New faces, returning legends and a four-peat roadblock: what's not to love about Super Rugby 2020?
It may still be January, but the 25th season of Super Rugby will kick off later this week and it’s hard not to get excited about what the new year offers.
The Rugby World Cup is over and so too are the careers of many of Super Rugby’s greatest stalwarts.
Kieran Read, David Pocock, Handre Pollard and plenty more have left their teams to chase a few extra dollars overseas, which leaves plenty of spots in Super Rugby rosters for young, fresh talent.
The Crusaders, who will be seeking their fourth Super Rugby title on the trot, have lost over 1100 worth of Super Rugby caps. They’ve still retained head coach Scott Robertson, who missed out on the All Blacks coaching job, but even the best club in the world will struggle to replace the sheer quantity and quality of experience and brilliance they’ve now lost.
It’s not just the young guns that will make 2020 a great year – it’s also the return of a number of stalwarts of the game.
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Aaron Cruden, who helped the Chiefs to two titles, will again be on the books for his old team this season. Morne Steyn, who went one better than Cruden and won three titles with the Bulls, is also back on deck. Willem Alberts, who last turned out for a Super side in 2015, has signed up for a stint with the Lions while Wallaby James O’Connor is also back in the competition.
With so many comings and goings, what should fans expect to see from the latest iteration of Super Rugby?
The Crusaders won’t achieve the four-peat
No matter which way you look at it, the Crusaders are going to have to do some serious rebuilding this year.
They’ve lost Read, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty, Tim Perry, Jordan Taufua, Ben Funnell, Mitchell Hunt and Tim Bateman from last year’s squad – players who would walk into most international squads around the world.
Richie Mo'unga has been #SuperRugby's top first five over the last three years but that's been helped by the incredible pack at the @CrusadersRugby. He won't have that luxury in 2020, writes @TomVinicombe. https://t.co/MpDhMB0lAY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 15, 2020
They still have plenty of All Blacks on their books in the backline and there are promising up-and-comers that will eventually replace the lost talent in the pack, but it’s evident that 2020’s crop will be a significant step down from what the Crusaders have been able to field for their last three championships.
Contrast their fortunes with the likes of the Chiefs, who’s only significant loss is Brodie Retallick. Last year, the Chiefs managed to stumble into the finals despite going without Retallick, Sam Cane and Damian McKenzie for the majority of the season. The latter two will make a huge difference to their franchise’s campaign, while Cruden’s return will add a bit more experience to the backline. Warren Gatland’s arrival in the Waikato is also a major boon for the team.
Australia’s next World Cup first five will make a statement
Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper and Christian Lealiifano have all left Australia’s shores and only Foley is still eligible for the Wallabies under the Giteau Law.
The Rebels’ Matt Toomua is the only remaining Wallaby with any significant experience at 10 – though some may try to make a case for Kurtley Beale or James O’Connor.
Regardless, the Australian franchises are now being forced into replacing their experienced playmakers with young talent.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7E9b-FgO9x/
It’s not exactly the most well-planned cycle, with many of Australia’s potential future first fives all completely devoid of experience even at the Super Rugby level.
Ideally, the young men stepping into the defectors’’ boots would have at least earned spent some time on the paddock last year, but that’s not the situation the likes of the Brumbies and Waratahs find themselves in.
For the opening week of Super Rugby, relative newbies Isaac Lucas (Reds), Noah Lolesio (Brumbies) and Will Harrison (Waratahs) will all start at 10.
20-year-old Lucas proved a handful for opposition defences in the few matches he played for the Reds in 2019, but that was mainly at fullback. Now, the talented Under 20 star will have to showcase his playmaking skills from closer to the action. Lolesio and Harrison, however, are both uncapped.
The Wallabies’ new head coach, Dave Rennie, will be hoping that one of these young guns can show at least a glimmer of potential at first five, otherwise Australia could be in for another tumultuous World Cup cycle.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1212924881609711616
Newbie midfielders will make waves across the park
Across all 15 franchises, there’s been an exodus of experienced midfielders.
New Zealand has lost Ryan Crotty, Matt Proctor, Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams; gone from Australia is Samu Kerevi, who was just starting to put out regular world-beating performances; and South Africa have farewelled the likes of Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe and JJ Engelbrecht.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s sole franchise haven’t given up any major midfielders but Japan’s Sunwolves have completely new personnel in the middle of the pitch.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of young centres who have stepped up in the last few years who are now more than capable of taking on senior midfield roles.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7BBTeNAUQV/
The Reds’ Jordan Petaia is possibly the most exciting young prospect coming through the ranks and looked experienced beyond his years at 2019’s World Cup. His Super Rugby season was cut short last year but expect him to make a huge impact in Queensland in 2020.
Equally as promising across the ditch is Quinn Tupaea at the Chiefs. He might struggle for game time as the season advances, with a number of more experienced heads available in Hamilton, but the former New Zealand Under 20 representative will earn his debut against the Blues this weekend.
Over in the republic, 21-year-old Wandisile Simelane had a huge Currie Cup for the Lions and will be desperate for some more minutes with South Africa’s best performing Super team from over the last few years.
There’s also a Super Rugby newbie at the Stormers by the name of Jamie Roberts who should draw a fair amount of attention. After representing Cardiff, Racing 92, Harlequins, Bath, Wales, and the British and Irish Lions, Roberts is now testing his body in the Southern Hemisphere’s premier club competition.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1218101921250185216
The Blues will make the playoffs
‘This will be our year’ seems to have been the Blues’ slogan for the last decade of Super Rugby until about the second round of each year’s competition.
Whilst jaded fans have wisely talked up their chances too much ahead of the 2020 season, there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Sonny Bill Williams, Ma’a Nonu and Melani Nanai are the only major losses from last year – and the former two shared the midfield workload due to their various injuries and ailments.
They’ve recruited smartly in the off-season, bringing in England centre Joe Marchant and All Black Beauden Barrett (although he won’t feature until later in the year) and there’s a fairly settled look to the franchise this year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rh_gkgkhc/
Of course, there are still question marks over their pack mobility and efficiency, but this Blues side looks as well prepared as any over the last ten years to actually make a run for some Super Rugby glory.
Expect big things from young flanker Dalton Papalii, who will be striving for an All Blacks jersey later in the season.
If the trio of Stephen Perofeta (who is finally fit), Harry Plummer and Otere Black can guide the team from 10, then things could go very well for the Blues this year – especially if they’re still in the playoff hunt come Barrett’s arrival in April.
WATCH: Catch up on all of the very best from Round 3 of the Top League, featuring a host of international stars including Carter, Kahui, Retallick, Kerevi, Marks, Giteau, Snyman, Read, and many more!
Comments on RugbyPass
I really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to comments