Three Super Rugby AU matchups to look out for in round one
Super Rugby AU makes its return on Friday, starting with two interesting clashes. First up is the Reds vs Waratahs – that Queensland vs New South Wales rivalry which is always a great spectacle.
Following the opener, the reigning champion Brumbies face the Western Force in Perth, as the hosts look to claim their first Super Rugby win since returning from rugby exile last year.
While there are so many great players who are set to take the park this week, here are three key matchups to look out for in round one.
James O’Connor (Reds) vs Will Harrison (Waratahs)
For the Waratahs to be a chance at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, they need both of their halves to perform. Considering the inexperience that the New South Wales outfit do have at the moment, they’ll need some direction from two talented players in captain Jake Gordon and 21-year-old Will Harrison.
While Gordon coming up against Tate McDermott is certainly a matchup to watch in itself, the battle of the 10s is arguably where this game could be won.
Last year, James O’Connor was one of the best players in Super Rugby AU. The 30-year-old was a great example last season for the younger players in the Reds squad. He scored the most points of any player and topped the charts for try assists as well, and was rightly given first crack at the Wallabies flyhalf job on the back of that.
Still, there’s plenty to like about Will Harrison.
His goal kicking is incredibly accurate, and his leadership around the park has come a long way since making his debut against the Crusaders last year.
If the game is close, then maybe Harrison can kick the Waratahs to a win – but if O’Connor can get the most out of an exciting Reds backline, then the home side might start their season off with a win.
Reds interim captain O’Connor has the edge over Harrison in my view.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1362566609026437121
Rob Kearney (Force) vs Tom Banks (Brumbies)
There is plenty to like about the Force this season, having added plenty of international experience to their ranks.
Tevita Kuridrani is a massive pick up for the Force, as are Los Pumas players Tomas Cubelli and Santiagio Medrano, to name just a few. Cubelli will, of course, be coming up against his old club if he takes the field off the bench.
But, without a doubt, the addition of Ireland test veteran Rob Kearney is the most intriguing. The 34-year-old will surely have a significant impact on the club both off the field as well as on it, having been named to start at fullback on Saturday.
Speaking to RugbyPass earlier this month, Force utility back Jack McGregor commented on Kearney’s impact.
“Personally, having a guy like Rob come in especially, he’s one of the most decorated players. It’s been brilliant for me,” McGregor said. “It’s an opportunity for me to learn and get better myself, and just pick his brain at certain things.”
Kearney has played at World Cups, represented the British and Irish Lions (2009 and 2013), and had a decorated career with Ireland. Seeing him take the field in Super Rugby AU with the Western Force is going to get plenty of attention.
But his opposite is one of Australia’s premier fullbacks in Tom Banks, a player who is very elusive and quick off the mark.
For both players, this matchup will be an exciting challenge.
While Kearney is great, truly a legend of Irish rugby, I’d expect Banks to have the better of him on Friday. That’s not to say that Kearney won’t have his moments, I’m sure he will, but Banks is simply on the cusp of his prime.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1362547093949145091
Tevita Kuridrani (Force) vs Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
In many ways, this matchup writes itself.
Tevita Kuridrani was a regular of the Brumbies starting XV for years, right up until he left the club. However, shortly after starting at outside centre in the Super Rugby AU final in Canberra last year, it was announced that the 29-year-old had put pen to paper with the Force.
He did face some pressure last year though, with up-and-coming talent Len Ikitau named in Dave Rennie’s 44-man Wallabies squad – a squad Kuridrani missed out on.
Ikitau only played five matches in last year’s Super Rugby AU campaign for the Brumbies, all off the bench. But with the man who scored a try in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final heading west, the No. 13 jersey in Canberra is now all but Ikitau’s.
Ikitau has showed glimpses of what he can do at Super Rugby level, crossing for a try against the Force last year, while also proving himself to be reliable in defence.
The two have both been named to start, and will go head to head in round one of the new season.
Kuridrani will be one of the Force’s most important players this year, and a big game from him against his more inexperienced opposite could go a long way to securing an upset win in front of the Perth crowd.
I don’t think it’s out of the realms of possibility either to suggest that with consistent showings across the entirety of Super Rugby AU, either one of these players could be back in the Wallabies fold soon.
Plenty of talent at centre for both teams, but for me, the experience and poise of Kuridrani sees him claim the edge here.
Honourable mention – Brynard Stander (Force) vs Pete Samu (Brumbies)
All these matchups are battles of the backline, I know, but they are all so important to the games this weekend. However, Brynard Standard vs Pete Samu is going to be another interesting battle; two players who offer plenty around the field, including of course their physicality in defence and around the breakdown – but they also run hard.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pick 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.
15 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?
4 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.
4 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 🤐
15 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….
15 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!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 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 commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments