The five-team trade that needs to happen in Super Rugby Aotearoa
It is now just a matter of days before live rugby returns, with Super Rugby Aotearoa, a tournament involving the five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, set to be rugby union’s first foray back into competitive action since the coronavirus outbreak.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ended lockdown in the country, declaring New Zealand coronavirus-free, and that means the games will be able to be attended by fans, something which should only increase the excitement around those upcoming fixtures.
The Highlanders will host the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 13th, before the Blues take on the Hurricanes in Auckland a day later, with the Crusaders enjoying a bye week for the opening round of fixtures. Saturday and Sunday should prove to be a sizeable step back to normality for rugby fans all over the globe who have been starved of action over the last few months.
Column inches will at last be able to be filled once again with reactions to games, player performances and a general rejoicing in the return of the sport, though as the countdown ticks ever closer to kick-off in Dunedin, we still have a day or two left to fill the rugby void.
Every eye in the rugby world will be fixed on New Zealand for the foreseeable future and it will be a fitting showcase for the talent on offer at the country’s five Super Rugby franchises. New Zealand has accounted for seven of the last eight winners of Super Rugby, with all of their franchises, bar the Blues, responsible for at least one of those titles.
That said, no side is perfect, despite the Crusaders coming close to testing that theory, and we have come up with an elaborate five-man trade between the franchises that could see each of them rise to even greater heights.
We start with those near-perfect Crusaders, with the side from Canterbury the reigning Super Rugby champions, having completed a memorable three-peat back in 2019. There were very few people not backing them for a fourth title this year, either, before the global pandemic ended the cross-border competition.
There aren’t too many ways you could improve the Crusaders, thanks to the excellent job they do developing homegrown talent, as well as scouting out diamonds in the rough from other areas of New Zealand and honing them into top-end players. The franchise has been able to pick up second, third or even fourth choice schoolboy players from the Auckland region and develop them into All Blacks, and it is a significant endorsement of the culture and coaching in place under Scott Robertson.
As such, in this hypothetical five-team trade, the Crusaders receive exclusive signing rights to a player of their choice in the Blues’ region. It might be a budding prospect at lock to eventually replace the ageing Sam Whitelock or it could perhaps be a marauding No 8, someone who can fill the long-term void left by Kieran Read’s departure. Think of it as a first round draft pick, if you’re au fait with American sports.
If the Crusaders are able to reach the heights they have by developing less heralded prospects from other regions, the prospect of them picking up a top-end talent is a salivating one.
In order for the Crusaders to get those signing rights from the Blues, they ship on lock Quinten Strange to the Highlanders.
Strange, 23, has performed well and consistently in the shadows of Whitelock, Scott Barrett and Luke Romano, and a move to Dunedin could free him up to flourish away from those big-name second rows. It’s a loss the Crusaders wouldn’t want to have to deal with, although Mitchell Dunshea has also shown himself to an effective option, whilst promising U20 Zach Gallagher is one to keep an eye on as Barrett’s potential long-term partner in the engine room.
Here are the numbers behind Richie McCaw’s legendary 2011 World Cup final on a broken foot. ? ? ? #AllBlacks #RugbyWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uxzdGOi9sf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 8, 2020
For the Highlanders, Strange could be a starter week in, week out, bolstering an area of their first XV that has lacked a difference-maker for a while now. A partnership with Pari Pari Parkinson might not grab headlines but the pair would complement each other well, they have their best years ahead of them and they could avoid the bulk of international duty with the All Blacks, freeing them up to make the maximum positive impact for the Highlanders.
The Highlanders’ squad is not as talent rich as it once was and there are few positions they can afford to give up a valuable contributor at. That said, the franchise does have a healthy array of young wing options, including Jona Nareki, Ngane Punivai and Vilimoni Koroi, the latter of whom has joined up for Aotearoa, although it could signal a long-term move from 7s to XVs.
As such, it lets them send the freakishly talented Tevita Nabura to the Hurricanes. Nabura has been unlucky with injuries since making the move to the Highlanders and though they would not want to see him go, the practicality of shoring up the second row and trusting in some of the younger outside back options is the right move for them as they attempt to climb back to the summit of Super Rugby.
The Hurricanes do not lack for talent in Wellington and they are still among the most dangerous sides in global club rugby. They have, however, had their fair share of losses over the last 12 months or so.
The bookies may have listed the Highlanders at a whopping $31 to claim the Super Rugby Aotearoa title, but some significant changes could put the club back on the right track.https://t.co/aQDjfpuhpF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 8, 2020
Beauden Barrett departed for the Blues, something which could yet mean the ‘Canes have to rely on Jordie Barrett more often at fly-half and not in the back three, whilst Ben Lam is set to move to Bordeaux this year after his fantastic breakout campaign in 2019. Furthermore, there is an argument that the Wellington-based side are at their best when Vince Aso is deployed in the midfield alongside Ngani Laumape, something which could leave them short with their wing options.
If Nabura can stay fit, he would be the lit match that sets off the powder keg that is the Hurricanes’ squad, though they have sufficient enough options that they can take a high-risk, high-reward punt on the wing. The Fijian would be a destructive force outside of the tempo and sniping of TJ Perenara and the powerful centre pairing of Laumape and Aso.
In order to bring in Nabura, the Hurricanes would have to give up All Black Vaea Fifita to the Chiefs. It would deplete their options in the back row, though the exciting Devan Flanders could see his opportunities increase as a result, as he attempts to nail down a starting spot alongside Ardie Savea, Gareth Evans and Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Fifita could add plenty to the Chiefs’ back row in conjunction with Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson, although it is perhaps at lock where he could have the most impact. With Brodie Retallick set to return from Japan shortly, Fifita could provide an injection of dynamism in tandem with arguably the most complete second row in the global game. With plenty of talent in the front and back rows, adding Fifita as a contrasting and complementary player to Retallick at lock could help make the Chiefs the most dominant pack in New Zealand rugby.
Rugby Australia have been shown a glimmer of hope in their unlikely battle to sign a 16-year-old schoolboy star, who looks poised to sign with an NRL club.https://t.co/S95gn3hGH0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 8, 2020
Nothing in life comes for free, though, and we complete our merry-go-round of franchise trades with Brad Weber heading from the Chiefs to join up with the Blues. No one wants to lose an All Black, particularly at a position as influential as scrum-half, but the Chiefs are as able to swallow that loss as well as anyone with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi on their books.
The Blues, meanwhile, get a proven operator at scrum-half to work in tandem with Barrett, as the sleeping giant that is the northernmost franchise in the country attempts to rouse itself. Sam Nock is a promising player, but Weber gives the Blues someone who can be plugged in immediately and help take the franchise back to the top. If the Blues’ pack can give Weber and Barrett a platform, they will have no trouble unleashing the side’s raw but talented back line.
Blues to Crusaders – Exclusive schoolboy signing rights
Crusaders to Highlanders – Quinten Strange
Highlanders to Hurricanes – Tevita Nabura
Hurricanes to Chiefs – Vaea Fifita
Chiefs to Blues – Brad Weber
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
10 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 commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments