Canes impress, Crusaders less so
If you had the Hurricanes as your only undefeated team through the first three weeks of Super Rugby Pacific ‘24, stand up and give yourself a pat on the back. And if you also had perennial champs the Crusaders as one of only two winless teams, you are a dead-set rugby savant.
But that’s the upshot of an intriguing opening to the 2024 season which has thrown up some entertaining footy, a swag of upsets and an encouraging competitiveness across the board, highlighted by a third round in which five of the six contests were decided by single-figures, and the Fijian Drua’s 10-point triumph over the Crusaders in Lautoka was the largest margin of victory.
With the accent on a fast game that flows freely, and teams still searching for an early-season rhythm, there has been plenty to take in through the opening trio of rounds. Here are five big takeaways from the season so far:
Penney spent – is this the end of the Crusaders dynasty?
Rob Penney must be wondering what he’s done to upset the rugby gods as he embarks on his second stint coaching in this competition. An 0-3 start has his red-and-blacks wedged firmly between a rock and hard place, and the boss coming under some fairly intense scrutiny.
Penney took over a Crusaders outfit that had sashayed to seven straight championships under Scott Robertson, and had mastered the art of winning rugby.
Of course, he has lost some key players, notably talismanic No 10 Richie Mo’unga and workhorse lock Sam Whitelock, as well as key backs Leicester Fainga’anuku and midfielder Jack Goodhue, who have all exited the programme.
Throw in veteran hooker Codie Taylor taking a big chunk of the season off, world-class fullback Will Jordan out for the entire campaign with shoulder surgery and dynamic loosie Ethan Blackadder sidelined with a calf injury, and there has been a changing of the guard in title town.
Then there’s Penney’s situation. He has now lost eight straight matches in Super Rugby, after being sacked as Waratahs head coach in 2021 when they started the AU competition 0-5. The Tahs went 11-24 in two and a-half problematic seasons under the Kiwi.
Penney must quickly snap this losing skid. There is still hope, with a low bar for quarterfinal qualification, and plenty of games still to come.
But the new coach needs a victory, as much for his own self-assurance, as to halt the rot. Wouldn’t you know it, the unbeaten Hurricanes are up next in Christchurch on Friday night. If this season is to be saved, you have to think it starts right now.
Hurricane warning in the capital
On the other side of the coaching coin, you have former New Zealand men’s sevens chief Clark Laidlaw at the Hurricanes entitled to think: what is all the fuss about?
Laidlaw came in for his first Super Rugby experience with his challenges, having to make do without Ardie Savea and long-serving Dane Coles, and taking over a side that had been just a smidgeon off the pace last year.
But they have barely missed a beat in ‘24, thumping the Force first up in Perth, edging the Reds in overtime in Melbourne and then upsetting a quality Blues side in the capital last Saturday. That latter performance, especially, showcased this young Canes outfit’s willingness to take the game to their highly rated rivals.
Early movers among All Blacks contenders
Robertson has some holes to fill in the national team this year, especially with Japan-based Savea, Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett unlikely to be considered for England in July.
And though it’s too early to draw conclusions, the first three rounds have thrown up some interesting names who have to at least be getting attention.
Top of that list has to be Canes fullback Ruben Love who has made a blistering start to the season. He’s young, and on the small side, but his movement, workrate, athleticism and creativity have him skyrocketing up the depth chart, probably ahead of the likes of Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) and Zarn Sullivan (Blues).
Others have offered compelling early cases. Hoskins Sotutu has made the big move at No 8, Stephen Perofeta has looked quality for the Blues at No 10 and shapes as a compelling alternative to Damian McKenzie, while Can Roigard’s virtuoso display in Wellington on Saturday surely has him atop the halfback pecking order, ahead of Folau Fakatava.
Cotter’s selection blues
Vern Cotter has forgotten more about coaching than some in the Kiwi game have ever learned. But even the old dogs get it wrong now and again.
The new Blues coach took a risk in going with a 6-2 reserves split against the Hurricanes last round, and it backfired badly as early head knocks to Sullivan and AJ Lam left his backline in disarray.
He also continued to rotate his players, with Caleb Clarke and Ofa Tu’ungafasi left out, and Sotutu dropped to the bench. The result was a jumbled effort, a first loss of the year and a coach given a bit to think about.
Aussies on the rise?
Are the Aussie sides finally figuring a few things out about Super Rugby? Again, it’s early, but indications are positive.
So far they’ve won two of six transTasman fixtures (factoring out the Drua and Pasifika) and it would appear the Brumbies, Reds, Waratahs and even Rebels are all genuinely competitive sides.
Long may it continue.
Tim Southee has defended his decision not to use offspinner Glenn Phillips earlier on in another frustrating test loss to Australia.
New Zealand were again left to wonder what might have been, botching an opportunity to snap their long home test drought against Australia.
Phillips, who has been impressive with the ball this home summer, was given just one over before lunch. He was a handful in the second session, holding down an end for New Zealand and causing problems for the Australia batters.
That allowed skipper Southee to use his quicks in short spells from the other end with the older ball as New Zealand desperately hunted a breakthrough.
Phillips was a real threat, despite finishing wicketless from his 12 overs in the second innings.
Southee stood by his decision not to turn to him earlier in the first session, when he could have been a handful and stemmed the flow of runs.
Australia scored at a quick rate in the first session through Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey. As a side, they added 97 runs in the 19-over session at 5.11 per over.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the amount of times we went past the bat in that first session we felt seam was the option,” Southee said.
“We created a few chances through that first session. I think we felt that seam was the right move in that first session.”
New Zealand were left to rue a costly dropped catch to start the day. Rachin Ravindra put down Marsh on 28 at backward point off the first ball of Southee’s opening over.
They weren’t helped either, effectively only operating with four bowlers in the second innings. Scott Kuggeleijn, the fourth seamer, bowled just three overs yesterday, struggling to make an impact, while also appearing to battle through a foot issue.
Kuggeleijn bowled just nine overs in the test and despite contributing a handy 44 with the bat in the second dig, offered little with the ball. At 32, New Zealand would probably be wiser to look at other younger options moving forward.