"Super Rugby" or maybe not so super?

I'm not really interested in debating super rugby on the question of how it stacks up against other tournaments because there isn't really an answer, or not one that we will ever really know anyway. (Some of the play is brilliant, some of the defending is pathetic - the Brumbies v Chiefs game was great entertainment with top notch performances, but the Waratahs v Reds the week before had more mistakes than passes.)

In terms of how much I enjoy it and how it compares to previous years I think it's a lesser competition. The top teams, ie. the Chiefs of recent seasons, the Crusaders and the Waratahs this year, have no doubt been excellent, but there's a lot of comparative dross further down and the elongated season produces a lot less excitement in my view. It used to be short, sharp and packed with class, especially in the days of the really amazingly strong Crusaders teams, but nowadays it goes on forever, is overly-convuluted with these bloody weird conferences and means less. There's also been some truly absurd officiating this season and last and everything seems less well defined in general, especially as every season they talk about how many more teams are going to join.

Back in 2006 I was out in New Zealand watching some brilliant games, but I'm in no such hurry to go out and watch any these days. Maybe I'm just old.

When it was 12 teams and a shorter season I think it was genuinely just a small step down from international class, bar a couple of back-markers and some end of season dead-rubbers. Not sure I can say the same any more unless it's at the play-off stage of the competition.

Can somebody tell me the time and date of the final or is it TBA dependent on results? Confused in France.

Date of the Final is Saturday 2nd August,kick off time has yet to be decided as far as I know.

Would agree that some of the games can be rather one sided,and littered with errors,but I still enjoy it as you do normally have Trys in the games.
Towards the end of last season I got rather bored of games over here(albeit tight games I know) just looking to kick their way to victory by taking 3 points after 3 points after 3 points.
I suppose it's a bit like Cricket really,some fans enjoy all the different formats of the game,others just like sitting through 5 days of a test match,others enjoy the crash bang whallop of a quick 20/20 game.They still all like Cricket even if it's played in different ways.
For me, I enjoy watching fast free flowing rugby with Trys involved so I would have to say I would pick a Super15 game over a Premiership game.But that's just my personal choice.

I don't know how you could not enjoy the 32-30 result in the quarter final between the Brumbies and the Chiefs. Many trys and just a good game of rugby. Would probably not happen in the northern hemisphere.

I love it with a passion. Very watchable and always profitable over a season providing you bail out sensibly.

The only criticism would be the lack of good defending, love the open play but some games do seem a bit too unstructured if that makes sense.

i didn't say i don't enjoy any of it & now we are at semi stage we should see some real quality on show. i just don't think it has been as high quality over all as years past but of course there are bound to be good & not so good years.

Fair comment and the quality of the current Crusaders team tells us that. A good side for sure, but patchy and far from the clinical sides of the past. The start of each season gives my sporting punting a nice structure and would miss it plenty.

It's an interesting premise northanlite but consider this. Players like Ben Smith,Fekitoa,Savea,Folau are not that easy to tackle!

Also when the representatives of NH domestic rugby played the best of Super rugby back in June the collective Super Rugby boys beat them by a combined 303-143.

first point is fair enough but the latter one is spurious as it is no longer possible for spring touring sides to take their first team squads on tour. it is a pity but at the end of long domestic seasons it just aint viable (we could learn from SR there)
anyway i was not having a go at super rugby per se, just this seasons fare which imo has not been as good as previous years.
don't go getting all precious on me double a.

I think SR is still ahead of NH at club/regional level.

NZ have some important players coming to the end of their careers which has seen a levelling down as some internationals are choosing which games to give 100%

Good points curious-cat. Also a lot of the NZ AB's have been "rested" a lot during Super games.