No surprises coming from Down Under
SUALLY in a post-world Cup year there is significant player movement to Europe but in New Zealand and Australia this time it has been more a case of heavy traffic between the franchises.
Take the Hurricanes and the Brumbies, for instance, who each lost eight internationals to rival teams because of internal ructions last year that have resulted in players re-launching their careers elsewhere as well the new coaches sweeping out disaffected team members.
In addition and in Australia in particular, the cheque book has triumphed over loyalty and some big name Wallabies have traded allegiances. Fullback Kurtley Beale departing the Waratahs for the Rebels and utility back James O’connor joining the same team from the Force, are prime examples.
But the bottom line is that not much has changed in the overall balance of power, and in both countries
Uthere remain two teams substantially ahead of the other three. The Crusaders and the Blues are clearly ahead of the Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes (probably in that order), while the reigning champions, the Reds, and their bitter rivals, the Waratahs, are miles in front of the Brumbies, Rebels and Force (again in that order).
The Crusaders will start the season without their two best players in captain Richie Mccaw (back in May from a foot injury) and Dan Carter (back in March after groin surgery) but they are a team with incredible mental toughness, as we saw last year when they made the final despite playing all of their matches away from home.
They are back in Christchurch and have most of their 2011 squad intact, apart from locks Brad Thorne and Chris Jack (both in Japan).
The Blues’ backline has been considerably strengthened by the drama at the Hurricanes and welcome World Cup-winning All Blacks Ma’a Nonu (centre) and Piri Weepu (scrumhalf/flyhalf) to their ranks.
They have serious firepower when you add in wing/centre Rene Ranger, fullback Ice Toeava and wing Rudi Wulf (back from France).
The Chiefs are looking for a new beginning after parting with Ian Foster, the coach for the last eight years, and they have imported a superstar of their own in Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders) and the highly promising flyhalf Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes). The problem once again is a tight five that last year failed to give enough good ball to a dangerous backline.
The Highlanders are into their second season under popular coach and former All Black Jamie Joseph and are the New Zealand squad showing the most consistency from last year.
They have had their share of Hurricanes imports, notably hooker An- drew Hore and wing Hosea Gear, while England No 8 James Haskell is an interesting addition.
The Dunedin team’s perennial problem is no solid depth to underpin a meaningful challenge.
Which brings us to the Hurricanes. Last year new coach Mark Hammett, the former Crusaders stalwart hooker, could not get the older players to buy into a new (Crusadersstyle) culture he tried to install, resulting in a mass exodus. With a clean slate and a new squad, Hammett will try again but no team that has had such a radical overhaul can expect to be immediately successful.
Across the Tasman Sea, Reds coach Ewen Mckenzie has managed to keep intact virtually the same squad that won the title last year.
Nobody of consequence has departed and halfbacks Will Genia and Quade Cooper will again be the generals in charge of super-charged, energetic troops that play the game at a frantic pace. They are a good bet to defend their title.
The Waratahs have treaded water from last season, losing some big names but also gaining some talented players from their rivals.
Versatile Wallaby back Adam Ashley-cooper (Brumbies) is a valuable signing, as is Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius (the top try scorer in the competition last year), while the pack will be beefed up by Rocky Elsom (Brumbies) and Dan Vickerman (France).
This is countered by the loss of prop Al Baxter (retired), flank Ben Mowen (Brumbies), flank Phil Waugh (retired), centre Ryan Cross (France), Kurtley Beale (Rebels) and scrumhalf Luke Burgess (France).
Jake White will start as coach at the Brumbies with a brand new squad.
Gone are big names in AshleyCooper, lock Mark Chisholm, Elsom, flyhalf/centre Matt Giteau (France), No 8 Stephen Hoiles, wing Frances Fainifo, prop Salesi Ma’afu, scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs, flanker Julian Salvi and scrumhalf Josh Valentine. White has been quick to talk down expectations for the Canberra team, and he has good reason to as he starts from scratch.
The Rebels will put bums on seats with the addition of O’connor and Beale, but they just don’t have the firepower up front to win many games.
Still a very new team, most of the players they have been able to attract are has-beens (they have 15 internationals but only four played Test rugby in 2011). And two of their best players from last year, scrumhalf Sam Cordingley and prop Greg Somerville, have retired.
The Force have been hard hit by the departure of their two best backs in O’connor and their Player of the Year, wing David Smith, the nuggety New Zealander.
They still have arguably the world’s best flank in Musina-born David Pocock and stalwart lock Nathan Sharpe, but they are islands in a sea of mediocrity.
pendent
Sunday Inde-