Match thread

Chris B.

@kiwimurph That's good news. I'd say Riach's pretty much got his pricing spot on.

The epic 25-17 victory over the Lions in the final in Johannesburg last year earned the Crusaders a A$125,000 appearance fee and the club announced a $328,000 surplus, their biggest in over a decade. In 2016 they posted a profit of just $2000. In 2015 it was $3700.

taniwharugby

@chris-b so they made $125k appearance fee last year, plus Lions paid for travel and accommodation; this year they pay the Lions a fee, plus travel and accomodation.

financially better to not host?

Gunner

I find it quite astounding that any team has to pay another team travel costs and an appearance fee.
Surely to hell this should be all part of a package that Super Rugby pays for, after all it’s their product and their flagship game of the season is it not?

Chris B.

@taniwharugby If they sell 20,000 seats at $120 that's $2.4 million.

Doubtless a heap of caveats on those figures, but it's a handy start for the hosts and there's plenty to be made from hospitality.

taniwharugby

@chris-b all seats $120?

Wally

@chris-b

I’m too old for the cheap seats!

Main stands $75 - $120.

End on open stands $49.

Cheaper for kids.

Rapido

@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

@chris-b so they made $125k appearance fee last year, plus Lions paid for travel and accommodation; this year they pay the Lions a fee, plus travel and accomodation.

financially better to not host?

No. It's financially better to hosat and sell out your stadium and keep the profits over and above the travel costs and apperarance fee.

Lions last year would have creamed it hosting. This year they will get a measly $125k.

ACT Crusader

Lions now favourites as its revealed that Crusaders have to pay their travel costs and Crusaders can not afford Powerade for half time.

shark

The biggest problem in 2003 was that Mehrts, Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph and Mark Robinson were replaced by carthorses. The resulting team had a distinctly flaky, non-Cantablacks look to it and after some flashy substance-lacking footy we bombed out in the game that mattered.

antipodean

@shark said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

The biggest problem in 2003 was that Mehrts, Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph and Mark Robinson were replaced by carthorses.

shark

That 2003 team was actually quite divided, or at least cliquey (sp). I was living in Melbourne at the time and the couple of times I saw the ABs around and/or in pics in the paper, there was a Canterbury group, an Auckland group, and the rest.

KiwiMurph

@shark lead by a coaching group not exactly renowned for their people skills.

Nepia

@mn5 said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

@antipodean said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

@shark said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

The biggest problem in 2003 was that Mehrts, Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph and Mark Robinson were replaced by carthorses.

Can wingers get slower than Caleb ?

Fatty Savea in the last couple of years would have run him close (and before you Savea fluffers have a hernia, no I'm not referencing the pre fat quick version).

@shark You forgot to mention Ben Blair.

mariner4life

@shark said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

The biggest problem in 2003 was that Mehrts, Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph and Mark Robinson were replaced by carthorses. The resulting team had a distinctly flaky, non-Cantablacks look to it and after some flashy substance-lacking footy we bombed out in the game that mattered.

Not bad, slightly overdone, and loses points for the flashy carthorse paradox

2/10 would not bite

Stargazer

Am watching "Road to the Final" at Sky Sport 4 and AMI Stadium is full of .......... fog. Geez, hopefully that won't happen tomorrow!

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Crucial

@shark said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

That 2003 team was actually quite divided, or at least cliquey (sp). I was living in Melbourne at the time and the couple of times I saw the ABs around and/or in pics in the paper, there was a Canterbury group, an Auckland group, and the rest.

Were the Canterbury group all passing the phone around to talk to grandad?

taniwharugby

Head to $1.09 / $7.50

Crusaders been there all week Lions slipped from $7.00 earlier in week.

Has there been another final where one team was supposedly gonna walk it so easy before?

taniwharugby

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Chris B.

@taniwharugby Perfect for an insurance bet!

I don't expect the Crusaders to lose, but an early red card and the whole landscape changes.

nzzp

@chris-b said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

@taniwharugby Perfect for an insurance bet!

I don't expect the Crusaders to lose, but an early red card and the whole landscape changes.

Yep.

If I were the Lions, I'd be throwing up a lot of contestable high kicks early, and getting people up in teh air to get it. One small misjudgement, and someone cops a red. If it's you - c'est la vie. If it's the Saders, you're probably goign to win.

taniwharugby

@nzzp will Angus want to issue a red for someone in the air after he got thrown under the bus last time?

taniwharugby

There are a few large wagers on the Crusaders lifting the trophy again this year.

Outright Winner Bets:

$40,000 on the Crusaders at $2.00 - placed on June 28

$30,000 on the Crusaders at $1.50 - placed on July 26

$29,465 on the Crusaders at $1.12 - placed on July 28

One punter foresaw George Bridge's breakout season.

Super Rugby Top Try Scorer Bet:

$250 on George Bridge at $41 - placed on February 15

$1,000 Multi could return $22,500

World Cup Outright Winner: France @ $6.00

Super Rugby Outright Winner: Crusaders @ $3.75

$32 Multi could return $3,936.30

Champions League Winner: Real Madrid @ $1.70

Stanley Cup Winner: Washington Capitals @ $2.50

NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors @ $1.55

World Cup Outright Winner: France @ $6.00

Super Rugby Outright Winner: Crusaders @ $3.25

MiketheSnow

Great that it's a full house tonight.

But let's be fair, if it wasn't that would be a piss poor effort.

taniwharugby

@booboo think it was a pisstake, found it on ACC FB page, but given the time, is SA creation

mariner4life

What is that spud Williams doing on TV?

taniwharugby

what was that Lions fella standing upright in the maul moaning about

Damo

@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby Final 2018:

what was that Lions fella standing upright in the maul moaning about

Pushing before catches got to ground. I thought he had a point.

taniwharugby

@damo didnt think that was what he was shouting about, but I'll go with that.

Shut up Justin, ref called ruck, he should then take his hands off

antipodean

I still remain astonished teams double defend against Owen Franks. He falls to the ground when you touch him.

Damo

Big difference between the teams is the speed at the breakdown. For the crusaders the ball appears almost immediately, but the lions take an age to recycle.

taniwharugby

that pulling it down call is BS, that maul was splintered, not under control and the Crusaders get pinged.

antipodean

That's some great defence of the set piece by the Crusaders.