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Super Rugby Power Rankings Week 5: Hail to the Chiefs
New Zealand teams claim the gold, silver, bronze, and fourth place medals in Scotty Stevenson’s latest Super Rugby power rankings.
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1. Chiefs
Rd 5: 53-10 v Force
Last week: 4 (up 3)
For most of the first half against the Force, the Chiefs chased the ball like it owed them money, but when they finally settled into their work they looked like a team in full control of its destiny. This is a Chiefs team missing seven front-line forwards and yet they did not miss a beat. Everyone is talking about Damian McKenzie and Charlie Ngatai – and so they should be – but Aaron Cruden deserves much more love. He is surely the frontrunner for the All Blacks’ test first five spot. Why is nobody talking about Aaron Cruden?
2. Highlanders
Rd 5: 27-3 v Rebels
Last week: 2 (N/C)
You have to love a team that can grind you down like a sociopathic boss, and the Highlanders are just such a team. The Rebels threw everything they had at the defending champions, including the most horrible pitch in Super Rugby history, and still the Highlanders kept their line clean.
There will be some concern in the side that they could make just one clean break, and concern too that Liam Squire carried for twice as many metres than the rest of his forward pack combined.
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3. Hurricanes
Rd 5: 42-20 v Kings
Last week: 1 (down 2)
It’s not often a team claims a bonus point victory and still gets widely crapped upon, but that seems to be the state of affairs for the Canes this week after they took 80 minutes to get five points against the Kings in what everybody (except the Kings. Actually, probably even the Kings) had pre-ordained as a cake walk in the cake tin. It’s a little unfair on the Hurricanes, who ran for a season-high 740 metres in the match. They allowed the Kings fewer points than the Chiefs or the Crusaders.
4. Crusaders
Rd 5: 17-14 v Sharks
(Last week: 5 (up 1)
The Crusaders threw 215 passes this weekend – that’s 73 passes for each of their three tries. They threw most of them inside their own half, and hardly bothered paying a visit to the Sharks 22, which may explain why they scored just 17 points. The Crusaders should not feel bad about their measly points haul against the Sharks. The Sharks are a nightmare. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome, then the Crusaders are barking mad. I love that about the Crusaders.
5. Brumbies
Rd 5: 25-18 v Cheetahs
Last week: 3 (down 2)
It’s been a tough road trip for the Brumbies. No sooner had they left Australia than their club began to implode, then they suffered their first loss of the season against the Stormers, and this week just scraped through against the Cheetahs. In fairness to the Brumbies, playing the Cheetahs is not easy. It requires you to forget everything you know about how the game should be played. It also must be said that a lesser side would have succumbed to the Cheetahs’ harebrained game plan.
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6. Lions
Rd 5: BYE
Last week: 7 (up 1)
The Lions managed to have the week off and still look like the best team in South Africa. Yes, you all know I love the Lions, but I didn’t realise how much until they weren’t playing. I watched the Sharks, Kings, Stormers, Bulls, and Cheetahs and the five of them combined could not fill the gap. The Lions are the best thing to come out of South Africa since the Peppermint Crisp milk tart.
7. Stormers
Rd 5: 13-8 v Jaguares
Last week: 6 (down 1)
The Stormers are a tough watch. This game was a tough watch. We should all forget this game ever happened.
8. Bulls
Rd 5: 30-27 v Sunwolves
Last week: 10 (up 2)
I don’t know what to think of the Bulls this week. On the one hand, they got the win against the Sunwolves, which is all well and good, and they did it in their own customary way (nothing too flash). On the other hand you would think that a team with this kind of adherence to structure might be much more comfortable against a team that treats structure like Gerry Brownlee treats airport security. I can’t figure the Bulls out. I really can’t.
9. Waratahs
Rd 5: 15-13 v Reds
Last week: 11 (up 2)
At last! The Blues of Australian rugby are finally back in the winner’s circle, though they did it tough against a Reds side that had been no match for them back in round one. The Waratahs will enjoy the fact that they now have two wins (both against the Reds) but the alchemy is still missing. Had the Reds been anything other than comically inept at converting opportunities into points, the Waratahs could well have slumped to 1-3 this week.
10. Sharks
Rd 5: 14-17 v Crusaders
Last week: 9 (down 1)
We have been trying to tell you that the Sharks should not be winning games.
11. Blues
Rd 5: BYE
Last week: 12 (up 1)
The Blues spent their bye week entertaining Alfie Allen, who plays a man called Reek on Game of Thrones, who in turn is famous for being gelded. None of that has anything to do with form. The Blues will be better for a bye and have the Jags at home this week.
12. Rebels
Rd 5: 3-27 v Highlanders
Last week: 8 (down 4)
I took a punt on the Rebels in last week’s KFC Power Rankings, in much the same way that I once took a punt on a dish from a Szechuan restaurant in Beijing only to find out afterwards that I had just eaten a plate of slit calf throat and a bowl of steamed bullfrog.
13. Jaguares
Rd 5: 8-13 v Stormers
Last week: 13 (N/C)
I’ve finally figured it out. The Jaguares played with freedom and expression against the Cheetahs, who play with freedom and expression. Then they played like one-dimensional bulldozers against the Sharks, who play like one-dimensional bulldozers. Then they played with freedom and expression against the Chiefs, who play with freedom and expression. Then they played like one-dimensional bulldozers against the Stormers… I see a pattern forming here. The Jaguares don’t know who they are.
14. Reds
Rd 5: 13-15 v Waratahs
Last week: 14 (N/C)
Sigh. The Reds must be wondering what they have to do to win a game. They couldn’t have done much more against the Waratahs, apart from not giving them 25 turnovers, and missing 16 tackles. Actually, that’s probably why the Reds can’t win a game.
15. Sunwolves
Rd 5: 27-30 v Bulls
Last week: 17 (up 2)
You know those crazy Japanese game shows in which contestants have to do things like sing karaoke songs while electrodes are attached to their bodies by women dressed in weird sailor/schoolgirl outfits, while being attacked by robots who have been programmed to tickle their scrotums with feather dusters? Yeah. That’s the Sunwolves.
16. Cheetahs
Rd 5: 18-25 v Brumbies
Last week: 15 (down 1)
Another week, another predictably unpredictable performance from the Cheetahs. The line out was excellent, the scrum was a mess. The running game was on, the finishing was off. The rule for the Cheetahs from now on is give the ball to Sergeal Petersen.
17. Force
Rd 5: 10 -53 v Chiefs
Last week: 16 (down 1)
Matt Hodgson is an absolute champion. The Force all need to be like Matt Hodgson.
18. Kings
Rd 5: 20-42 v Hurricanes
Last week: 18 (N/C)
If Edgard Malutlulle is not your new favourite player then you are doing it wrong. The hooker made more metres than anyone else in the Kings side, which is almost impossible. The Kings won’t win this year unless they can close the door on defence. They missed 34 tackles. That is a terrible stat.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot 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.
26 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.
26 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 comments