The Super Rugby Pacific playoffs have kicked off amid sold-out stadiums, high demand for tickets and debate over the competition’s finals format.
Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha has already sold out for the Crusaders’ qualifying final against the Blues, with tickets snapped up in around 20 minutes.
The fast sell-out reflects the intensity of interest in the all-Kiwi clash, which headlines a finals series dominated by New Zealand sides.
Four New Zealand teams: the Hurricanes, the Blues, the Crusaders and the Chiefs, have all finished inside the top six, setting up a strong Kiwi presence in the knockout stages.
Despite ongoing criticism of the “lucky loser” format, Super Rugby Pacific officials have opted to retain the system for this year’s finals series.
Under the structure, the highest-ranked losing team from the qualifying finals will still progress to the semi-finals, a rule that has divided opinion among fans and commentators.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley says while some believe the outcome of the competition may appear predictable given the dominance of New Zealand teams, he does not agree.
He pointed to last year’s finals as evidence of the competition’s unpredictability, noting that the sixth-placed Blues defeated the top-ranked Chiefs in the qualifying final and came close to eliminating the Crusaders in the semi-finals.
Mesley says those results demonstrate that no team can be ruled out once the playoffs begin, and that past performances show the finals can still deliver surprises despite early expectations.
The Brumbies will take on the Hurricanes at 7.05pm tonight.
In other qualifying finals, the Crusaders will host the Blues at 4.35pm tomorrow, while the Chiefs will meet the Reds at 7.05pm tomorrow.
Source: NewstalkZB.NZ
