1
Last week marked the official return of Super Rugby, with 14 teams back in action for the first time in 2018.
Each week we will assess and rank all fifteen teams based on their performance throughout the season.
Check out how your team stacks up below.
1. Crusaders (1-0)
The defending champion Crusaders are still the best team in Super Rugby.
The Christchurch based franchise got their season off to a perfect start, beating the Chiefs 45-23 on Saturday. Get used to seeing plenty of scores like this, the Crusaders topped 40 points seven times last season and went undefeated until the last week of the regular season.
Scott Robertson’s men definitely look primed for a repeat as they try to send long time prop Wyatt Crockett off into the sunset with a fourth title.
2. Lions (2-0)
Swys de Bruin’s transition to head coach has been as successful as possible so far.
Last year’s finalists knocked off the Sharks and Jaguares at home to start their campaign, and now travel to Pretoria to take on a Bulls team fresh off an upset win over the Hurricanes.
The Lions will be hoping they can finally get over the hump and bring South Africa its first Super Rugby title in eight years after playing bridesmaid the last two seasons.
ADVERTISEMENT
3. Highlanders (1-0)
The Highlanders topped the Blues in their first competitive hit out since the departure of All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa. The new midfield pairing of Rob Thompson and Teihorangi Walden stepped up in his place, scoring four of the Highlanders’ five tries.
New coach Aaron Mauger cracked into a well-deserved Speights after his first win, which was also the Highlanders’ first opening round win since 2014.
Might have been ranked higher but lose points for Aaron Smith’s man-bun.
4. Waratahs (1-0)
The Waratahs won their opener against the Stormers in Sydney, with late-game heroics from Ned Hanigan securing their first win of the season.
Daryl Gibson’s side are just four seasons removed from winning a Super Rugby title, and after a disappointing 2017 they look set to reclaim their spot atop the Australian Conference thanks to a healthy Bernard Foley and the return of Kurtley Beale after a short stint with the London Wasps.
5. Bulls (1-0)
John Mitchell’s Bulls team shocked the rugby world last week after beating the Hurricanes 21-19 in Pretoria. They’ll be tested once again in week three as they take on the Lions, who have become South Africa’s best team since their re-introduction in 2014.
Pulling off another upset in week three would be huge for the Bulls before they head to Australia in week four.
6. Blues (0-1)
The Blues showed some real promise as they went down in a thriller against the Highlanders.Despite the loss, the Blues produced a strong offensive performance with 19 clean breaks, over 500 metres gained and 22 defenders beaten. But they came up short in the only statistic that really matters, points scored.
The Blues are well placed to beat a depleted Chiefs side in week three before they head to South Africa. A victory over the Chiefs would be their first win over a New Zealand side since round one of 2016.
7. Stormers (1-1)
The Stormers finished atop the Africa 1 Conference last season and will be looking to leapfrog the Lions as South Africa’s best in the new condensed format.
Unfortunately, it’s a lot easier said than done. After picking up a win against the Jaguares and losing at the final hooter to the Waratahs, the Stormers’ season could very quickly get away from them as they take on the Crusaders, Highlanders and Blues in consecutive weeks.
ADVERTISEMENT
8. Rebels (1-0)
The Rebels have already matched their win total from last season after pummelling a shorthanded Reds side.
The addition of Will Genia along with Dane Haylett-Petty, Adam Coleman and David Wessels from the Force is already paying huge dividends as the Rebels now have some real leadership in the side.
9. Brumbies (1-0)
The Brumbies started their season with a win, but it was far from convincing. After limping to victory over the new-look Sunwolves in Japan, it’s clear the Canberra side still have plenty to work on.
The reigning Australian Conference champions have a weak schedule to start their season; they’ll play the Reds, Rebels and Sharks in Australia before a bye and won’t face a New Zealand team until week nine.
10. Sharks (0-1)
The Sharks are full of promise after playing the Lions close on the road in week one. I won’t be shocked to see them rise up this list as the season goes on.
They have the Waratahs and Sunwolves at home over the next two weeks, providing a good chance to get their season going back in the right direction.
11. Chiefs (0-1)
The Chiefs have undergone the most significant changes of any New Zealand side. With a new coach, new players in several key positions and the loss of 100 test caps in the backline, the Hamilton side face an uphill battle in 2018.
Colin Cooper’s first game in charge saw the Chiefs concede 45 points, the most they’ve conceded since 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
12. Hurricanes (0-1)
The Hurricanes were stunned by the Bulls in Pretoria to open their season.
Head coach Chris Boyd will be hoping that history repeats for his side. Their last loss to open the season was a 52-10 drubbing at the hands of the Brumbies in 2016. They went on to win their first title.
13. Sunwolves (0-1)
Jamie Joseph has completely revamped the Sunwolves roster. 36 members of the 2017 team are gone, and there are 23 new faces in the changing sheds.
The Japanese franchise already look significantly more structured and effective under Joseph. Just one year after opening their season with an 83-17 dismantling at home, the Sunwolves had the Brumbies on the ropes before eventually going down by seven in Tokyo.
14. Jaguares (0-2)
Despite having 33 players with international experience, the Jaguares just can’t seem to figure it out at the Super Rugby level.
Travel is one aspect, but the Jaguares’ real achilles heel has been discipline. Last season they ranked in the bottom five in terms of penalties conceded, and had the second most yellow cards with 12. They have already been handed three after just two games in 2018.
15. Reds (0-1)
The Reds have stumbled out of the blocks, with lock Lukhan Tui and captain Scott Higginbotham copping three-week suspensions after game one.
The Queensland side could be bottom dwellers for a while as new coach Brad Thorn shifts the focus towards youth. There’s no doubt the team has some real talent, they just need time to put it together on the field.
Comments on RugbyPass
This sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
12 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
12 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
12 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
12 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
12 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
12 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to comments