The most hotly contested jerseys in Super Rugby Pacific 2024
The Super Rugby drought is nearing its end as new beginnings beckon. Some burgeoning talents find themselves within reach of that coveted jersey that the heroes in their posters once donned, but they are not the only ones gunning for them.
With headline departures and new chapters spelling change for all Super clubs to varying extents, the new year has brought the promise of new possibilities.
For some clubs, the landscape change is dramatic; a generational coach, iconic playmaker and the unrivalled experience of Sir Whitelock vacates the reigning champions, while the tournament’s most southern team has rebuilt half its roster.
Five new head coaches enter the fray with philosophies to implement and values to instil, eager to see which players will best uphold them.
Competition for spots will only elevate the performance of those vying for game time. So, here are the five most competitive positions to lock down in Super Rugby Pacific 2024, along with a prediction of which players will claim them by the season’s end.
Crusaders midfield
How many All Blacks does it take to build a Crusaders midfield? Four, apparently. And that’s excluding Levi Aumua and after the departure of the France-bound Jack Goodhue. Granted, the 35-year-old Ryan Crotty can be expected to take a limited role when it comes to playing time, but the backlog still poses quite the conundrum for Rob Penney.
David Havili and Braydon Ennor own the most tried and tested combination of the herd, but there’s no denying the promising form of Dallas McLeod and the recent Moana Pasifika transfer Aumua. With a number of talented outside backs in fine health and Rob Penney’s stated preference of selecting his players in their true positions, it may well come down to a good old shootout for the 12 and 13 jerseys.
Prediction: David Havili and Levi Aumua to start.
Reds No.10
James O’Connor struggled to find his best position with the Reds in 2023, bouncing around the backline and looking a bit lost in the process. The former Wallabies star could benefit from some consistency in 2024 but only time will tell what Les Kiss has in store for him.
It was Lawson Creighton who started in the 10 jersey when the Reds faced off with the then-unbeaten Chiefs in round 12 of SRP 2023, and the youngster’s kicking game was the first to unlock the Chiefs’ defence in the competition, instrumental in toppling the eventual runners up. The triple-kicking threat of Creighton at 10, O’Connor at 12 and Jock Campbell at fullback made for a handsome threat but it was Tom Lynagh who was handed the keys in the quarter-final rematch.
Lynagh’s potential will be hard to resist, but recent Australia U20 product Harry McLaughlin-Phillips looks ahead of schedule in his development and was handed the start in the Reds’ preseason fixture against Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights.
Prediction: Tom Lynagh to start.
Hurricanes No.8
There’s no challenge quite like the challenge of replacing the reigning World Player of the Year. Ardie Savea’s absence for the Hurricanes will be monumental but there are a pair of youngsters ready to step up.
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai, at just 25 and 21 respectively, hold game-breaking potential for the Wellington club. The question will be how ready is the young Lakai for regular minutes at the Super Rugby level? The recent New Zealand U20 co-captain has been heralded as the next big thing since his barnstorming debut NPC season in 2022, quickly becoming widely regarded as one of, if not the most dominant loose forward in the provincial competition en route to winning the title.
Iose has experience on his side but both men have, naturally, seen limited game time given that their captain, Savea, shares their position. New Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw may well base his decision on which player he wants to invest the playing time on offer in, given Savea will return to the squad in 2025.
Prediction: Peter Lakai to start.
Crusaders props
Pick your poison: George Bower, Joe Moody, Tamaiti Williams, or Fletcher Newell. Whatever way you shake it, the Crusaders have as many All Black front rowers raring to go as the rest of their competition combined. Bower and Moody boast the better experience of the quartet, but both missed the Rugby World Cup due to lack of playing time through injury.
Perhaps, they can both return to their world-class best, but can they claim starting honours ahead of two of the world’s best young props? The meteoric rise of Tamaiti Williams was on full display in 2023, the All Blacks’ heaviest-ever player was dynamic yet solid as a rock, taking to the international game like a duck to water after a shaky sophomore outing in the second Bledisloe.
Newell’s promise as a scrummager remains top-tier and after successive injuries ruled him out of the entire SRP 2023 and the beginning of the All Blacks season, the 23-year-old will be relishing the chance to find consistent game time in 2024.
Prediction: Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell to start.
The entire Highlanders backline
Outside of Folau Fakatava starting at halfback, there are no promises in the Highlanders backline. The injury to Thomas Umaga-Jensen throws the midfield selections up in the air and the outside back stocks offer coach Clark Dermody the opposite problem, with seven players capable of filling the three jerseys.
Newcomers Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens have each shown damaging form in their respective NPC campaigns and have proven they have what it takes to inject that X-factor at the next level. The pair come in to add competition to an outside back roster that already includes Jona Nareki, Jonah Lowe, Matín Bogado, Sam Gilbert and Connor Garden-Bachop.
At first five-eighth, two youngsters in Ajay Faleafaga and Cameron Millar will take mentorship from former Wales international Rhys Patchel, while Sam Gilbert showed promise as a playmaker in his stretch at 10 in 2023.
Building for the future, expect the youngsters to get time off the bench as Dermody and the returning Jamie Joseph give plenty of opportunity to their young talent to earn more minutes.
Prediction: 10: Rhys Patchel, 11: Jona Nareki, 12: Sam Gilbert, 13: Josh Timu, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to comments