The Super Rugby competition has undergone a significant change for the 2018 season, with the previous 18-team competition now condensed to 15.
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We say goodbye to Australia's Western Force as well as South Africa's Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
SANZAAR has decided to remain with the geographical conference format ahead of the season starting last week in South Africa on February 17.
THE FORMAT
The Super Rugby competition will follow the existing conference format for the 2018 season.
It will consist of three conferences, each with five teams.
Each team will play 16 home and away matches with eight games against the four teams from their own conference as well as four games against teams from the other conferences.
That means there will be 18 rounds and each side will not play two out of the 14 other teams throughout the entire season.
The finals format will see the three conference winners guaranteed a spot with five additional wildcard places to the next highest teams.
| AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE |
| NSW Waratahs |
| ACT Brumbies |
| Queensland Reds |
| Melbourne Rebels |
| Sunwolves (Japan) |
| NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE |
| Crusaders |
| Chiefs |
| Hurricanes |
| Highlanders |
| Blues |
| SOUTH AFRICAN CONFERENCE |
| Lions |
| Bulls |
| Stormers |
| Sharks |
| Jaguares (Argentina) |
WHEN IS IT?
The 2018 Super Rugby season began on February 17.
Week one saw just two matches from the South African conference with the Australian and New Zealand teams to kick-off this week.
The competition runs until August 4, with a three-week break in June for the International series.
WHERE IS IT?
The Super Rugby competition will be played in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and Argentina.
The Waratahs will be the first side to play in all five countries.
They open their campaign in Sydney, before heading to South Africa, Argentina, Japan and New Zealand all by Week 13.
THE KEY MOVEMENTS
KURTLEY BEALE - London Wasps to NSW Waratahs
WILL GENIA - Stade Francais to Melbourne Rebels.
IHAIA WEST - Blues to Hurricanes
BEN SIMMONS - Queensland Reds to NSW Waratahs
BRAD THORN - Coach of Queensland Country to coach of Queensland Reds
TOP 5 PLAYERS TO WATCH
BEAUDEN BARRETT, Hurricanes
ISRAEL FOLAU, NSW Waratahs
KIERAN READ, Crusaders
LIMA SOPOAGA, Highlanders
ELTON JANTJIES, Lions
TOP 5 MATCHES TO WATCH
Saturday, March 31: Bulls vs Stormers, Pretoria
Sunday, April 1: Lions vs Crusaders, Johannesburg
Saturday, May 25: Crusaders vs Hurricanes, TBC
Saturday, June 2: Reds vs Waratahs, Brisbane
Saturday, July 14: Waratahs vs Brumbies, Sydney
THE KEY STATS AHEAD OF ROUND TWO
- The last time the Highlanders opened a Super Rugby campaign with a victory was in 2014 when they picked up a 29-21 win at home against the Blues.
- The Brumbies ran out to a 66-5 win in their only previous meeting against the Sunwolves back in Round 14, 2016.
- The Crusaders were undefeated at home in 2017 and are currently on a nine-game winning streak on their own turf.
- The Waratahs were the least effective defensive outfit in 2017, missing one-in-five tackles for the campaign.
- The Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett is two points shy of becoming the fourth player in Super Rugby history to score 1,000 points.
HOW TO WATCH
Ideally, head out to the venue.
For those who don't feel like travelling, all games will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS.
DO THE AUSSIES HAVE A CHANCE?
We remain optimistic, but after losing all 26 matches against Kiwi teams in 2017, we won't hold our breath.
