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End-Of-Season Report Card: What Did The Jaguares, Kings And Sunwolves Bring To Super Rugby?
What have Super Rugby’s three new teams contributed to the competition, both on and off the pitch, in their first season? Jamie Wall takes a look.
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Three expansion teams were added to the Super Rugby competition this year – the Tokyo-based Sunwolves, the Buenos Aires-based Jaguares and South Africa’s Southern Kings. All three teams’ seasons came to an end last weekend, all with fairly horrible debut records.
Let’s have a look at the fleeting highs and glut of crushing lows that have been the newbies’ 2016 seasons.
Jaguares
Record: Won 4, Lost 11
Final table placing: 13th
Wasn’t this basically the same team that made the semi finals of last years’ World Cup? They certainly started like it, running the ball from everywhere in a first up win over the Cheetahs. But then the weird decision to leave all their good players at home for the trip to New Zealand effectively tanked their season. An embarrassing loss to the Sunwolves in Tokyo exposed the team everyone had tipped as dark horses to win the comp as a bunch of pretenders.
Player of the season: Tomas Lavanini brought back some much-needed thuggery to the competition. Despite getting himself suspended twice for foul play, the big lock pulled off one of the (legal) hits of the season.
On-field highlight: Their 26-30 loss to the Chiefs in Round 4 was such a good performance it could probably be used as evidence in a case of false advertising.
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Off-field highlight: Where to start? Laser light shows while the ball was in play? Inflatable dogs? A mascot on a zip line shooting fireworks? Crotch-grabbing as an acceptable show of appreciation for a try? Welcome to Estadio Jose Amalfitani, where I’d be quite happy for all Super Rugby to be played.
Southern Kings
Record: Won 2, Lost 13
Final table placing: 17th
The Kings’ money woes had them cutting corners all over the place, including seemingly basing their jersey design on a the winning entry of kids’ colouring-in competition. The Port Elizabeth based team’s woes carried over onto the field, where they gave up 50+ scores six times during the season. Having to play in the cavernous Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium didn’t help either, given that their home crowds were usually just the players’ parents and friends.
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Player of the year: Edgar Marutlulle was a bright spot, managing to become the team’s equal top tryscorer despite playing at hooker.
On-field highlight: The Round 12 victory over Los Jaguares was notable because it turned around a 50 point loss to the same side just four weeks before.
Off-field highlight: The closest the Kings got to having a mascot was this cheerleader wielding a crudely put together spear.
Sunwolves
Record: Won 1, Drew 1, Lost 13
Final table placing: 18th
The team with the coolest name in rugby history started the season on the back foot, with barely enough players to field a team and having to employ one of the least successful coaches in Super Rugby history. They were expected to come in last, and duly delivered on expectations, but the Sunwolves have managed to achieve far more of a cult following than any other expansion side. Check out their very polite Twitter account, which had the good grace to incorporate other teams’ official hashtags.
Player of the year: Winger Akihito Yamada was incredibly productive in a team that was getting pantsed most weeks, notching up 10 tries.
On-field highlight: Without a doubt their Round 7 win over Los Jaguares in Tokyo.
Off-field highlight: The Sunwolves’ mascot is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to Super Rugby.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments