Sensational Parker given another chance as puppet master for clash with Rebels
The same backline that tore apart the Waratah’s ‘blue wall’ last weekend has been given the go-ahead to wreak havoc once again this week when the Sunwolves travel to Melbourne for their match up with the Rebels.
Whilst the forward pack hasn’t escaped from the chopping and changing that seems to be a regular occurrence for the Sunwolves in 2019, stand-in coach Scott Hansen has chosen to keep things consistent in the backs, which means that prodigious sharpshooter Hayden Parker retains his spot at first five and last week’s hat trick superstar Semisi Masirewa will again line up on the left wing.
Parker is sitting on a handy 27 kicks at goal on target out of 27 kicks taken for 2019 – not a bad result for a player who struggled to get any real opportunities with the Highlanders for the half-decade he spent with the southerners from 2013 to 2017. Combined with last year’s effort of 48 goals out of 50 attempts and it shouldn’t have been a hard decision for Hansen to make. Still, given how volatile the team named can seem from week to week, it will always be a relief for Sunwolves fans when Parker holds his spot.
In the forwards, however, the changes are plentiful with both second rowers from last week, Mark Hattingh and Uwe Helu, dropping to the bench. Taking their jerseys in the starting team are ex-Hurricane Mark Abbott and the 37-year old Luke Thompson.
The loose forward trio also receives a shakeup with current captain Dan Pryor the only player to retain his jersey from last week. Hendrik Tui shifts from the blindside flank to the back of the scrum while Australian-born Ben Gunter comes in for Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco.
In their four-year history, the Sunwolves have only tasted victory against Australia teams twice: last year when they thumped the Reds in Tokyo and again last week when they came from behind to narrowly pip the Waratahs in Sydney.
The result against the Waratahs was also the first time that the Sunwolves have won in Australia – a nice monkey off the team’s back after they also won in New Zealand for the first time ever when they dismantled the Chiefs in Hamilton last month.
The Rebels are Australia’s highest ranked team at present with Quade Cooper and Wil Genia the on-form halves combination in the competition.
The Sunwolves have not had a great time in their previous matches against the Victorians, conceding at least 35 points in the three matches they’ve played whilst never scoring more than 17.
This year’s Rebels squad looks to be considerably stronger than what we’ve seen in previous years –thanks in part to the addition of Genia and Cooper for 2019. However, the Sunwolves too have shown that they’re not necessarily the walk in the park that they used to be and will be looking to break one more record when they hit AAMI Park tomorrow night.
Sunwolves: Ryohei Yamanaka, Gerhard van den Heever, Jason Emery, Harumichi Tatekawa, Semisi Masirewa, Hayden Parker, Kaito Shigeno, Hendrik Tui, Dan Pryor (c), Ben Gunter, Luke Thompson, Mark Abbott, Ji-won Koo, Jaba Bregvadze, Pauliasi Manu. Res: Nathan Vella, Masataka Mikami, Hiroshi Yamashita, Uwe Helu, Grant Hattingh, Jamie Booth, Takuya Yamasawa, Josh Timu.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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 comments