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'The Aussies have got nothing to lose': Why Australian teams could shock Kiwi opponents in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
Former Blues captain James Parsons believes the Australian teams are in a good position to cause some upsets over their New Zealand counterparts in the upcoming Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.
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The tournament will pit the five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises against the five Australian sides for the first time in more than a year following the announcement of a quarantine-free travel bubble between the two countries last month.
Most expect the New Zealand teams to dominate their cross-border rivals as they have done in years gone by, but Parsons says that lack of expectation serves the Australian clubs well heading into the Trans-Tasman competition.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, the ex-All Blacks hooker said only the Reds and Brumbies, the two sides competing in this weekend’s Super Rugby AU final, will have any kind of expectation on them to deliver results.
Even then, he suggested the New Zealand sides will be under the most pressure to prove that they are still more dominant than their neighbours across the ditch.
“I think the Australian sides are well-placed because there’s no expectation,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“Maybe a little bit on the Reds and the Brumbies, but I think a lot of the expectation is going on the Kiwi sides and that puts a lot of pressure for them to deliver, whereas the Aussies have got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
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Parsons added that the new competition give the teams that missed out on the finals of their respective domestic leagues a chance at redemption and an opportunity to learn and develop from teams they haven’t played in a long time.
“I know I sort of just spoke about the Rebels taking their threes and going back to a philosophy that worked for them, but there’s a lot to be gained for those [Australian] teams in this Trans-Tasman [competition] and a lot to be gained for the three teams that missed out on the final over here [in New Zealand].”
The last time two teams from New Zealand and Australia clashed came on March 6 last year, when the Crusaders pipped the Reds 24-20 in Christchurch and the Chiefs thrashed the Waratahs 51-14 in Wollongong.
That season, the Kiwi sides won five of their seven matches against Australian franchises in a Super Rugby season that was cut short after seven rounds due to COVID-19.
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New Zealand’s dominance over Australia was felt at test level as well as the All Blacks won the Bledisloe Cup for the 18th straight year by picking up two wins and a draw in a four-match series against the Wallabies.
Pablo Matera is going to have his work cut out for him at @CrusadersRugby next year – but he’s going to be a huge addition to the champion side. #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/Fs6epQG6Zq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 4, 2021
However, Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall warned those from New Zealand teams who haven’t played in Australia since the pandemic started, or at all, of the challenges that come with playing away from home in another country.
“Going over to Australia, it’s completely different. It’s a different type of time that you’re playing at, it’s a different environment,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I can imagine the Crusaders vs the Reds at Suncorp [Stadium] with the amount of Kiwis that are over there that haven’t been able to watch Kiwi teams – we always have so much support and Kiwis have so much support in Brisbane or whatever city it is in Australia – and so that kind of cauldron, it’s so tough to play there.
“It’s a different type of landscape, so that’ll bring the excitement in and bring more to what Kiwi teams aren’t used to.
“A lot of guys probably haven’t played in Australia, bar the All Blacks, so it’s going to be another opportunity for Australian teams to have an advantage.
“For us, we’re going to have to be able to try and adapt and understand that it’s a little bit different going over to play in Australia.”
The first round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will kick-off next Friday when the Highlanders host the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
That same day, the Waratahs will take on the Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a battle between the two wooden-spooners from Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The following day, the Crusaders will host the Brumbies in Christchurch, the Rebels will take on the Blues in Melbourne, and the Force will play the Chiefs in Perth.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
True 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.
21 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.
10 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!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments