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Super Rugby Pacific 2024: Predicted finish for every Australian team
A guide to the Australian teams in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season:
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ACT Brumbies
2023 finish: 3rd
Projected 2024 finish: 3rd
Major gains: Halfback Harrrison Goddard (LA Gilitinis), centre Austin Anderson (Waikato).
Major losses: Halfback Nic White (Force), Pete Samu (Bordeaux), fullback Jesse Mogg (retired), centre Chris Feauai-Sautia (released).
Talking point: This season could be the making of halfback Ryan Lonergan, who gets to call all the shots following the departure of veteran Nic White to Perth, while also slated to take over as captain.
Melbourne Rebels
2023 finish: 10th
Projected 2024 finish: 11th
Major gains: Prop Taniela Tupou (Reds), lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Northampton), halfback Jack Maunder (Exeter), Jake Strachan (Force), centre/winger Filipo Daugunu (Reds), centre Matt Proctor (Northampton), winger Darby Lancaster (sevens), fullback Jake Strachan (Force).
Major losses: Utility back Reece Hodge (Bayonne), lock Trevor Hosea (Tokyo Sungoliath), lock Matt Philip (Yokohama Canon Eagles), winger Monty Ioane (Lyon), centre Stacey Ili (Hawke’s Bay), flanker Richard Hardwick (Ealing).
Talking point: With a beefed-up forward pack including Test prop Tupou and fresh speed out wide, can the Rebels perform with the financially-stricken club’s future hanging in the balance?
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Queensland Reds
2023 finish: 8th
Projected 2024 finish: 6th
Major gains: Prop Alex Hodgman (Blues), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Ulster), Joe Brial (Canterbury).
Major losses: Prop Taniela Tupou (Rebels), centre/winger Filipo Daugunu (Rebels), prop Dane Zander (Los Angeles), Lock Luke Jones (retired).
Talking point: Replacing coach Brad Thorn, Les Kiss has brought in two ex-All Blacks to cover the loss of prop Taniela Tupou while young playmaker Tom Lynagh should flourish with a season under his belt.
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NSW Waratahs
2023 finish: 6th
Projected 2024 finish: 10th
Major gains: Prop Tom Ross (Brumbies), prop Hayden Thompson-Stringer (La Rochelle), lock Miles Amatosero (Clermont), flanker Mesu Kunavula (Brive), back-rower Fergus Lee-Warner (Bath).
Major losses: Flanker Michael Hooper (sevens), five-eighth Ben Donaldson (Force), prop Nephi Leatigaga (Dax), back-rower Will Harris (Force), halfback Harrison Goddard (Brumbies), winger Nemani Nadolo (retired).
Talking point: The Waratahs have made the quarter-finals the past two seasons but coach Darren Coleman has reportedly being given a four-round deadline to show they are capable of a top-four berth.
Western Force
2023 finish: 10th
Projected 2024 finish: 7th
Major gains: Halfback Nic White (Brumbies), five-eighth Ben Donaldson (Waratahs), back-rower Will Harris (Waratahs), winger Harry Potter (Leicester), prop Atu Moli (Chiefs), lock Tom Franklin (Taranaki).
Major losses: Prop Tom Robertson (sabbatical), hooker Folau Fainga’a (Clermont), lock Jeremy Thrush (retired), back-rower Isi Naisarani (released), halfback Gareth Simpson (Saracens), five-eighth Bryce Hegarty (Red Hurricanes Osaka), fullback Jake Strachan (Rebels).
Talking point: Will the addition of Wallabies playmakers Ben Donaldson and Nic White be the extra ingredient that will see the cashed-up Force challenge the competition big guns?
Comments on RugbyPass
Now if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 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!
5 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.
5 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 comments