Super Rugby Round 15 Preview Part 1
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The 2014 Super Rugby finalists meet for the first time since that tightest of clashes and ANZ Stadium in Sydney could see one of the games of the season. Preceding that match are the Friday matches between the Chiefs and Bulls, both very much in contention for the play-offs, and the Reds and Sharks, both out of contention, and on Saturday, the Blues could take a big step to salvaging their season by beating the Hurricanes, the log leaders by some distance.
Chiefs v Bulls
The Chiefs were one of the teams who felt the match officials did them wrong
last weekend in their narrow defeat to the Hurricanes, but the Bulls were awful
in losing to the struggling Blues and could have no complaints. This game is
crucial to both teams heading towards the six-team qualifiers. The Chiefs
continuity skills are excellent and they score exciting tries; allowing the
Bulls few chances to kick at goal could be decisive. The Bulls have vacillated
between exciting and competent and frustratingly ordinary, and will be aiming
at an all-round upgrade on last week’s mediocrity.
Key players:
For the Chiefs, Anton Lienert-Brown in the continued absence of Sonny Bill
Williams, future All Black Damian
McKenzie, getting a second consecutive chance to start at 10, and their locks,
Johan Bardoul and either Michael Fitzgerald or Ross Filipo – because their
second row is a potential weakness. For the Bulls, Handré Pollard is the
kingpin, usually outstanding but below his best last week; and hooker Callie Visagie,
standing in for Adriaan Strauss.
The big match-ups:
Lienert-Brown vs Jan Serfontein at 12. Openside flanks Sam Cane vs Deon
Stegmann. In the scrums, Ben Tameifuna vs Trevor Nyakane.
Reds v Sharks
After what was descending into annus horribilis, the Reds scored 46 points in smashing the Rebels last week. John Connolly’s Reds may turn out to be a more astutely selected, more confident, more efficiently executing team than before Richard Graham was given a supervisor. The Sharks, of whom so much was expected but who have delivered so little, need more than another show of effort and commitment – right now they need to finish a game with more points than the opposition. The Sharks have been creating more opportunities to score, and actually finishing what they are creating would turn it all around for them.
Key players:
For the Sharks, halves Lionel Cronje and Stefan Ungerer. With Patrick Lambie
injured, shouldn’t they play Francois Steyn at flyhalf? Bismarck du Plessis has
been excellent since his suspension, but Springboks Jannie du Plessis, Beast
Mtawarira, and Willem Alberts need to make more impact. For the Reds, the usual
group of stars: James O’Connor, Karmichael Hunt, Will Genia, and their
excellent flank duo, Liam Gill and Adam Thomson.
The big match-ups:
At 9, kid vs grandmaster, Ungerer vs Genia. At hooker, James Hanson vs Bismarck
du Plessis. At 13, Hunt vs JP Pietersen.
Blues v Hurricanes
The Blues took a step towards redemption, and perhaps towards saving Sir John Kirwan’s coaching career, when they beat the Bulls, but the Blues coaching conundrum remains unresolved with a deeply divided boardroom exacerbating the sad debacle. Since the Blues lie 13th on the ladder out of 15 teams, with 20 log points from 13 matches, and the Hurricanes are top of the pile with 52 log points from 12 games, 13 points clear of the second-placed team, a win for the Blues at Eden Park would represent their triumph of the year. The Hurricanes will aim at five log points, but need to guard against complacency, with the wounded Blues having shown plenty of spirit last weekend.
Key players:
For the Blues, new captain James Parsons, centre pair George Moala and Francis
Saili, and outstanding prospects Akira Ioane (at 8 this week) and flank Blake
Gibson, both still under 20. With Conrad Smith on All Black rest, Rey Lee-Lo as
replacement 13 and Jeremy Thrush as stand-in captain take on crucial roles for
the Hurricanes.
The big match-ups:
Ioane vs Victor Vito. Parsons vs Dane Coles at hooker. At 9, Jamison Gibson-Park
vs TJ Perenara.
Waratahs v Crusaders
Neither of these teams has lived up to the expectations they have of themselves or of their supporters, with an unhappy mixture of performances of real class and displays of abject underachievement. On the official ladder, last year’s winners lie sixth and the runners-up ninth. The coaches and players appear not to know themselves what level of performance to expect from week to week. Their inconsistency is such that either team could play superbly and win well, but either could disappoint again and be dreadful. Both teams have the class in their squads to be 2015 Super Rugby champions, but the Waratahs have a small catch-up and the Crusaders a big catch-up to accomplish.
Key players:
For the Waratahs, Taqele Naiyaravoro for powerful attacking sorties, Adam Ashley-Cooper
for consummate class, and Kurtley Beale, who needs to lift his performance and
play to his brilliant potential. For the Crusaders, Mitchell
Drummond, starting at 9 with Andy Ellis relegated to the reserves; Richie McCaw
starting at openside; Dan Carter, still at 12, not yet at 10.
The big match-ups:
Two eagerly anticipated clashes: the brilliant Fijian wings, Naiyaravoro vs Nemani
Nadolo, and openside king McCaw vs openside crown prince Michael Hooper.
