Akira Ioane makes World Cup push
After a corruscating opening week of rugby action we are not going to chew on one or two topics, we are going for the fullon, 15 course, eat all you can, Super Buffet.
1.The Bulls are back The 40-3 annihilation of the Stormers was a signal that this is the best Bulls team since they last won the title in 2010. Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen and Handre Pollard have brought a backbone to a team that used to lose to the Sunwolves, for goodness sake. Superb lineout, damaging pace out wide and a great all-round kicking game, the Bulls could challenge for the title and underpin South Africa’s World Cup threat.
2. A big year for Aaron Smith Some of the All Blacks’ problems over the previous two years have been due to the decline of Smith since he was caught with his head up a toilet. But Smith may well be on the rise again. His performance off the bench turned round a game that the Highlanders were going to lose. The brilliant Smith put the Chiefs’ Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi firmly in his place and that place does not look like it should be Tokyo.
3. Goalkicking wobbles Whoa, what was going on with the finishers. Bernard Foley missed a simple goal to beat the Canes with an ugly hook to the left. Young Harry Plummer missed two chances to win the game for the Blues. Richie Mo’unga had blurred vision. The Chiefs’ missed kicks gave the Highlanders a way back. It’s a worry. Goal-kicking cost the All Blacks a series win against the Lions. It is also a skill that wins World Cups. The All Blacks and Australia need to up their games if there is to be a shoot-out against the likes of Pollard or Owen Farrell.
4. Rosko Specman storms Stormers I am not sure how many New Zealand fans would have seen the former Blitzbok sevens speedster burn the Stormers defence. But here is a guy who has not got a congested head from years of 15-man bash rugby. The All Blacks have had a stream of stars who have come from sevens and lit up the world game, the latest being Rieko Ioane. This weekend it was Specman’s turn with two tries in the opening 20 minutes. He was a joy to watch.
5. Irresponsible commentary I am dismayed by New Zealand commentators who fail to support referees around head contact. Glen Jackson correctly sent off Highlanders’ Sio Tomkinson for a dangerous tackle. The World Rugby directive is there for a good reason. But Justin Marshall thought the decision ‘‘incredibly harsh.’’ Mils Muliaina said ‘‘I don’t believe it was a red card.’’ Come on, guys. We need to get the tackle height down. We don’t want a generation of dementia. Sky has a responsibility here. Right now they are failing the families of New Zealand.
6. Akira Ioane looks the part Ioane was a monster for the Blues against the Crusaders. He looks to have done some serious conditioning in the off-season. The young No 8 was very impressive at the back of a retreating scrum, picking up the ball and getting the Blues off a perilous position on their goalline. Ioane manhandled Matt Todd on a couple of occasions, throwing him off like a piece of red fluff, and scored a sensational try. Is this the start of a serious push to the World Cup?
7. Rush defence One of the problems for the All Blacks is that they don’t see enough serious, high-quality rush defence in their own conference. The Chiefs and Highlanders stood off at times. Indeed the most impressive defence in the first round might well have come from the Bulls who really pushed up on the Stormers. Steve Hansen would probably like to see faster line-speed from New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams because the All Blacks will see enough of it at the World Cup.
8. Time to call time on the Sunwolves Amidst so much quality action the Sunwolves were again embarrassed, losing 45-10 in front of a crowd of under 5000 in Singapore. They have never won an opening match. Indeed they have only won six of their 47 Super Rugby games. They have shipped over 90 points to the Cheetahs and over 80 to the Canes. Assistant coach Scott Hansen said, ‘‘I’m really proud of the effort.’’ Hmm. At least Italy bring a weekend out in Rome to the Six Nations.
9. Handre Pollard is another 10 who no longer fears the All Blacks The Bulls No 10 put on a sublime performance against the Stormers. His goal kicking was majestic. There were also a couple of kicks in behind when he exploited a flat defence in the way Eddie Jones’ England have been able to do in the Six Nations. It was a complete performance from the man who led South Africa to two Under-20 World Cup finals, winning in 2012 and losing by a point two years later. Pollard looks like being a key figure in Japan.
10. Australia blow it again There was some better stuff from the Waratahs but just how did they manage to lose that game against the Canes. There are numerous correct answers to that one. A botched penalty kick. Ridiculous ill discipline at the scrummage, giving away successive penalties. And basic skills. Israel Folau is a man of many talents but he cost his team attacking position with a dropped pass and then a terrible decision to run the ball back turned over the most crucial possession of the game.
11. The captaincy of Patrick Tuipulotu The Blues have struggled with their leadership in recent seasons and the appointment of Tuipulotu is not the way forward. He failed a drugs test in France but was excused when the North American lab botched the ‘B’ sample. It’s not a good look.
12. Number 12 It is perhaps the key position that the All Blacks have to sort out before the World Cup. It cost them in 2003 when they did not promote a young Dan Carter and it cost them in 2007 when Aaron Mauger was mysteriously dispensed of. The skills of Anton Lienert-Brown were a joy at the weekend. But the All Blacks favour a basher. Ma’a Nonu had some powerful moments but he was also run around by Braydon Ennor. Sonny Bill Williams came on late but is a worry with injury and discipline. There are some defining weeks ahead.
13. Assistant refs and TMOs This area of the game simply has to improve. In the Blues v Crusaders game there was a shocking high tackle on Bryn Hall and the assistant ref just looked on. What was going on? Where was the protection? In the Chiefs v Highlanders game the TMO over-ruled the onfield decision of a try without clear and compelling evidence to do so. It looks poor and it is poor.
14. The incredible hulk It is a rich time for No 8s and despite the excellence of Akira Ioane, the standout at the weekend was Duane Vermeulen. He did what Billy Vunipola does for England. Vermeulen constantly hauled his team over the gain line with his leg drive and upper body strength. You could make a case for five Bulls (add Jesse Kriel and Lood de Jager) making the team of the weekend.
15. It’s showbiz baby I am not sure what you people think about these things but there were some strange looks going on in opening week. Haircuts were from a variety of odd eras. Was Tom Robinson’s tonsorial abundance even bigger than the shift he put in? And then there was the Marvel superhero outfits of the South African teams. The Bulls as Captain America beat up on Thor, with Spiderman triumphing in Argentina and Black Panther taking down Godzilla. How about the All Blacks in a black leather Black Widow catsuit? Hey, it’s gender inclusive. It must be the future.