Super Rugby

With the competition being only two weeks away, I thought I'd start putting down some of my thoughts about how the season will shape out. Some of these are a little spicy

• The Australian teams will be very competitive
• The level of play will improve with most teams looking better than they did last year.
• The points table at the end of the season will have at least 9 teams to either make the top 6 or come within 5 points of making it.
• Hurricanes will be the weakest New Zealand team and have a bit of a mare without a class flyhalf and in the absence of Ardie Savea
• Chiefs will win overall (I am biased here) but I do think we do have some good continuity.
• The Waratahs will improve massively and make the Top 6

Final Leaderboard

1. Blues
2. Chiefs
3. Brumbies
4. Waratahs
5. Highlanders
6. Crusaders
7. Reds
8. Hurricanes
9. Fijian Drua
10. Western Force
11. Moana Pasifika

As a sidetrack, I'd just like to point that the way the seeding system for the playoffs works means that there is little incentive for either of the top two teams(Blues, Chiefs) to win as they'll still make the semis as the highest seeded losers which does help the odds of the teams in the 5th and 6th position making the Top 4.

Regardless,

Crusaders beat the Blues, the Chiefs beat the Highlanders and the Brumbies beat the Waratahs. The Blues also qualify as the highest ranked loser.

Blues beat the Crusaders in the rematch and the Chiefs beat the Brumbies before the Chiefs pull it off in the final.

All Blacks

At the conclusion of the season, Razor and co name their 37-man All-Black squad with the notable inclusion of the bolter of Michael Manson, Fabian Holland and Josh Jacomb newcomers into the All-Black set up.

We beat France 3-0 but two of the games are closer than expected against the French B side.

We win the Rugby Championship winning 5 games out of 6 losing only to South Africa in Eden Park which does end our 31-year record there.

I believe we have a grand slam for our end of the year tour which we manage to achieve winning 3 tight encounters + a blowout against Wales.

I've put it all out in the open now so I'll guess I have to evaluate these all come December but for now, what are you thoughts?

I don't wish to bag JK, I don't particularly rate him but am ecstatic I won't have to listen to his effect anymore.

I try to watch or listen to as little build up or analysis as possible.

I’ve never really watched Super Rugby (I mainly just watch the All Blacks), so I haven’t seen much of Hoskins. But I’ve heard a lot about how he good he is and how he was snubbed by AB selectors. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a specific match or two where he shone so I can understand the hype?