Five talking points from the weekend’s action
Crusaders’ title defence looks shaky
A second-half fightback and near-miss against the Chiefs last weekend proved a flawed measuring stick in assessing the seven-time defending champions in their new era.
Already sporting injuries to some key personnel, they had been blown away early in Hamilton, and it was more like that on Saturday in the Super Round in Melbourne, where Rob Penney’s men crashed to a stunning defeat to the highly-unfancied Waratahs.
Young halves pairing Noah Hotham and Taha Kemara are highly-promising, but struggled to have any impact against a NSW side who operated with just 41% possession and had Jed Holloway as an absolute beast in applying massive pressure to Scott Barrett and making a real mess of the red and blacks’ lineout.
It’s the first time since 2014 that the Crusaders have started a season 0-2.
‘Stern Vern’ reigniting Sotutu
When Vern Cotter took over the Blues coaching reins, he wasted little time in declaring he wanted to roughen and toughen his forward pack. It seems no coincidence that his arrival has been coupled with a standout start to the season, then, for 2023 All Blacks discard Hoskins Sotutu.
After impressing in a two-try display last week, the 13-test No 8 was to the fore in a huge hat-trick effort in Friday’s win over the Highlanders, racking up game-high metres by a forward (67) and proving hugely forceful on the carry as he burst his way through goal-line defenders.
Moana and Tana have a win
Don’t rub your eyes when looking at the table, Moana Pasifika are ahead of the Crusaders.
They have won just three of their 28 games going into this season, and new coach Tana Umaga would have been buoyed by what he saw in a first-up defeat to the Highlanders, then elated, and relieved, as his side held off a fast-finishing Fijian Drua on Saturday.
This 10-try thriller showcased the very best of what this competition can be.
Rebels show stunning spirit
Painted against the backdrop of their offfield woes, and with a heavy defeat to the Brumbies first-up, it would have been so easy for the Rebels to roll over when they were 34-19 down after 50 minutes against the Force on Friday.
But the club, which is in administration and facing an uncertain future, had every reason to be delighted with a brilliant fightback which saw the Super Round hosts triumph 48-34 after a 29-0 burst over the final stretch.
It now makes for a big round-three game on Friday night against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton.
Super Round turns out semi-Super
It wasn’t so bad after all, was it, Super Round in Melbourne?
Firstly, there were some terrific games of footy, and even before yesterday’s games, the quartet of fixtures before that featured no fewer than 39 tries.
But the crowds? Well, 10,582 for Friday night and 11,231 on Saturday night don’t exactly scream success, though bear in mind the blockbuster competition opener between the Chiefs and Crusaders in Hamilton had drawn 16,119.
The Rebels’ fate may play a big part, but if the goal of growing the sport hasn’t been achieved in three years, would a fourth in Melbourne be the best option? Both New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia have signed MOUs with the Japan Rugby Football Union, so somewhere like there, with some deeper rugby interest, and plenty of commercial opportunities, could be one to ponder.