Super Rugby starts here: The Australian conference's first week
Scotty Stevenson previews every Australian team’s opening game in Super Rugby 2017.
As they face New Zealand sides in round one, we have covered the Rebels and the Brumbies here, so that only leaves us the Waratahs, Force and the Reds for this week’s matchups. As luck would have it, two of those sides face each other first up so, in the best traditions of New Zealanders reviewing anything Australian, this will be mercifully short.
Waratahs v Force
I’ll be honest here, this is the best possible start for the Waratahs from a player perspective, but the worst possible start for the Waratahs from a fan perspective. Sydney is still Australian rugby’s traditional market, and the Tahs needed a blockbuster clash to get the fans in the mood for the season. The Force is not the team that gets you in the mood for anything other than wagering vast sums against them.
And you should bet the house on the Waratahs in this one. Coach Daryl Gibson has not messed about, and has picked as many of his big names as he could – Hooper, Skelton, Mumm, Kepu, Phipps, Foley, Horne and Folau will all start game one, and need to make a statement of intent against the battlers from the West.
The Waratahs need to score points – if for no other reason than to prove to themselves that they can. Last year they were held to 27.1 PPG, which saw them ranked 9th overall – a terrible result considering the attacking talent in the squad. Fortunately for them, the Force managed just 17 points per game which saw them ranked stone cold last.
The Force were also last in terms of tries per game and clean breaks. In other words, they were about as threatening as a bean bag. Making matters worse for the Force last year was the fact they liked to watch teams do things to them – things like throw the most passes, win the most lineouts, and put together the best scrum percentage in the competition.
It’s hard to see this being anything other than one-sided in Sydney, with the Waratahs too strong. About the best we can hope for is that there will be a fight. Involving weapons.
Hot tip: Israel Folau will score a hat trick.
Ones to watch: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty
Telly Magnet rating: 3/5
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Reds v Sharks
There have been some positive noises emanating from the city of the Brown Snake over the last month as the Reds look to bury the last three years of their existence and rise again under the auspices of new head coach Nick Stiles. It is no secret the Reds were in a complete state on and off the field last year, but maybe there is a bit more backbone at Ballymore this season.
Much of that is being supplied by a 36-year old loose forward who once played half a test match against the Lions while pretty much in a coma. George Smith is still one of the best players on the planet, and his influence at the Reds cannot and should not be underestimated. Stephen Moore, Scott Higginbotham and Quade Cooper also return to Brisvegas, and that kind of veteran nous (the four aforementioned players have 326 combined test caps), coupled with the excitement of the likes of centre Samu Kerevi and flanker Adam Korczyk makes for an interesting and potentially dangerous mix.
For their part, the Sharks have one or two things to work on this season. The first thing would be to look interested in playing rugby. It was staggering to watch the Sharks – once a side equal parts reckless and Rabelaisian – do so little in 2016. And by so little I mean this: they threw the fewest passes, made the fewest carries and had the fewest ruck wins of any side.
The Sharks have won four of the last five encounters between these teams, and two of those were in Brisbane. They won’t fear the Reds, and they will be cognisant of the fact they have an easier road to the finals than last year, so best get on that road from the opening weekend.
Still picking this goes to the Reds, but we can only hope the Sharks at least attempt to play the game.
Hot tip: Quade Cooper won’t get booed.
Ones to watch: Adam Korcyk, Daniel du Preez
Telly Magnet rating: 3/5
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis 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….
19 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….
84 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!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 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
14 Go to comments