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Four takeaways from each Cross-Border Super Rugby match
Pre-season rugby isn’t worth reading into too heavily, but it is fun.
We are one week into Super Rugby Pacific pre-season games and we’ve learnt at least a couple of things about each team, their personnel and more specifically how deep their talent stocks are.
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Not that it was ever really in question, but the depth in New Zealand rugby is impressive. With no 2023 Rugby World Cup participants taking the field for their respective teams over the weekend, the next generation of talent featured heavily in the three Cross-Border exhibitions.
While the Kiwi teams claimed just one win from their three contests, credit has to be given for competing against strong opposition in midseason form.
Some young players stood up, and some weaknesses were exposed. Here are four takeaways from each of the contests.
Blues vs Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
This young Blues crop is exciting. From Adrian Choat and Anton Segner in the loose forwards, to Cade Banks and Caleb Tangitau on the wings, there’s some special talent in the city of sails. Just how much opportunity they’ll get while lining up behind All Blacks is unclear, but the youngsters are primed to snatch any opportunity that comes their way.
That scrum needs some work. In fielding a front row of Angus Ta’avao, Kurt Eklund and Josh Fusitu’a, Blues fans could be forgiven for thinking they’d establish a strong platform at scrum time, but that was an area where the rust was very much present. Nepo Laulala is no longer with the team, but Ofa Tu’ungafasi will return once he has fulfilled his All Blacks rest requirements. Expect some big sessions for the pack before the team face the Yokohama Eagles next.
The midfield depth will happily obscure the loss of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Leo Gordon and Corey Evans were strong, the latter claiming Man of the Match honours and showing shades of Alex Nankivell with his work rate on both sides of the ball (and with his mullet). While Bryce Heem and Harry Plummer own first and second dibs on the newly vacated 12 jersey, but the 20-year-old Gordon and 23-year-old Evans offer plenty of potential to partner Rieko Ioane in the midfield in the future.
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Stephen Perofeta is a classy talent primed for a big year. Perofeta looks at home in the 10 jersey, familiar with his backline and efficient in finding them at the right moments. The 26-year-old has a natural timing to his game, an instinctive playmaking quality and plenty of composure to see him lift his team through big moments.
Crusaders vs Munster
Taha Kemara is a composed operator at the professional level. The young first five-eighth is likely to be steering the reigning champions’ ship until roughly round seven when Fergus Burke is slated to return. Coach Rob Penney was adamant from the outset that he would back his young playmakers to step up in Burke’s absence (and the absence of Richie Mo’unga) and the fact that Kemara was far from overawed by the occasion is a great sign for the team. There’ll be plenty of development but the 2023 New Zealand U20 representative holds huge promise for the club.
The Crusaders’ discipline and decision-making were both poor, uncharacteristically so. While you can attribute plenty of that to preseason rust, some of that decision-making around the ruck and in contact was ugly. Stand-in captain Quinten Strange will be eager to lead by example in the next contest against Bristol.
Codie Taylor’s defence at the Rugby World Cup was incredible, but the Crusaders aren’t losing much by starting the talent of George Bell in his stead. The 22-year-old was an All Black injury reserve for the World Cup ahead of some more established names like Asafo Aumua and Kurt Eklund, and fans are about to see why. Bell is mobile, athletic, polished in his core roles and hits like an absolute rock. Taylor will return to the Crusaders before the regular season’s end.
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Dallas McLeod won’t wait to be handed his opportunity in the midfield. The one-time All Black is a burgeoning star and in a midfield unit comprised of names like David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Levi Aumua and Ryan Crotty, he’s ready to establish himself as a premier talent in a field of All Blacks. He was singled out on the try line by the bigger Munster forwards and leaked two tries, giving up some weight in those particular contests.
Chiefs vs Panasonic Wild Knights
Lachlan Boshier was a huge loss to New Zealand Rugby, an excellent fetcher and well-polished rugby player with a good frame. Boshier was huge for Panasonic in their thorough dismantling of Super Rugby Pacific’s reigning runners-up, claiming Man of the Match honours and winning the battle of the Boshiers against younger brother Kaylum.
Quinn Tupaea has missed rugby as much as rugby has missed him. The young All Black’s enthusiasm was palpable every time he got near the ball at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, attacking the Wild Knights defence and proving a handful in contact. Naturally, some rust was apparent but expect a very positive season from the 24-year-old.
Are they too reliant on their top talent? Losing to an unbeaten and polished Wild Knights outfit while in pre-season is nothing to write home about, but there was a presence of chemistry amongst the wider squad members in the other two Kiwi teams that was missing for the Chiefs on both sides of the ball. While the team is experiencing more injury woes than their Kiwi rivals at this point, they’ll be far from happy with a 24-point deficit in their first outing of 2024 – considering they kicked off the 2023 season with a bang and face the Crusaders once more in round one this year.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi is going to keep All Black locks Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord on their toes. The utility forward is a very intelligent player with the size to match, not needing regular starts in 2023 to finish top five in line out steals. The 24-year-old was impressive in 2023’s All Blacks XV tour of Japan, operating as a focal point of the defensive system and executing well. Between Ah Kuoi and the ’23 NPC’s leading try-scorer Manaaki Selby-Rickit, the strain of losing Brodie Retallick will be eased.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments