The late-season break for the International rugby window left Super Rugby teams in ‘idle’ for several weeks. After almost a month off, the 18 teams must all now feel like they require a kick-start. With three enthralling rounds remaining, Super Rugby Re-Starts and the top placed sides will be aiming for a Quarter final date in July.

No fan of rugby will say it was a wasted period. There were some sensational clashes, like England managing a 0-3 series win; the first since 1975. That was a ground-breaking result and the Irish won their first ever game on African soil too. So with records falling in June 2016, how will Super Rugby re-ignite fans excitement levels?

The volume will clearly go up–I mean that in two ways. The number of games, as we see nine matches over the next three weekends. And secondly, the impetus from leading sides to gain bonus-points might very well lead to big scores. So imagine turning up your stereo to max volume.

Teams like the Chiefs have a minus points-differential to the Crusaders, so for them it is an important factor. That is applicable too in Australia, with the Waratahs and Brumbies facing similar challenges. Add to that, only one home quarter-final guaranteed in each of the four conferences. So if you ‘don’t want to travel’ then top spot is your primary goal.

Top position primary goal for leading sides

For the players and coaching staffs, they had to suffer a drought while theyes went about preparing and planning for the final three rounds of rugby. And that is where many Super Rugby fans are now anticipating the return of their weekly fix of code. They have missed ‘Friday Night Football’ and not even the All Blacks v Wales can replace that.

Fans will return no doubt. While the doomsday commentators will say that the competition has given up market-share to Rugby League, AFL or even Netball, others believe that returning fans and publicity will deliver a ‘bumper crowd’. Last Word On Sports will wait and see, to make a judgement.

The product is good, the teams are all out to compete as much as to entertain. That is the point-of-difference between this sport and Boxing or MotorSport. The team combines to achieve the result and the evidence is on the scoreboard.

Super Rugby Re-starts

Current standings:

• Top placed New Zealand side  1# Crusaders 45 | 5# Chiefs 42 | 6# Hurricanes 40 | 7# Highlanders 38 | Blues 30

• Top placed South African side (Conference 1) 3# Stormers 36 | Bulls 32 (Conference 2) 2# Lions 42 | 8# Sharks 35

• Top placed Australian side 4# Brumbies 34 | Waratahs 34

Teams outside this list include the Blues (30) Rebels (27) and Reds (20) even though the Queensland team have no theoretical hope, only the hope to upset the chances of the Brumbies, Chiefs or Rebels.

Future fixtures: Friday July 1 – Chiefs v Crusaders, Suva, FIJI | Brumbies v Reds, Canberra. Saturday July 2 – Sunwolves v Waratahs, Tokyo | Hurricanes v Blues, Wellington | Rebels v Stormers, Melbourne | Cheetahs v Force, Bloemfontein | Lions v Sharks, Johannesburg | Kings v Highlanders, Port Elizabeth | Jaguares v Bulls, Buenos Aires.

This round of nine matches will take fans of Super Rugby across four continents. The intra-conference games do not hold the same attraction as the local derby games do–possibly the Rebels v Stormers game could promote either side if they challenge the other. And the fact that a maximum of five competition points on offer is the goal for all sides. They all desire gaining a maximum of 15 points over three rounds as Super Rugby Re-Starts on Friday night.

Local derby games all hold the greatest interest. Lions v Sharks will be a sensational match-up. Whoever can claim that result goes a long way to claiming top spot. From this side of the world, and possibly the most closely matched is the Chiefs playing the Crusaders. A home match for the Hamilton side–played in Suva of all places. Mike Pulman has written a piece looking at the special match, and it’s implications.

Chiefs v Crusaders, Suva

Dave Rennie needs his side to take any advantage they can. A sellout crowd will bring an atmosphere but it will the quality of the Rugby that will determine the outcome. A hard-fast ground will be expected, as the Chiefs groundsman has overseen it’s maintenance. The conditions might play a part, but it will the players who make their mark.

Returning All Blacks will certainly be ‘match fit’. They are used to the expectations of playing week-in and week-out, Kieran Read saying as much this week. “Your mind starts whirring around again trying to remember all those calls from four weeks ago; you’ve got all the All Blacks calls in your head still,” he said. “So that’s probably the toughest thing, but after a couple of days running around with the boys it starts to come back pretty quickly.

“The body is in good shape, it’s always sore after test match footy but I’ll make sure I look after it for the next couple of days and be ready to go on Friday.” he told NZME.

And Stephen Donald will also hold a cameo. The hero of the Chiefs routing of Wales, picked to run the backline again as Aaron Cruden is gingerly returned to action. That maybe a telling decision, as Damian McKenzie is a handy first-five, so is it a nod for ‘the Beaver?’

Some will think it is a little backward, but if his old legs can run around for 50 minutes, Cruden or McKenzie might jump-in and take control.

Fans in Hamilton will be watching, and hoping

They have forsaken their final home game to be played in the Pacific nation. Lose, and that is a distinct possibility against the conference leaders, and the Chiefs season drifts away. They failed to win in Sydney to the Waratahs, so a loss to the Southern side will put more distance to a home quarter final–and the only chance home fans would have of seeing their heroes play again in 2016.

The Chiefs are only one side who will feel this same external pressure. Over the next three rounds, an immense degree of pressure will be felt over all four conferences. It will bring out the best, and as normal, the worst in teams. The ‘cream rises to the top’ and the unworthy will be removed form the list. Harsh realities must be respected. Lose and your chances; the teams chances, are gone. So the results now speak for themselves.

Mathematical chances might still apply. As pointed out, teams that are equal on competition points will be decided by points differential. SANZAAR rules apply and win/loss records may seperate the finalists. In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points, these are the tiebreaks:

a) Most wins from all matches

b) Best points difference

c) Most tries from all matches

d) Best tries difference

e) Coin toss

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Super Rugby Re-Starts this weekend and the top eight sides will be decided soon enough. By Round 17, even a side like the Blues, Rebels or the Bulls can possibly rise up the ranks with positive results. It will be exciting, riveting and a potential ‘race for the quarter finals’.

And that is what Super Rugby competition is all about.

“Main photo credit”