Injuries Ensuring Rugby is More Super Than Ever

Who needs a salary cap or a player draft when you have injuries?

2011 has seen more upsets than any previous Super Rugby season and not just because there are more games. All the teams at the bottom of the ladder have won their fair share of games and all the teams at the top have lost plenty too and often to those at the bottom. Those in the middle are there for a good reason - they aren't consistent and struggle with limited superstars to shoulder the load (O'Connor, Giteau etc).

It's also no coincidence that this season has seen more injuries than any other season, and good ones too. Knees, elbows and ankles have all been seen pointing in directions they aren't intended to go. There have been more weak knees than are found at a Justin Bieber concert and more blurred vision than a weekend's full of bucks parties in Kings Cross.

A whole butcher shop diagram's worth or muscles, tendons, bones and joints have frequented medical rooms, hospital wards and ambulances. Physios and other rehab specialists have been kept gainfully employed, the world-wide supply of moon-boots is running low and any Australian, Kiwi or South African Rugby player capable of spending 10 minutes on the field without falling over is waiting for a phone call from their local Super Rugby coach to spend time on the bench.

Everyone loves a good upset (except when it's their team being upset) and the more upsets or potential for upsets the more interest generally. Crowds at Rebels, Cheetahs, Force, Highlanders and Lions matches have been excellent, while any supporter of a team playing the Waratahs, Blues, Crusaders or Bulls pays great attention knowing their team is in with a real chance.

As long as players of the calibre of Phil Waugh, Drew Mitchell, Cliffy Palu, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Cameron Shephard and a slew of South Africans contribute most to their teams performance by carrying water bottles and warming plastic bucket seats while wearing a suit, Super Rugby will continue to surprise. If your team isn't winning much then just wait for nature to take its course.

Survival of the fittest is fine if you're a Galapagos Tortoise but when it comes to Super Rugby the struggles of the best ensure chances for the rest.

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