Super separators

Ever wondered how teams are separated on a Super Rugby table? rugby365 tells you how!

In the 2013 Super Rugby season, the incoming British and Irish Lions to Australia have forced a scheduling change to the calendar, a feature not seen before in history, due to the fact that during the last Lions tour (to South Africa) took place while Super Rugby was still the Super 14.

For a start, Round One of the 2013 season started with the Australian Conference only. The Waratahs, part of that Conference, took a first Round bye, earning them four points as per competition rules while a franchise takes the bye (a weekend off during the regular season).

The New Zealand and South African Conference sides did not play during Round One, so made no impact to the table.

They only started earning competition points during Round Two.

As per competition rules conference leaders and wildcard qualifiers lead the overall standings.

If teams are tied throughout the regular season, then they are separated by number of wins, then point's difference (see below).

The tie breaking rules in full are below, and apply in more detail during the 2013 Super Rugby Finals Series, which will have more detail released by SANZAR in the coming months.

SUPER RUGBY RULES

Points Tabulation:

Points will be awarded in all Super Rugby matches on the following basis.

Win 4 points

Draw 2 points

Loss 1 point for loss within 7 points or less of the team that wins

Loss 0 points for loss of more than 7 points.

One point for scoring 4 tries or more in a match

Teams that have a bye will be awarded 4 points.

The Tournament rules for determining regular season table placing and Super Rugby Finals Series Qualification are as follows.

3.5 (of the official 2013 Super Rugby tournament Manual)

3.5.1

Tie breaking rules

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on either the Conference or Super Rugby Standings tables, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken:

(a) Most wins from all matches;

(b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;

(c) Most tries from all matches;

(d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against from all matches;

(e) Coin toss.

3.5.2

Six teams will qualify for the Finals Series at the conclusion of the Regular Season as follows:

a)

Conference Winners: the team in each of the AC, NZC and SAC with the highest number of competition points will be the Conference Winner for the respective Conference and will qualify for the Finals Series.

The three Conference Winners will receive a Finals Series Ranking as follows:

(i) The team with the highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 1;

(ii) The team with the second highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 2;

(iii) The team with the third highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 3.

b)

Wildcard Teams: the remaining three Finals Series places will be allocated to the three non-Conference Winning teams with the highest number of Super Rugby table competition points regardless of the Conference in which the team plays. The three Wildcard Teams will receive a Finals Series Ranking as follows:

(i) The team with the highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 4;

(ii) The team with the second highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 5;

(iii) The team with the third highest number of competition points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 6.