'Neanderthal rugby straight out of the 1950s': Why Super Rugby Aotearoa 'leaves the Six Nations for dead'
I love the Six Nations for its history and the passion it engenders, not to mention the fact that Scotland periodically lowers a much better team to clinch the Calcutta Cup.
The rugby? Not so much.
Super Rugby Aotearoa is frothy, bubbly and often loose, though the officiating can be a bit dusty, as it was last weekend. But the skill level, the passing and handling of the backs, in particular, leave the Six Nations for dead.
I can hear the gnashing of teeth out of the north now, crying that I’m not comparing apples with apples, test footy versus franchise footy. Yet a bad pass to the shoulder is a bad pass, a dropped ball is a dropped ball whatever level of the game you are looking at.
This writer took in every minute of the two Super Rugby Aotearoa games – can you believe they both ended in 39-17 scorelines? In the name of work, I watched every minute of the three Six Nations games. I tried really hard to enjoy all 240 minutes, I promise you.
The fourth round of the 6N is often pivotal. So it proved again. But the Six Nations is missing something, not just the crowds from which the players can feed off. The rugby is missing some verve, imagination, changes of angle, a liberal mindset.
The highlight was the double sidestep of Ireland prop Tadgh Furlong off his right foot against Scotland. It was joked that Phil Bennett had gained weight.
All three clashes featured intent and intensity, heavy collisions and heated confrontations. Wales hammered Italy and continued on Wayne Pivac’s ambitious plan of expanding their game and their attitude. Italy too is seeking to play with more elan under Franco Smith, but the Azzurri lack the personnel and tackle like Andrew Mehrtens.
There was some good stuff, for about seven minutes, as Ireland edged Scotland. James Lowe, who loves to run, had to tackle, which he doesn’t like much, while Scots Stuart Hogg and Huw Jones had some heart-warming moments.
But, under fair skies, there was altogether too much kicking. Geez, it was repetitive and not often pinpoint. Still, Johnny Sexton was on one of his good days and that was helpful to the visitors. All too often however, a promising movement would break down due to a poor pass or a simple dropped ball. Frustrating.
Not as frustrating as the England-France encounter at Twickers. Billed as Le Crunch, it turned into Le Letdown. And yet the drama and energy levels were high in the first stanza. We saw offloads and semi-decent passing, but Jonny May, the destroyer of the 2012 All Blacks and the 2020 Irish, ran for his health on the left wing.
Their kingdom for a change of angle! Or just exploiting some space or an overlap. Instead, that early promise degenerated into an extended session of forceback, and a poor game of forceback at that. If only there had been a crowd to boo with gusto.
A Crusaders star is set for a sideline spell after dislocating his shoulder during his side's 39-17 win over the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/HGV0VsyV0J
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 15, 2021
The French were pulled into the gravitational pull of England’s game, despite possessing men of flair and no little skill such as Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Jalibert, Gael Fickou, Teddy Thomas and Brice Dulin. French flair, alas, is now almost an amateur era concept.
England’s 23-20 win was hard-earned and critical to the standings, but many viewers would have been thankful for the final whistle. That second 40 was Neanderthal rugby straight out of the 1950s.
Super Rugby Aotearoa, by contrast, is being played in front of decent crowds, and the first thought is to use the ball… unless you are the Blues, who will try to bludgeon you into submission before unleashing Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke et al.
Akira Ioane labelled his pass to his brother for the try that never was “a helluva seed.” Can you imagine Billy Vunipola firing that ball 25m infield to Henry Slade on the burst?
The skill level is demonstrably higher, and that does not just mean the forwards can throw a pass or pick a ball off their bootlaces. It means most sides have a bag of tracks into which they delve to break down the increasingly staunch defensive lines. It means if the counter is on, they have the licence to break out. There is no plodding from set-piece to freaking set-piece. The movements are sharp and dynamic. Now we just have to haul the officiating up to the level.
The Six Nations may be many things to many people. But it needs to sort out its main thrust: the footy. Until then, it ranks second best for entertainment value.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
4 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
4 Go to comments