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
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick 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.
30 Go to comments