http://itmcup.co.nz/The four semi finalists for the ITM Cup Premiership and Championship have been confirmed, but who finishes where and who each team will be facing is still uncertain – and that means that the pressure is on for this week’s final round.
In the Premiership there are two teams in the relegation zone who will be looking for the right results to keep them safe.
Here’s our guide to who to cheer for in the final weekend of round robin rugby. We haven’t tried to work out every scenario here; after all, how likely is it that there’ll be a draw in which a side scores four tries?
While you’re at it though: how about a cheer for the match officials as well, since we couldn’t have a game without them!
Tie break rules:
In case two teams are tied on competition points after round robin, here’s what happens:
i) The winner of the round robin match between the two sides has the higher position
ii) If they didn’t play a round robin match, then it goes to points difference
If three (or more) teams are tied on competition points, here’s what happens:
i) The team that has earned the most competition points against the other teams has the higher position
ii) If there’s still a tie, it goes to points difference
Should teams still be tied after looking at previous results and points difference, then here’s how the tie gets broken:
i) The team with the most tries across the competition has the higher position
ii) If tries scored across the competition is the same, then the team with the most points goes ahead
And if that doesn’t work: it comes down to the toss of a coin!
Here’s your cheer guide for week nine of ITM Cup 2015:
Auckland
Playing: Counties Manukau (Saturday 10 October in Pukekohe)
Current position: Second (Premiership)
This is Auckland’s chance to secure a home semi-final with a win over their southern neighbours, but a loss could see them travelling if the winner of the Taranaki v Tasman match overtakes them. A tie with either of those teams would favour Auckland though, because the blue and whites beat both of them in round robin.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Second
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Auckland and Tasman
Bay of Plenty
Playing: Otago (Sunday 11 October in Dunedin)
Current position: Fourth (Championship)
They’re safe in the semis (Southland can’t overtake them because they lost in round robin) and a home semi is outside the Steamers’ grasp but a win over Otago would see them move into third place and take on the second-placed team in the playoffs.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Third
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Bay of Plenty, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay if you want to play Wellington, Waikato and Wellington if you want to play Hawke’s Bay
Canterbury
Playing: Southland (Saturday 10 October in Christchurch)
Current position: First (Premiership)
Canterbury are safe at the top of the table, with home ground advantage for their semifinal already secured against the team finishing fourth, so you’ll be watching Taranaki v Tasman with interest as well as Auckland v Counties Manukau to determine your opponent.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: First
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: First
Who to cheer for: Canterbury, Taranaki – if you want to meet Tasman, Tasman if you want to meet Taranaki
Counties Manukau
Playing: Auckland (Saturday 10 October in Pukekohe)
Current position: Fifth (Premiership)
Counties Manukau are safe on fifth spot, but have no chance of making the semifinals. However, a win over Auckland could be a great way to end the season – and could make life difficult for the blue and whites.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Fifth
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fifth
Who to cheer for: Counties Manukau
Hawke’s Bay
Playing: Waikato (Friday 9 October in Napier) (RS)
Current position: First (Championship)
Hawke’s Bay are safe in the semis, with home advantage guaranteed but the final Ranfurly Shield challenge of the season will determine where the Log O’Wood spends its summer and a second-placed finish could mean an away Final for the Magpies.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: First
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Second
Who to cheer for: Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu
Manawatu
Playing: Wellington (Saturday 10 October in Wellington)
Current position: Seventh (Premiership)
This weekend sees the Turbos fighting to stay in the Premiership, with a win over Wellington and a Waikato loss to Hawke’s Bay required to avoid relegation. A tie with Waikato will see Manawatu go down because they lost to the Mooloos in Week Two.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Sixth
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Seventh
Who to cheer for: Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay
North Harbour
Playing: Northland (Sunday 11 October in Albany)
Current position: Sixth (Championship)
North Harbour won’t make the semifinals but could secure fifth spot with a win over the Taniwhas. If Harbour ties with Southland, they will go ahead because they beat the Stags back in Week Three.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Fifth
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Sixth
Who to cheer for: North Harbour and Canterbury
Northland
Playing: Otago (Wednesday 7 October in Whangarei) and North Harbour (Sunday 11 October in Albany)
Current position: Seventh (Championship)
Northland have two chances to earn their first win and competition points of the season. They won’t be able to catch the teams ahead of them in the Championship but you should expect to see them playing for pride.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Seventh
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Seventh
Who to cheer for: Northland
Otago
Playing: Northland (Wednesday 7 October in Whangarei) and Bay of Plenty (Sunday 11 October in Dunedin)
Current position: Third (Championship)
Safe in the semis, Otago have two chances to cement a position and potentially secure home advantage for the semis with two bonus point wins. Otago beat Wellington in Week Six, which means a tie would favour the blue and golds. Losses could see your team travelling the following weekend and the pressure going on against BOP.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Second
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Otago and Manawatu
Southland
Playing: Canterbury (Saturday 10 October in Christchurch)
Current position: Fifth (Championship)
The Stags can’t make the playoffs – a tie with Bay of Plenty would favour the Steamers because they won in Week Three – but they can hold onto fifth spot with a win. A loss – coupled with Harbour beating Northland – could see them drop down the table.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Fifth
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Sixth
Who to cheer for: Southland and Northland
Taranaki
Playing: Tasman (Thursday 8 October in New Plymouth)
Current position: Third (Premiership)
They’re locked in for the semis, but where Taranaki is playing next weekend is still to be confirmed. A win and an Auckland loss could see them hosting the third-placed team, while a loss to Tasman will see them overtaken.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Second
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Taranaki and Counties Manukau
Tasman
Playing: Taranaki (Thursday 8 October in New Plymouth)
Current position: Fourth (Premiership)
The Makos are back in the semifinals but just like their opponent this week, where and who they’re playing is up in the air. If Tasman beats the Bulls then they’ll move ahead of them on the ladder but it’ll be up to Counties Manukau as to whether Tasman has home advantage in the playoffs.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Second
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Tasman and Counties Manukau
Waikato
Playing: Hawke’s Bay (Friday 9 October in Napier) (RS)
Current position: Sixth (Premiership)
The playoffs are out of reach and they can’t reach any higher than sixth, but the Mooloos need the win to ensure they’re safe from relegation – and that the Ranfurly Shield is in the cabinet for the summer! A loss and you’ll have to wait for the result of Manawatu v Wellington to know which competition your team will be playing in next year.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: Sixth
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Seventh
Who to cheer for: Waikato and Wellington
Wellington
Playing: Manawatu (Saturday 10 October in Wellington)
Current position: Second (Championship)
The Lions are hungry to return to the Premiership and with a semifinal locked in, they’re heading in the right direction. A home semifinal isn’t guaranteed if Wellington loses because Otago have a mathematical chance of overtaking your team, but if the Lions win then it should be back to Westpac Stadium for the playoffs. If Hawke’s Bay loses the Shield then Wellington could claim top spot from them.
Best case at the end of ITM Cup: First
Worst case at the end of ITM Cup: Third
Who to cheer for: Wellington, Waikato, Northland and Bay of Plenty
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