Super Rugby needs bottom dwellers

aiuaydcbqad

Feeder Fish
Jul 8, 2014
2
0
0
usa
Everyone loves a winner; Queen even wrote a hit song about it “We are the champions, no time for losers…” In the modern era of instant gratification, we have little time for the unsuccessful or disappointing. We are conditioned in that manner.

It isn’t that we don’t only have no time for them, we scorn them, disrespect them and ultimately we dismiss them with a mere wave of the hand.

We do not take the time out of our adrenaline filled schedules to consider following or supporting these bottom-feeders as there are more than enough winners to provide us with the entertainment we yearn.

Yet every sporting code or competition has the bottom-feeders or dwellers.

In the English Premiership the top teams would end the season on 17 wins and the bottom team only a handful of wins. The French Top 14 is no different, in fact last season Clermont ended the season on 19 wins whereas the bottom placed team, Stade Montois, had only two wins to show for their efforts.

Every season the Super Rugby have their bottom-ranked teams, teams who barely manage a handful of wins for the season.

In 2011 there were no less than six teams who managed only five or less wins for the season, 2012 had six as well and 2013 had four teams with five or less wins for the season.

Among these teams there are the usual suspects like Force, Rebels, Lions and Kings, however you may be surprised to know that as many as 11 teams have had seasons with five or less positive results for a season. Among them are popular teams like the Cheetahs, Brumbies, Waratahs, Blues, Hurricanes and Highlanders.

The first argument that will come forth is some teams have shown no improvement and will continuously remain at the bottom. Perhaps that is true, but this doesn’t mean they have no value in the tournament.

In 2011, the Force drew with the Blues, who lost out on two log points. The Force also managed to beat the Bulls, who lost out on three log points (they missed out on the play-offs by three points).

The Cheetahs beat the Crusaders and cost them a home semi-final, the Lions beat the Sharks and almost cost them a play-off spot.

In 2012, the Blues beat the Bulls and cost them a home play-off match, The Force pummeled the Reds by 45-19, The Rebels beat the Crusaders and denied them the top spot in the New Zealand conference and the Lions cost the Sharks a home play-off.

2013 was no different, the Western Force cost the Reds the top spot in the Australian conference, the Kings – in their first season – went unbeaten against the entire Australian conference.

The Force again took care of the Crusaders and also drew with the Reds, adding to their woes in not attaining the top spot in the Australian conference.

The reality is these teams are potential banana skins for the top ranked teams, and although they may not perform at consistent levels, underestimate them at your own peril.

These bottom teams have played a significant part in who makes the play-offs in the past three years and you can bet your bottom dollar they will again this year.

My plead for all Roarers is to make an effort to support one of these bottom teams.

Take the time and pick a bottom team from a conference other than your own. Get to know the players, follow the team’s progress and show some interest outside of your comfort zone.

They may just surprise you and you may benefit from broadening your knowledge about players and teams you may otherwise have no interest in.

Or, if you simply don’t care, at least respect these teams, as maybe one day your own team may find themselves at the bottom of the log and you may have to endure the same ridicule so often endured by supporters of these teams.

The team I will be supporting outside of the South African conference this year is the Melbourne Rebels.

Go you good thing!

 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store