Super rugby It’s back
Drama is guaranteed in Super Rugby.
Some players’ reputations will be enhanced, and those lucky men will love every moment of what lies ahead. But there will also be those who cannot wait to dump their boots and hit the beach in some faraway location. Intoxicating victories, heartbreaking losses, painful injuries and grumpy coaches. It’s a colourful industry, for sure.
The 2019 edition of Super Rugby is hours away. Here’s some talking points ahead of round one.
1. You don’t have to drill too deep into the detail of the Blues-Crusaders game tomorrow night before striking gold.
Here’s why: New Blues coach Leon MacDonald was an assistant with the Crusaders, until he opted not to exercise the second year of his contract in 2018.
Less than a year later he joined their arch-rivals, the Blues, as an assistant. A few months later he was promoted ahead of his boss Tana Umaga. Former coaching buddies Scott Robertson and MacDonald, who also played alongside each other, are now rivals.
2. Can Super Rugby help save Australian rugby?
Until the Waratahs demolished the Highlanders in round 14 last year, the Aussie teams had collectively lost 40 games across three seasons to their Kiwi counterparts. It was terrible for the competition, and the reputation of a rugby nation that was once the envy of the world suffered. The attempted rise from the ashes must start now.
3. It was hard not to grin when Jaguares coach Mario Ledesma fed the media chooks following games last year.
Ledesma was a gritty geezer when he played, and his post-match assessments were often spot on.
Well, he’s gone. National duties beckon. His replacement is Gonzalo Quesada. There is also a new skipper is Jeronimo de la Fuente.
4. No, no, no. Maybe yes? Losing a final must hurt. Imagine dropping three in a row.
You suspect the Lions from Johannesburg might have burned-up all their chances, even with class operators such as Malcolm Marx, Warren Whiteley and Aphiwe Dyantyi contracted for another year.
The emotional toll of climbing to within inches of the pinnacle of Super Rugby, only to be pushed back down a scree slope, must take its toll. Self-doubt can be a killer.
5. Now’s not the time to pick holes in the Sunwolves’ policy of selecting so many overseas players.
Leave that for later. Anyway, here’s a list of some Kiwis in the Japanese-based team: Rene Ranger, Phil Burleigh, Michael Little, Jason Emery, Dan Pryor and Hayden Parker all go okay. And let’s not forget captain Michael Leitch, now the leader of the national side. Or their new coach, former All Black Tony Brown.
6. It won’t only be the Blues marketing team who are celebrating Ma’a Nonu’s return to the club (for a third time, no less).
Media types swooped in when the former All Blacks midfield ace was up for an interview recently, and said, in a roundabout way, he would like to push for a place in the World Cup squad.
Sonny Bill Williams must have enjoyed that. The presence of Nonu will possibly allow Williams to glide under the radar a bit more this season.
It will depend on Nonu’s form. If the 36-year old struggles, the expectation on Williams to hold the backline together will grow.
7. Speaking of Nonu and Williams . . .
They form a diminishing group of men from the 2011 All Blacks’ World Cup squad who are still involved in Super Rugby. The others are Stephen Donald, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks and Reds coach Brad Thorn.
8. While on the subject of 2011 . . .
That was the year the Reds won the title, with Will Genia and Quade Cooper up to all sorts of wonderful tricks at halfback and first five-eighth. And now the old firm will reunite in Melbourne with the Rebels. Good luck trying to rekindle memories of the glory days, boys.
9. Acclimatising to the heat isn’t difficult for the Sharks, given they are based in humid Durban.
Still, they may not be thrilled when sweating buckets during their game against the Sunwolves in muggy Singapore. Summer rugby in Asia? Madness. And the Sharks will have to do without talented No 10 Curwin Bosch who has a shoulder injury.
10. Last year the Chiefs proved their resilience by refusing to allow injuries to their props to drag them down.
Now they have been offered another bite of the cherry of misfortune. The Chiefs have had to name Orbyn Leger in the less familiar position of No 10. Tiaan Falcon has already been wiped out with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and the McKenzie brothers, Damian and Marty, have ankle and hip injuries. Jack Debreczeni (abdominal strain) is also unavailable.