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The winners and losers of the opening round of Super Rugby 2020
We may only have just ticked over into February, but Super Rugby is back in full swing with 14 of the competition’s 15 sides in action over the weekend just gone by.
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Some teams surprised with dominating displays and shock upsets, while others picked up right from where they left off last year, whether that was through an anticipated victory or a capitulation leading to defeat.
With that in mind, here are our picks for Super Rugby’s winners and losers in the opening round of the 2020 campaign.
Continue reading below…
Winners
Aaron Cruden
It had been three years since Aaron Cruden last donned a Chiefs jersey prior to gracing Eden Park for the 2020 season-opener against the Blues on Friday evening.
He had to wait until the second half to make his long-awaited return for the franchise of which he helped lead to back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, but if his performance three days ago was anything to go by, then it will be no surprise to see the 31-year-old veteran starting against the Crusaders in Hamilton this week.
Cruden was instrumental in overturning a 19-5 half-time deficit into a compelling 37-29 victory where he exuded class, confidence and experience.
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The influence he cast upon the Chiefs’ backline after being injected into the clash was clear for all to see, as Warren Gatland’s side ran in four second half tries to complete an impressive comeback.
Cruden showed guile in his running game to set-up Solomon Alaimalo’s 69th minute try and composure to slot a crucial drop goal six minutes later to illustrate the importance of having a world-class playmaker at the helm of any Super Rugby side.
By luring the 50-test All Black back to Waikato Stadium, the Chiefs possess exactly that.
Sunwolves
You would be hard pressed to find any punter who saw the Sunwolves’ hugely surprising 36-27 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in round one coming.
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A scheduling clash between Super Rugby and the Top League resulted in all but three players from last year’s squad defect to Japan’s premier domestic competition, leaving them bare of almost any firepower within their ranks.
Add to that the departure of revolutionary head coach Tony Brown to the Highlanders, and it was difficult to envisage the Japanese franchise winning a single match in their final season of existence.
That didn’t stop the Sunwolves from tearing apart a lacklustre Rebels outfit in Fukuoka, though, as the Japanese franchise ran in five tries to catapult themselves to the top of the Australian conference in convincing fashion.
Stormers
The Cape Town-based club established themselves as early frontrunners for the South African conference title at Newlands on Saturday as they comprehensively dismantled a confused-looking Hurricanes side.
Stacked with numerous World Cup-winning Springboks, including national skipper Siya Kolisi and World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit, the hosts nullified their opponents to keep them scoreless and register an imposing 27-point winning margin.
The Stormers’ ability to take full advantage of many of the Hurricanes’ costly errors is what ultimately steered them to their maiden win of the year, with tries scored by halves duo Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse clear evidence of that.
While head coach John Dobson will be sweating over the fitness of both Kolisi and star hooker Bongi Mbonambi, his side have nevertheless made a bold statement and look a force to be reckoned with over the coming weeks.
Dominigo Miotti
Cruden has a rival for this week’s most emphatic super sub in the form of Jaguares first-five Dominigo Miotti.
Coming into the fray inside the first five minutes of his side’s 38-8 thumping of the Lions at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in place of the injured Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Miotti ran riot against the former South African powerhouses.
Finishing the match with a try, five conversions, a penalty and two try assists, the 23-year-old was sublime in an unexpectedly elongated showing from the bench to drive the Argentines to a first-up win.
Now sitting atop the overall table, Miotti could well be handed the playmaking duties for the foreseeable future as the Jaguares look to go one better than last year’s runners-up finish.
Losers
Blues
There was no doubt that leading into the opening weekend of Super Rugby, the team that was facing the most pressure to perform from the get-go were the Blues.
With a play-off drought lasting nine years and no championships to speak of since 2003, the Auckland club are desperate for a top eight finish, and a round one victory over the Chiefs would have done wonders to alleviate fears of yet another underwhelming campaign.
Despite only one of the four franchises being victorious, collectively the Australian performances indicate the @wallabies could field a strong side in 2020, writes @ArgyleSport. #SuperRugby https://t.co/KpB1tqcF4r
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2020
However, Leon MacDonald’s squad blew a 19-5 half-time lead to fall to a resurgent second half Chiefs side in front of their home crowd, setting a tone of mediocrity for the season ahead once again.
For the sake of their fans, one hopes that the embattled franchise can clinch a morale-boosting victory in Newcastle against a youthful Waratahs team.
Rebels
After missing out on a breakthrough play-offs appearance last season, the bar has been set high for the Rebels this year as they aim for a first-ever quarter-finals berth.
Tasked with dispatching a seemingly lowly Sunwolves outfit in round one, most felt that the Melbourne-based side had been dealt a favourable hand to kick their 2020 campaign off the right way, but their opponents had other ideas.
Without the experience of departed stars Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Adam Coleman, the Rebels were blown off the park by a Sunwolves team that had nothing to lose, and their aspirations of making the post-season took an early dent.
Head coach Dave Wessels said in the lead-up to the clash that Super Rugby is a competition for men, but it looks as though his squad still has a lot of growing up to do.
Hurricanes
With Beauden Barrett gone to the Blues, Ardie Savea out with a long-term knee injury, Dane Coles left to rest in New Zealand and John Plumtree a late withdrawal to link up with the All Blacks’ coaching staff, the Hurricanes looked worryingly rusty in Cape Town without their quartet of integral figures.
Not even the return of TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett could save the one-time Super Rugby champions, who severely lacked a clinical edge throughout their clash with the Stormers in hot conditions at Newlands.
Yellow cards to Vaea Fifita and Billy Proctor didn’t help their cause either, and Fletcher Smith’s quest to fill the gigantic boots of the older Barrett as the Hurricanes’ leading playmaker couldn’t have gone much more poorly.
A trip to Argentina to face the high-flying Jaguares beckons this week, and unless new head coach Jason Holland can find a quick-fix solution to the Hurricanes’ woes over the next few days, the Wellingtonians may have to wait until round three to pick up their first win of the year.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets 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?
11 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.
10 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.
11 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.
24 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.
10 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.
17 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 comments