Crusaders loom as complete package
It all begins up front and the Crusaders' pack remains without peer.
OPINION: This was meant to run in order from first to last.
Waffle on about what’s good about Team A and then go on to Team B and so on. But, far out, you would be burying the angle if you didn’t mention the Blues up top.
The mighty Blues fell years ago, but the shock is in how far the former Super Rugby powerhouses keep being allowed to plummet. The Blues look embarrassingly bad for 2018 and it’s a stain on New Zealand Rugby (NZR) that the situation continues.
If the Blues can’t organise themselves, in terms of signing quality, proven coaches and can’t assemble a competitive playing roster then, for the credibility of the national game, NZR ought to do it for them. We can’t have teams from other countries being culled while the side from New Zealand’s largest city remains in such a sorry state. But I digress.
What the Blues wouldn’t give for Mike Delany, whose addition to the champion Crusaders’ line-up cements their status as this country’s most complete looking side.
It all begins up front and the Crusaders’ pack remains without peer. When you can pick from Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Tim Perry, Joe Moody and Wyatt Crockett then you’re going to be competitive against most opponents.
Delany, the former All Black, Highlander and Chief, will add a huge amount of leadership and nous off the park, but also an ability to start certain games at first five-eighth. More than that, Delany can be a terrific finisher on occasions when Richie Mo’unga has already got the Crusaders in front.
In terms of pure talent, the Hurricanes’ squad will take some beating. If everyone stayed fit and played to their potential then they could win every game by at least 20 points. It’s a big ’’if’’ though.
For all the ability, it’s men such as lock Sam Lousi and props Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Toby Smith, Ben May and Chris Eves who’ll determine what the Hurricanes end up doing.
Damian McKenzie looms as the key man at the Chiefs. With Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, James Lowe and Michael Leitch among the departed players - along with coach Dave Rennie - the new first five-eighth is going to carry a huge leadership burden. Never mind just making the move up from fullback.
Having the world-class quartet of Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Nepo Laulala and Kame Hames in the pack will be a help but McKenzie and the, likely, midfield pairing of Charlie Ngatai and Anton Lienert-Brown are going to need to play well.
Down in Dunedin, coaxing performances from a few unheralded forwards is again going to be the Highlanders’ challenge. Former Rebels and Australia under-20 tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax is an interesting addition. He can carry, as you’d expect from the son of ex-Kiwis and Canberra rugby league prop Johnny Lomax, but needs to prove he can scrummage too.
Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga and Aaron Smith will be lethal on the days when everything clicks.
Which leaves us with the Blues. There’s the usual individual brilliance in the backs, but hooker James Parsons, prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and lock Patrick Tuipulotu need to have huge seasons if the Blues are going to fire a shot.