farva
Vay Wilson (31)
How will this pan out?
Most of the teams have their strongest team sorted now, and most of their reserves as well.
For me, I think:
Tahs
Reds
Force
Brumbies
Rebels
I think the Tahs have a team that could win the whole comp, if their chips fall in the right places. They have a front row that can match anyone. With Vickerman coming back, they have a lock who has been around the block, and one of the most exciting up and coming locks in Douglas. Their backrow boasts stregths in all three positions, and will most likely see a player of Mowens capabilities benced. the halves are excellent and wouldnt look out of place in gold. The outside backs are quick and I feel Mitchell and Beale are pushing for selection in a world XV. They might not see much ball however, especially if a centres combo of Cross and Carter is used. And that is their weakness. Very good defensively, but offers nothing in attack.
The Reds have a weakness at 7 at the moment, but that is about it for the starting XV. Depth wise they do worry me a little. A few injuries especially in the forwards and they are exposed. And depth will be important this season. Losing Weeks was big, but Slipper has come along in leaps and bounds. While being a better loosehead, I think he will be fine at tighthead this year. Link seems to have the team buzzing, and I really hope that the young team can play like they did last year. But that will be an ask. Coopers defence will be an issue, but his combination with Genia will really excite the fast and skillful backline. Watch for them to play a running game similar to last year. The rule changes really suit the Reds I think.
Force, providing they dont have a repeat of this years injuries, have a strong forward line, and some decent backs. But really lack decent depth so will struggle through the length of the season. They have a front row, that while unspectacular, is serviceable. Sharpe has been one of the best locks going around the last 2 years, and will provide good guidance to his partner, who I assume will be either Hocking or Wykes (one really needs to step up this coming year). The backrow is oozing class, and we will find a current Wallaby benched - my guess is Brown. They have made some decent aquisitions in the backs, with Ripia plugging the hole at 10, and should combine well with JOC (James O'Connor). Should Ripia go down, they will be in trouble, with little backup at 10. Smith strengthens the wings, and if Shepherd can stay fit will be covered at 15 as well. Inman had a great Shute Shield and this might be the year where he stakes a claim for higher honours.
The Brumbies have some talent but cant seem to do much with it. Giteau is not playing well and will take a lot to turn him around. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is their main back I think, the rest are currently jouneymen (To'omua will be good, but he is still young, and not counting Giteau) . And they have lost Smith and Mortlock. Plus they will be playing Alexander at loosehead, and that worked well for them this year didnt it. Ma'afu has learned a lot from his time at the Wallabies and should offer quite a lot for the Brumbies. Chisholm, while not performing at international level is always very capable at super rugby, and he will be partnered with Hand or Kimlin who are both capable. The back row is an issue. Hoiles had a great season last year, and I hope he continues it. Elsom is also a great player, and certainly world class. But at 7 they will either have Salvi, Hooper or Fa'ainga. The latter two are very inexperienced and Salvi is a journeyman.
The Rebels, while I hope they do well, dont have the players or combinations to really mount any sort of challenge. They will be the easy beats I fear. The forwards seem to be made up of players past their prime or players from other franchises who have moved for game time. The exception being Delve, who I am really looking forward to seeing. In the backs, they have picked up a few great young players such as Kingi, but in the outside backs seem to have gone for journeymen - Gerrard, Huxley, Hilgendorf, Betham, etc. Cipriani is a real mystery to most. Will he settle and play rugby, or will he have his mind elsewhere. And how will he go settling into Super rugby? He is a real unknown in this team. There is some experience there in Mortlock and Cordingley. But the million dollar question is will Mortlock get over his injury and find form? I think most Australians will pray he does, but I fear that he has lost the pace and ability to break tackles that made him the best centre in the world.
Most of the teams have their strongest team sorted now, and most of their reserves as well.
For me, I think:
Tahs
Reds
Force
Brumbies
Rebels
I think the Tahs have a team that could win the whole comp, if their chips fall in the right places. They have a front row that can match anyone. With Vickerman coming back, they have a lock who has been around the block, and one of the most exciting up and coming locks in Douglas. Their backrow boasts stregths in all three positions, and will most likely see a player of Mowens capabilities benced. the halves are excellent and wouldnt look out of place in gold. The outside backs are quick and I feel Mitchell and Beale are pushing for selection in a world XV. They might not see much ball however, especially if a centres combo of Cross and Carter is used. And that is their weakness. Very good defensively, but offers nothing in attack.
The Reds have a weakness at 7 at the moment, but that is about it for the starting XV. Depth wise they do worry me a little. A few injuries especially in the forwards and they are exposed. And depth will be important this season. Losing Weeks was big, but Slipper has come along in leaps and bounds. While being a better loosehead, I think he will be fine at tighthead this year. Link seems to have the team buzzing, and I really hope that the young team can play like they did last year. But that will be an ask. Coopers defence will be an issue, but his combination with Genia will really excite the fast and skillful backline. Watch for them to play a running game similar to last year. The rule changes really suit the Reds I think.
Force, providing they dont have a repeat of this years injuries, have a strong forward line, and some decent backs. But really lack decent depth so will struggle through the length of the season. They have a front row, that while unspectacular, is serviceable. Sharpe has been one of the best locks going around the last 2 years, and will provide good guidance to his partner, who I assume will be either Hocking or Wykes (one really needs to step up this coming year). The backrow is oozing class, and we will find a current Wallaby benched - my guess is Brown. They have made some decent aquisitions in the backs, with Ripia plugging the hole at 10, and should combine well with JOC (James O'Connor). Should Ripia go down, they will be in trouble, with little backup at 10. Smith strengthens the wings, and if Shepherd can stay fit will be covered at 15 as well. Inman had a great Shute Shield and this might be the year where he stakes a claim for higher honours.
The Brumbies have some talent but cant seem to do much with it. Giteau is not playing well and will take a lot to turn him around. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is their main back I think, the rest are currently jouneymen (To'omua will be good, but he is still young, and not counting Giteau) . And they have lost Smith and Mortlock. Plus they will be playing Alexander at loosehead, and that worked well for them this year didnt it. Ma'afu has learned a lot from his time at the Wallabies and should offer quite a lot for the Brumbies. Chisholm, while not performing at international level is always very capable at super rugby, and he will be partnered with Hand or Kimlin who are both capable. The back row is an issue. Hoiles had a great season last year, and I hope he continues it. Elsom is also a great player, and certainly world class. But at 7 they will either have Salvi, Hooper or Fa'ainga. The latter two are very inexperienced and Salvi is a journeyman.
The Rebels, while I hope they do well, dont have the players or combinations to really mount any sort of challenge. They will be the easy beats I fear. The forwards seem to be made up of players past their prime or players from other franchises who have moved for game time. The exception being Delve, who I am really looking forward to seeing. In the backs, they have picked up a few great young players such as Kingi, but in the outside backs seem to have gone for journeymen - Gerrard, Huxley, Hilgendorf, Betham, etc. Cipriani is a real mystery to most. Will he settle and play rugby, or will he have his mind elsewhere. And how will he go settling into Super rugby? He is a real unknown in this team. There is some experience there in Mortlock and Cordingley. But the million dollar question is will Mortlock get over his injury and find form? I think most Australians will pray he does, but I fear that he has lost the pace and ability to break tackles that made him the best centre in the world.
