Opening with a whimper
Low-key start to competition
OPINION: Love to meet the genius who opted to start the Super Rugby season with the Rebels and Blues.
Fair play to each team; they’ve no doubt trained hard and have hopes of being better than also-rans this year. But if I hadn’t been rostered on to blog it, there’s no way I’d be watching.
Thankfully there’s at least one game worth coming in from the barbecue for or switching over from the cricket.
Match of the round
All roads lead to Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Beyond producing superb rugby, clashes between the Highlanders and Chiefs have gone a reasonable way towards deciding the title, in recent seasons. Both teams will again be among the few with legitimate championship claims and the fact this is the end of the road for Aaron Cruden and Dave Rennie adds a layer of intrigue.
When you think of the Chiefs at their very, very best, you think Rennie and Cruden, although it’s been curious to note the way the latter has carried himself lately.
Cruden has won Super titles, a Rugby World Cup, presumably had a good time and been well-paid along the way. Be nice to see him enjoy this last season, rather than find fault with those who haven’t applauded his every step.
This week’s biggest yawn
Kings v Jaguares. The 4.15am (NZT) kickoff doesn’t help, but nor does what the Jaguares served up in year one of their existence. I think we all welcomed their inclusion and hoped they would be competitive and make the Argentine national side more formidable at the same time.
It could still happen. Adjusting to the rugby would have been a big enough stretch for the Jaguares, without the travel they confronted too. But this competition has to be about more than just New Zealand derbies.
He said what?
Quade Cooper’s been talking again. The trick now is for us to stop talking about him.
Cooper used to be a very good and, occasionally, thrilling player. He hasn’t been for years.
Doesn’t matter if it’s been with the Reds, his five-minute forays with Toulon and the Aussie sevens side or the umpteen Wallaby comebacks, Cooper has done next to nothing. Now he’s comparing this Reds team to the title-winning side of 2011.
Please.
Best punt
The Cheetahs, at $4.05 to beat the Lions. I don’t gamble myself, but this must be tempting to people who do.
The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup for what that’s worth - last year and the Lions are over-hyped. They were okay last year, losing 20-3 to the Hurricanes in the final. Those same Hurricanes beat the Lions 50-12 in Johannesburg earlier in the season, which was a fairer reflection of the calibre of the two teams.
Players such as the influential Elton Jantjies went on to have unhappy international seasons with the Springboks and it will be interesting to see if more teams work the Lions out this year.
Can’t wait to see
Waisake Naholo and Tevita Li. Naholo’s game is not without errors but his intent and workrate and the joy he plays with a hugely admirable.
Li is the latest player to leave the Blues in the hope of making his name in Dunedin and early reports indicate he’ll soon enjoy star billing. Throw in Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga and Ben Smith and watching the Highlanders ought to be fun.
The return of Nehe Milner-skudder for the Hurricanes has been put on ice after the All Black, who missed most of last season because of shoulder surgery, was ruled out of the Canes’ opening game against the Sunwolves with a hamstring complaint.