@Hooroo I think the key point in there is 'current record-streak' - Crusaders current playoff streak is 4 (missed playoffs in 2015).

@KiwiMurph said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@Hooroo I think the key point in there is 'current record-streak' - Crusaders current playoff streak is 4 (missed playoffs in 2015).

OK, I didn't realise they missed out in 2015. Just kind of assumed they are always there.

@Hooroo Crusaders finished 7th but there were only 6 playoff spots in 2015.

Yeah, Crusaders finished 7th with 46 points, the Stormers won the South African conference with 45 points to finish 3rd.

It's going to be a shitfight, but hell yeah I'm up for that!

@nzzp

I'm UK based

Just a fan of ARG rugby in how they don't rely on

Mercenaries & Fake Foreigners to be good at rugby

Their 2007 RWC side was a hell of a team got my interest in Rugby TBH

@Hooroo

Those 2 players are great but Chiefs pack doesn't concern much TBH

Jaguares play SA sides who try to blast Jaguares and have largely failed to do so this season minus 2nd half vs Stormers in Cape Town

Sharks have an enormous pack much better than Chiefs & Jaguares handled them well

Chiefs big threats IMO are Weber ALB and their Back 3

Neutralise that threat & Jaguares will win by 10 points or so

Not sure Chiefs fans appreciate the Jaguares side they're playing this weekend compared to side they played 3 months ago

Team is night and Day in squad depth confidence and performance levels

Jaguares gifted the match away in last 5 mins Won't happen again

Time to end this mistake and beat Chiefs in Buenos Aires

@Jaguares4real

Bigger is not better. I know the UK systems have focussed on size and the SAs are just bememoths anyway, but the beauty of rugby is that size does not equal effectiveness (even in the forwards).

This game should be a cracker as both sides rely on forcing errors and pouncing afterwards.

@Jaguares4real said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@Hooroo

Those 2 players are great but Chiefs pack doesn't concern much TBH

Jaguares play SA sides who try to blast Jaguares and have largely failed to do so this season minus 2nd half vs Stormers in Cape Town

Sharks have an enormous pack much better than Chiefs & Jaguares handled them well

Chiefs big threats IMO are Weber ALB and their Back 3

Neutralise that threat & Jaguares will win by 10 points or so

Not sure Chiefs fans appreciate the Jaguares side they're playing this weekend compared to side they played 3 months ago

Team is night and Day in squad depth confidence and performance levels

Jaguares gifted the match away in last 5 mins Won't happen again

Time to end this mistake and beat Chiefs in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires does a MUCH better steak than the Tron. Go the Jaguares!!

I'm very surprised by the chiefs optimistism, I think it's mostly inherent NZ bias. The jags are on a real roll, and are at home. The chiefs, even after their opposed training run last game, have a bloody long way to go to get to Argentina. I think there will be comfortable wins for all the home teams

@Machpants said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

I'm very surprised by the chiefs optimistism, I think it's mostly inherent NZ bias. The jags are on a real roll, and are at home. The chiefs, even after their opposed training run last game, have a bloody long way to go to get to Argentina. I think there will be comfortable wins for all the home teams

I think it is fair to have optimism that the Chiefs MAY overcome those facts. I don't think anyone here is declaring them favourites by any stretch.
What we do know is that for the first week of playoffs the travel factor is not so big. Chiefs have ensured travel at NZ night time so body clocks aren't too disrupted and the lineup will be fairly stable (hopefully) so the training can focus on sharpness.
I'm simply looking forward to the game as I am expecting a good one.

Jags are pretty much an international side so our bunch of hicks should be the underdogs.

@Jaguares4real said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@Hooroo

Those 2 players are great but Chiefs pack doesn't concern much TBH

Jaguares play SA sides who try to blast Jaguares and have largely failed to do so this season minus 2nd half vs Stormers in Cape Town

Sharks have an enormous pack much better than Chiefs & Jaguares handled them well

Chiefs big threats IMO are Weber ALB and their Back 3

Neutralise that threat & Jaguares will win by 10 points or so

Not sure Chiefs fans appreciate the Jaguares side they're playing this weekend compared to side they played 3 months ago

Team is night and Day in squad depth confidence and performance levels

Jaguares gifted the match away in last 5 mins Won't happen again

Time to end this mistake and beat Chiefs in Buenos Aires

It’s not their size that is their point of difference, it’s their skill level.

As you say the Jags have been able to deal with the big sized SA packs, but it’s when the Chiefs try and speed the game up with their link game is where the Jags will be tested.

I do like the Jags chances. They are playing with confidence and are a far more committed defensive side.

Chiefs can score in bunches and of all the NZ sides they have these 15-20 minute bursts that either get them back into a game or turn it against the other.

People always talk about how big SA sides are.

Yet NZ sides rarely get pushed around. And the weights, as televised, are only a couple of kegs different. True, we can be out-muscled by sides who practice mauling more, etc, but weight is no deal.

The likes of Ben Tameifuna isn't a SA speciality.

Chiefs side with BBBR & Cane are an entirely different beast than without, it also helps lift those around them.

I dont think any optimism by Chiefs fans is mis-guided (see my comment above) that said I expect the team is very grounded and will know they are in for a match that should be test match intensity.

@Jaguares4real the way you are talking, the Jaguares just need to turn up and they will win, yet you point as Chiefs optimism?

Reckon this could be the game of the round.

@taniwharugby Agree, but I'm a Chiefs fan and I'm riding on the latest wins. Having Sammy and Guzzler back brings the leadership that they've missed all year back. Jaguares have been outstanding this year and I think it will be a great game but a close game. Always back my lads to get the W, even if statistically there's no hope.

If DMac was fit we would be favourites for the whole comp

@mariner4life said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

If DMac was fit we would be favourites for the whole comp

I've gone from wild pessimism about not winning a game all season after that first mauling from the Crusaders, to ridiculous optimism about flying back and forth around the globe and beating everyone over the next three weeks!

@Donsteppa said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@mariner4life said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

If DMac was fit we would be favourites for the whole comp

I've gone from wild pessimism about not winning a game all season after that first mauling from the Crusaders, to ridiculous optimism about flying back and forth around the globe and beating everyone over the next three weeks!

That's the spirit! My hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to supporting the chiefs!!!

It's a same that Luke Jacobson has not recovered from concussion! However, Lachlan Boshier has done very well in his absence.

@Hooroo said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@Donsteppa said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

@mariner4life said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

If DMac was fit we would be favourites for the whole comp

I've gone from wild pessimism about not winning a game all season after that first mauling from the Crusaders, to ridiculous optimism about flying back and forth around the globe and beating everyone over the next three weeks!

That's the spirit! My hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to supporting the chiefs!!!

Fact is the Chiefs are a threat to any team when they have Cane and BBBR both fit and firing. History shows the travel is a bit of a killer, but your optimism is not completely misplaced. This should be a cracking game.