Friday’s Rugby News sees Super Rugby questioning it’s future, pressure on the Aussie teams to perform, the squads for round one, and other rugby on the international front.
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Super Confused
Well, as all the teams get stuck in for Round 2 of Super Rugby, already talk is beginning to swell around whether the newly contracted competition should consider future changes.
SANZAAR has already got to work with coming up with a plan to formulate what the competition will look like in the future, with a draft proposal being approved by the Rugby Australia board last week. It also has been approved by New Zealand Rugby, and the South African and Argentinean contingents are expected to sign off on it within the next fortnight.
So what is the draft proposal? Well, we actually don’t know.
It is believed that the focus will be on making the fifteen team, three conference model work. Considering how badly the game has been damaged in South Africa and Australia, that would seem the only logical path to go down. If they were honestly considering expanding again nearly every rugby fan in the Southern Hemisphere would let out a collective scream in frustration.
South Africa did manage to lessen some of the damage, with their removed teams the Cheetahs and Kings moving to the Pro 14 and having mixed success (the Cheetahs currently sit in third in their conference, while the Kings…. well… are pretty crap).
The only team that currently is out of the loop is the Force, however they have successfully galvanised solid support from their fan base and Twiggy Forrest, which is is seeing the club survive. They currently have several exhibition matches planned, as well as being included in the National Rugby Championship and being the flagship team to the new IPRC.
Many, including Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle, have expressed hope that the Force might return back to Super Rugby. But she has emphasised that nothing can be guaranteed, which she admitted again to The Australian yesterday.
“I don’t know because we are at one end of a process and I don’t know what will fly out the other end of the process,” she said.
“I’ve spoken with John Edwards (the RugbyWA chairman) that it if it looks like there will be an option for Super Rugby to change its structure, that we would have a conversation with the Force about bidding to be a part of that changed structure. That’s the commitment that RA has made to the Force.
“We’re 36 months away from a new broadcast deal. This is the time we should be having conversations about the future as well.”
Castle also admitted that Australian rugby needed to work out as a whole (independently of SANZAAR), what is important to it and to its partners and sponsors. Many at the Waratahs, including Andrew Hore, have agreed with this sentiment, and have noted that talks are already underway for what the future of the game may look like.
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Pressure On, Part 1…
Oh, by the way, Super Rugby is back! No really, it is.
We’re gonna be honest, coverage of the competition has been pretty average over here so far. With many years of lacklustre results, it ain’t hard to see why.
But now, with the decision to remove a club, it comes down to this. Rugby Australia needs to justify it’s decision to downsize, so results have to come. Not next year, or in the next few months. It has to come now.
The pressure is on for the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Brumbies and the Melbourne Rebels to win games.
There have been changes galore at all the clubs, with many old favourites returning and (particularly in the Reds camp), several shock omissions.
Not only that, but it will be a baptism of fire for the coaches at three of the four clubs, with Dave Wessels taking on a new squad in the Rebels, and new coaches in Brad Thorn at the Reds and Dan Mckellar at the Brumbies. The Waratahs can’t afford to have another bad season, and for Daryl Gibson, it is a real make-or-break situation.
Wessels confessed however that even though the pressure is on, grabbing wins and losses is not what will be his main focus.
“That’s the challenge for any coach. It’s one thing to have names on a piece of paper,” Wessels said.
“I don’t really think about wins and losses… there’s certain things that are going to keep me up at night and those are around work ethic, people applying themselves and wanting to win.
“If those things are aligned you know you’re heading in the right direction.”
I don’t know if anyone else is feeling it, but the early signs of this season seem to be pointing to a more constructive and positive year for the code. Surely it can’t get any worse than last year…. can it?
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Pressure On, Part 2…
Speaking of pressure, the squads have now been released for the Aussie matches this weekend, which are in full below.
Starting with the first Aussie derby of the year, the Rebels have rolled out the big guns, with an imposing ten Wallabies named in their starting lineup. The Rebels will be a team that, more than most, will be under the microscope of the Australian rugby public after nearly being removed from Super Rugby last year.
The Reds meanwhile have gone with only two changes from the team that beat the Fiji Warriors last week, with Izack Rodda and Eto Nabuli coming into a dangerous lineup. Expect plenty of fireworks down in Melbourne.
Rebels Squad: Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Reece Hodge, Sefa Naivalu, Jack Debreczeni, Will Genia, Amanaki Mafi, Angus Cottrell, Lopeti Timani, Adam Coleman (c), Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Jordan Uelese, Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: Anaru Rangi, Fereti Sa’aga, Sam Talakai, Sam Jeffries, Ross Haylett-Petty, Michael Ruru, Semisi Tupou, Billy Meakes
Reds Squad: Aidan Toua, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Eto Nabuli, Jono Lance, James Tuttle, Scott Higginbotham (c), Adam Korczyk, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Reserves: Alex Mafi, JP Smith, Sef Fa’agase, Kane Douglas, Liam Wright, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu
The second match for Aussie teams will see the Brumbies playing against the Sunwolves in Tokyo in the second match of the Australian (Australasian?) conference. The only real omissions is Scott Sio and David Pocock, but even without them the Brums have an imposing forward pack. Richie Arnold, Rob Valetini, Isi Naisarani and Chance Peni will also all be making their first appearances for the club. With Christian Lealiifano directing traffic in the backline, the Sunwolves will have their work cut out.
Brumbies Squad: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Chance Peni, Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), Joe Powell, Isi Naisarani, Tom Cusack, Rob Valetini, Sam Carter, Richie Arnold, Alan Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben Alexander. Reserves: Robbie Abel, Faalelei Sione, Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, Rory Arnold, Lachlan McCaffrey, Matt Lucas, Wharenui Hawera, Lausii Taliauli
Finally, we will head to Sydney where the Waratahs will have a tough assignment against an in-form Stormers side, who got off to a flyer last week against the Jaguares. Gibson has named four newbies in his squad, with Lalakai Foketi and Curtis Rona in the starting lineup, while Nick Palmer and Harry Johnson-Holmes will be coming off the bench. It’s a good looking Tahs squad on paper, and hopefully it will translate into the on-field performance too.
Waratahs Squad: Israel Folau, Andrew Kellaway Lalakai Foketi, Kurtley Beale Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Michael Wells, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Rob Simmons. Tom Staniforth, Paddy Ryan, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Shambeckler Vui, Nick Palmer, Jed Holloway, Mitch Short, Bryce Hegarty, Alex Newsome
For more information, head to Fox Sports.
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On the International Front…
Not only is rugby kicking off again at home, but there is plenty of other matches happening overseas as well.
Starting in Super Rugby, the Highlanders and Blues will kicking off the round, doing battle down in drizzly Dunedin tonight. The Highlanders are favourites to take this one, but the men from Auckland looked to have turned a corner compared to recent years, with them picking up the Brisbane Tens trophy during the pre-season.
The second big Kiwi derby of the round will kick off up the road in Christchurch, when the Crusaders host a dangerous Chiefs side. The current champions are favourites to take this one, particularly with them naming nine All Blacks in their squad. The Chiefs squad however is full of surprise selections, so an upset could be on the cards here.
Finally, the last two matches of the round see us head over to South Africa. The Lions will be hosting their second match of the season against the Jaguares in Johannesburg, with the Lions heavy favourites to win this one. The Argentineans were far from disgraced last week against the Stormers, so you never know.
The final match of the round will see the Bulls take on the Hurricanes in Pretoria. The Bulls are still to name their squad, but will be looking to have a much better start to the season after finishing second last in the SA Conference last year. The Hurricanes will be favourites for this one, with plenty of new talent on show for the away team. Beauden Barrett will also be making an appearance from the bench.
The Sharks will have the bye.
Outside of Super Rugby, the Six Nations will also be entering round three.
Starting in Marseille, we have the battle for the wooden spoon when France take on Italy. Neither side have grabbed a win so far this season, but the French have been looking far more competitive. Italy also has a pretty awful record away from Rome, but if there is any team they look like they could knock off, it would be France. I’m still going with Les Bleus though.
Secondly, we heard to Dublin, where Ireland will face a tough test against Wales. The Irish made light work of Italy at home last round, and grabbed a win at the death against France in round one. The Welsh will serve as a real first test of their championship credentials, with the Scarlets easily accounting for Scotland in round one, while asking serious questions of England in their round two loss at Twickenham. I’m going with the homeside, but I reckon this could be the match of the round.
Finally, we head to the Calcutta Cup grudge match between England and Scotland. England will be favourites for this one, but Scotland have proved to be a tough nut to crack for many sides in the last two years, and are an altogether different beast at home.
The last time the Scottish lost at Murrayfield during the Six Nations was back in 2016, and since then the only team that has been able to beat them at home were the All Blacks. Expect an armwrestle for this one.
Enjoy your rugby this weekend. God, it’s good to see it back.
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