Super Rugby’s wing subplot takes flight
signed the son of former Kiwi league prop John Lomax in September, there’s been talk of the former Melbourne Rebel being the next Carl Hayman. There were glimpses of his potential during Tasman’s Mitre 10 Cup campaign, but it’s fair to say he didn’t jump out of the television screen. Highlanders boss Roger Clark wouldn’t have signed him to a three-year deal if he didn’t believe in the 21-year-old.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
It’d be easy to say the defending champions and All Blacks-rich Crusaders. But let’s go out on a limb and say the words ‘‘All Blacks training camps’’ will be mud to coach Scott Robertson come the playoffs, and he probably won’t be the only one. Just don’t expect them to come out and say it if they have further ambitions in New Zealand. The Hurricanes won’t just top the NZ conference, they’ll nab the top seed.
5. Name your one wish for this season.
Parity. Wouldn’t it do the competition some good to see the South African and Australian teams matching it with NZ’s five teams? It’s likely wishful thinking – Lydia Ko will probably be through another four caddies before an Aussie team beats a Kiwi team – but Super Rugby is screaming out for more contests. And a cheeky second wish: that Steve Hansen’s All Blacks training camps don’t shaft any of the franchises (also wishful thinking). HURRICANES (Hamish Bidwell)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
Next to nothing. The Hurricanes possessed a titlewinning team then and they still have one now. There just isn’t the burden of being defending champs this time.
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
Looks like they’ve got 16 games, same as everybody else. You play who they put in front of you and, in the New Zealand conference, that means some fairly tough assignments. I’m just happy to see the Lions end up with three New Zealand teams on their schedule. Their saloon passage to the 2017 final was a stain on the competition.
3. The player to look out for this year?
Lock Sam Lousi. Most rugby players are huge these days, but Lousi’s always one that causes you to double-take. Immensely strong and sometimes explosive, he’s come on in leaps and bounds at the Canes. Loosehead prop Toby Smith is another worth keeping an eye on.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
Hurricanes. That’s obligatory, isn’t it? Otherwise the Crusaders. I’m not that sold on the others.
5. Name your one wish for this season.
To see head coach Chris Boyd leave for Northampton with the Super Rugby trophy under his arm. And – if I’m permitted a supplementary wish – having fired a few shots along the way. Hmm. I’d like that a lot. STRUGGLING to get enthused about a looming Super Rugby season as this long, hot summer lingers on? Well, here’s three words for you: right wing idol.
As New Zealand subplots for the southern hemisphere’s premier franchise competition go, the race among the thoroughbreds of the Kiwi game to prove themselves the best No 14 at Steve Hansen’s disposal, shapes as all sorts of compelling. Certainly a must-watch in this revamped competition for 2018.
Sure, it shouldn’t distract us from what shapes as another hugely competitive New Zealand conference, which will get under way next weekend when the Highlanders host the Blues at their glassed southern fortress on Friday night. That’s followed by the the revamped Chiefs visiting the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch 24 hours later.
But let’s set the scene: the All Blacks need to settle on a firstchoice right wing to partner superstar Rieko Ioane, who is an automatic selection on the left side. And let’s just say Hansen is not short on contenders.
Try these names for starters: Waisake Naholo, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea, Seta Tamanivalu and Matt Duffie. You can also bet dollars to donuts a contender or two will emerge from the young crop of speedsters starting out at this level.
It’s a riveting contest within the contest. Naholo is the incumbent and made a significant statement on the end-of-year tour, when he barely put a foot wrong, showing he had addressed his positional and defensive deficiencies and revealed himself as a real weapon over the ball, as well as with it in hand.
But before him Dagg, and before him Milner-Skudder, also did the job splendidly for Hansen, before injury pointed its fickle finger. And they both hold plenty of appeal with their experience, and fullback skill-set.
Savea is the interesting one. Just a few years ago he was the best wing in the game, a star of the 2015 World Cup triumph, before falling out of favour with the All Blacks brains trust.
He has been given a clear message around what he needs to do to make it back to the All Blacks mountaintop, and was handed the space in 2017 to set his plan in motion. The proof will be in the pudding this campaign and Hansen, for one, is intrigued.
‘‘It’s going to be interesting to see how Julian goes,’’ he told the Sunday Star-Times. ‘‘He’s had a really good break from the whole thing, and he’s saying all the right things. I’m sure he’ll play well.’’
It really is one of those problems any coach would love to have.
With so many quality wings contending for probably just two spots in the June squad (accepting Ioane is a selection certainty), it really is all going to come down to what unfolds in Super Rugby. And, remember, the All Blacks’ selectors pay a lot more attention to the back part of the competition than the front one.
There are other battles to watch. Who emerges as the third halfback? As third hooker? As Beauden Barrett’s back-up? And Kieran Read’s?
And how many New Zealand teams can squeeze into the finals now there are even more Kiwi derbies (eight, as opposed to six last season)? The Hurricanes look dangerous with that backline and such depth. But the Crusaders have re-found their mojo, and tend to win titles in bunches.
One word of warning: don’t expect it to be pretty from the start. With the pre-season so contracted, All Blacks only just back with their franchises, and temperatures decidedly tropical, we may have to wait a few weeks to really decide if this new-look competition really is as super as advertised.