prove themselves before getting included into S14 though.
And yes, we will chat after the Lions and Cheetahs play the Spears (with Luke Watson as Captain no doubt) in 2010.
And finally, it’s not more rugby I want. Much like my other favourite pastime which involves the “fairer sex”, it’s quality and not quantity thats important to me.
1. The 6th franchise was never mooted by van Rooyen, then SA Rugby President - it was a unanimous 20 man Presidents Council decision under van Rooyen, that bound all 14 Unions - and it was cast in stone in June 2005. The 6th franchise exists. The problem is what fixtures and when?
3. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? SANZAR = 3 Unions = Super 14 (5 teams each from SA & NZ + 4 ex ARU) - Super 15 has a couple of options: Firstly, the three conferences are: SA, NZ & OZ. Secondly there are 2 Options for each of the three conferences. The first is that Oz gets a 5th team to equal the numbers of the SA & NZ teams, but OZ are saying include Japan as the 5th team, or Melbourne or Newcastle. The problem with this is that Oz does not have the money backing these 2 options. The Second S15 team option is SA gets a 6th franchise and the Eastern Cape comes in and this is backed with the cash from the broadcaster who is looking for increased rugby inventory and to keep their satellite competition out, as they come on stream in August. What research has shown is that local derbies between regional Super Rugby sides attracts more spectators than if they played against the other SANZAR union sides in the early rounds. That’s where the early rounds are played at home saving on travel.
3. Those fans dressed in red are wearing their own clothing and no free t-shirts were handed out! The new stadium in PE goes operational in June - a 48,000 seater and the new franchise plays the British & Irish Lions on the 16th June.
You will have a few surprises in store for the new franchises players and Director of Rugby coming up in a few weeks.
If it is quality you want, it is prime beef the Eastern Cape franchise will serve up to enhance your other favourite past time.
By Iain Payten
March 03, 2009 12:00am
SOUTH Africa appear poised to hijack a crucial meeting on the expansion of Super rugby tomorrow by pushing for their own sixth side ahead of a new Australian franchise.
ARU boss John O’Neill will join rugby bosses from South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai to map out the future of Super rugby.
Until late last year, talks had focused on expanding into a Super 15, with five teams from each country in three conferences and an expanded 23-week season.
But the natural progression of a fifth Australian side - or perhaps a Japanese franchise - looks likely to be scuttled by South Africa, who are pushing for a sixth side named the Spears on the South Eastern Cape.
“Let no one have any misconceptions, the delivery of Super rugby to the South Eastern Cape is a priority objective for South African rugby and no one in our organisation will rest until it is achieved,” SARFU boss Oregan Hoskins said at the weekend.
The SARFU position has the potential to tear the SANZAR alliance apart. O’Neill said yesterday he did not want to contemplate that scenario, and the Spears should be included further down the track.
The ARU boss and the NZRU hope the conference-based format is one of several to take to broadcasters by June 30. O’Neill believes Super rugby should start in March in the future.
AGAINST: THIS ESPN STAR ARTICLE OUT OF AUSTRALIA & THE USA will help shed some light on the behind the scenes battle.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill is headed for a fiery showdown with South African officials at this week’s SANZAR conference in Dubai over the location of the 15th Super rugby franchise.
The South African Rugby Union is pushing for a team to be based in the politically-sensitive Eastern Cape region, describing their proposal as a ‘priority objective’.
But O’Neill warned his SARU counterparts that they will have a fight on their hands, insisting Australia is next in line should SANZAR decide to increase the numbers of teams from 14 to 15.
“Australia and New Zealand are keen on expansion and the in-principle agreement last year would be that the expansion would be in the Australian conference,” O’Neill said.
“So it would be five teams in the South African conference, five in Australia and five in New Zealand.
“The Eastern Cape for South Africa’s purposes is very important politically to, over time, get a team in Super rugby.
“Our view of the time is a few years away, not now, and we’ll be pushing for our own opportunities in this market and perhaps Japan.”
O’Neill will attempt to take the emotion out of the argument when he meets with South African officials, calling for calm and rational thinking.
He hinted expansion plans may be put on hold as rugby tightens its belt in harsh economic times.
“We’ve all got to be careful we don’t overplay any particular hand,” O’Neill said.
“It’s pretty tough economic conditions and the SANZAR joint venture has to think long and hard before it takes any particular decision.”
Closer to home, O’Neill re-affirmed his organisation’s support for the Western Force following doubts over their long-term viability on and off the field.
“That market to us is incredibly important and we won’t be letting the Western Force fail,” he said.
“The global financial crisis is affecting professional sport and different markets are responding differently.
“Western Australia clearly has had some boom times and therefore they are coming off the boil a bit.
“Am I worried about the financial circumstances in WA? No more than I am across the country. We’re working very hard with the Waratahs, the Reds, the Brumbies and the Force to ensure that they all remain financially well and healthy.
“There’s no alarm bells ringing at the moment. We’ve got a lot of mouths to feed in rugby and Western Force is just one of them. We worry about everyone equally.”
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Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa.
Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen in swimming, diving, waterpolo, lifesaving and white water rafting.
Rugby was played at Bishops, NW Cape, Maties, van der Stel, UCT, Hamiltons and False Bay.
Tony singularly authored the blueprint for the establishment of Soccer City Stadium for the PSL which in 2010 hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup and the Finals of the soccer showpiece.
He was past CEO of the Southern & Eastern Cape Super 14 Rugby franchise, the Southern Spears and now CEO of the Super 20 Rugby World Series.
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I think that there are a few things that one could do to “Weaken the defense” - Flyhalves should be able to kick for their own lineout. Ie if you kick and it bounces in field and then goes out that is the kicking teams ball. This will introduce into the Defense the idea of a “Secondary” - Guys that HAVE to stay back to cover this. that makes it 15 against 12 in favor of the Offense.
Making Truck and trailer legal would be nice, but this may be a bit radical.
Rugby is starting to look a little cloggerd up for the offense. Expect defenses to keep getting better.
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