Super Rugby Power Rankings Week 2: Can Anyone Beat the Mighty Lions?
Scotty Stevenson takes stock of Super Rugby after a round where the Blues went stumbling back to their home in the loss column, the Highlanders inflicted more pain on the Hurricanes, and the Lions remained on track for a perfect season.
1. The Brumbies
Rd 2: 32-15 v Waratahs
Last week: 1 (N/C)
This team is 80% machine, 20% Stephen Moore.
2. The Lions
Rd 2: 36-32 v Chiefs
Last week: 7 (up 5)
Fullback Andries Coetzee is known as the pot-bellied pig, and hooker ‘Akker’ van der Merwe is called the angry warthog. That alone is enough reason to love the Lions. That, and the fact they turned up to Cowtown and “Chiefed” the Chiefs for a historic first win on Waikato soil. Very few teams offload more than the Chiefs. The Lions did. Very few teams carry more than the Chiefs. The Lions did. Very few teams out-ruck the Chiefs. The Lions did. Also: halfback ‘Faf’ de Klerk should be your new favourite player.
3. The Stormers
Rd 2: 20-10 v Cheetahs
Last week: 3 (N/C)
There is a temptation to mark the Stormers down for scoring just two tries against the Cheetahs considering how in control of this match they were, but I’m going to give this team the benefit of the ‘cat toying with the mouse’ theory. The Stormers are always better with a bit of salt air in the lungs, too, and Bloemfontein is a long way from the ocean. If you’re ever in Bloemfontein, I do not recommend the fish.
4. The Highlanders
Rd 2: 17-16 v Hurricanes
Last week: 6 (up 2)
I watched the Highlanders play rugby, then immediately watched the car chase scene from Ronin. As I suspected: same director.
5. The Crusaders
Rd 2: 28-13 v Blues
Last week: 11 (up 6)
The Crusaders have such a vanilla game plan that they actually call Nemani Nadolo a ‘flavour player’. He is the fruitburst in this packet of milk bottles. Like it or not, the Crusaders’ soul-destroying monotony is effective.
6. The Bulls
Rd 2: 45-25 v Rebels
Last week: 17 (up 11)
The Bulls are the big movers-on-up in this week’s power rankings, and I can tell you what my hat tastes like: salty, with a tinge of bergamot. That said, the Bulls have lost just once in five meetings with the Rebels and have only once been held below 40 points by the Melbourne side, so this result wasn’t unexpected. What was unexpected was the combined 349 running metres from the Bulls’ back three.
7. The Sharks
Rd 2: 19-15 v Jaguares
Last week: 8 (up 1)
The Sharks won the key percentages against the Jaguares, and that is effectively why they won this match. Like the Stormers and the Crusaders, there was an element of inability to turn pressure into points, but a win is a win and that makes it 2-0 to start the season. If I was the coach I would keep Marcell Coetzee in a cryo chamber and defrost him just for matches.
8. The Chiefs
Rd 2: 32-36 v Lions
Last week: 4 (down 5)
It’s a drop for the Chiefs after round two, but there are too many positives to see them fall out of the top half of the competition. For starters, they scored 32 points, which is more points than any other losing side managed in week two, and it’s also 32 points on the back of a scrum that went backwards and a lineout that went wayward. Losing the game hurts; losing Brodie Retallick is a kick in the balls.
9. The Hurricanes
Rd 2: 16-17 v Highlanders
Last week: 14 (up 5)
It’s hard to know which loss hurts more: the 42-point hiding at the hands of the Brumbies or the one-point heartbreaker against the Highlanders. I’m picking it’s the latter, considering the Hurricanes threw nothing last week and everything at this game. Considering how strong Beauden Barrett’s running game was (he topped the match metres) the ‘Canes opted for touch an awful lot. You don’t want to give the Highlanders counter attack kick ball, but nor do you want to be on the back of a 17-4 lineout count.
10. The Waratahs
Rd 2: 15-32 v Brumbies
Last week: 5 (down 5)
The rivalry between the Brumbies and the Waratahs is more suited to a Russian team pit fight than a rugby field, so let’s just acknowledge that fact and move on. The Waratahs were limited in attack but were still in the hunt right up until a 68th minute Brumbies penalty try. The ‘Tahs now top the competition tackle count, but where has the running game gone? Israel Folau and Nick Phipps were the only backs to run more than 20 metres in the match.
11. The Blues
Rd 2: 13-28 v Crusaders
Last week: 2 (down 9)
Where to start? On the drawing board would be the best bet. There is no doubt the Blues will be taking a good hard look at themselves this week. Good thing they’ll have plenty of time, looking in the rear vision mirror, stuck in traffic.
12. The Rebels
Rd 2: 25-45 v Bulls
Last week: 9 (down 3)
As a contest, this one was effectively over at half time, and dead and buried five minutes into the second spell. At that stage it was 42-3 in favour of the Bulls. The Rebels did manage four tries in the final half hour but one suspects the Bulls were by then already thinking about post-match boerewors rolls.
13. The Force
Rd 2: 22-6 v Reds
Last week: 15 (up 2)
I like the Force, I really do. This is the team that gave us the best years of Nathan Sharp, the bogan vernacular articulation of Nick Cummins, and the warrior work ethic of Matt Hodgson. However, five penalties and an after the hooter try against the Reds is not the kind of return that has other teams looking over their shoulder.
14. The Jaguares
Rd 2: 15-19 v Sharks
Last week: 10 (down 4)
The Jags’ defence in round one had the alarm bells ringing, and again their 79% success rate proved costly this week. That, and the fact they conceded 10 of their 11 penalties inside their own half, which is an open invitation to South African sides to beat you. Reality check weekend for the newcomers.
15. The Cheetahs
Rd 2: 10-20 v Stormers
Last week: 12 (down 3)
Ate the fish.
16. The Sunwolves
Rd 2: BYE
Last week: 13 (down 3)
The Sunwolves need to update fans with a daily diary of ‘Pinging’ the terrifying mascot. I’m picking Filo Tiatia was even more terrifying at training this week.
17. The Kings
Rd 2: BYE
Last week: 18 (up 1)
It’s hard to know whether or not the bye week helps or hinders the Kings, but they would have at least had some time to lick their round one wounds and prepare for the Chiefs in Round 3. At least they scored a try in round one, which means they get one up over the Reds.
18. The Reds
Rd 2: 6-22 v Force
Last week: 16 (down 2)
I’m looking for positives here. Eto Nabuli topped all metres in the match, scrum and lineout were good, and…Nope, that’s about it.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
27 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments