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
Thanks 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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments