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The weekend’s action busted four myths that have been pervading Super Rugby this year.
Myth 1: Damian McKenzie commands a spot in the All Blacks
The little Chiefs wunderkind is many things: a precociously brilliant strike weapon from the back. One of the most adept and courageous bomb diffusers in Super Rugby. Lightning quick of both foot and mind. Fearless in contact, both with and without the ball. A more than handy goal kicker.
And, perhaps just as importantly to all this, seemingly in possession of a very level head.
However, one thing he is not is ready to waltz into the All Blacks, as many pundits are suggesting.
That he will be an All Black one day almost goes without saying. However, the Chiefs’ tight win against the Sharks in The ‘Naki – a game of near Test-match intensity and ‘tense-ity’ – on Friday demonstrated why he’s ready to usurp neither Ben Smith as the All Blacks 15 or Beauden Barrett as the five-eighth-fullback super sub.
It wasn’t as though McKenzie had an off night, indeed he was typically electric on a number of occasions, it was just that he was unusually inaccurate on too many others.
I counted at least three missed tackles, most notably a despairing effort that failed to stop impressive young pivot Garth April’s inaugural Super try.
There were some uncharacteristic handling errors and a couple of misreads on attack, including a mix up busting onto a wide pass from blockbusting No.8 Michael Leitch. That one, in particular, could be put down to youthful exuberance. But it’s a mark of top-tier Test players that they become more, not less, patient as the heat comes on.
Witness Ben Smith’s considered performance against the Brumbies on a wet Invercargill Saturday night (incidentally McKenzie’s hometown). The All Black incumbent displayed a classy, calm assuredness (tiny knock-on notwithstanding) that has made him one of the first names Steve Hansen jots down on his team sheet each year, likewise the armchair army of World XV selectors.
McKenzie’s youthful impetuousness is a large reason why his dizzying skillset has been so evident this season. He’ll just need to take a leaf out of Larry David’s book and curb that enthusiasm – just a tad – with more calculated play, before he takes the next, inevitable step.
Myth 2: The Bulls are all power and no panache
This myth was rooted in fact, but not this year.
The men from Pretoria are an out-and-out ensemble, total rugby playing team in 2016.
Think Highlanders – only bigger.
This was no better exemplified than the length-of-the-field effort that resulted in man of the match Jan Serfontein’s try in the 42-20 rout of the hapless Force.
Fullback SP Marais fielded a kick not far in front of his own sticks, thought about kicking, slipped a bit, before unleashing the ball that went through eight sets of hands to send the Springbok centre over at the other end of the field.
A Bulls fullback in that situation in any other year would have attempted to kick the synthetic leather off the ball as first exit option, but not this crop.
They’re as adept with the rapier as they are the broadswords to cut shreds in their opposition. A particular feature of their game is the off-load (Sonny Bulls, anyone?). The deft backflip, inches off the ground, from straggly haired giant lock RG Snyman to send promising young No.8 Henro Liebenberg over for his try, was a particular doozy.
Indeed, the Bulls, with 12, out-offloaded the Force four to one. Undefeated since their first-up loss to the Stormers, the Kiwi-like, wide-ranging approach is clearly working.
Such a shame then they will not face a solitary New Zealand side in their cross-conference fixtures this year.
Myth 3: Michael Hooper is the worst No.7 in Australian Super Rugby
“I reckon at the moment he is number five open-side flanker in Australia. He’s gone from being an absolutely outstanding player to what I think is a total non-event.”
That was former World-Cup winning Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer’s frank assessment a couple of weeks ago.
Hooper would have enjoyed ramming those words down Dwyer’s throat with an emphatic performance against the Stormers on Sunday morning (AEST). The Tahs skipper was everywhere, including the scoresheet, burrowing over for the match winner two minutes from time.
Hooper also made a mockery of Dwyer’s assertion that he doesn’t “contest any ball on the ground”.
The openside fulfilled his fetcher JD to the letter as a constant on-ball pest, clearly enjoying the muscular efforts of fellow loosies Jed Holloway and Dean Mumm to allow him the breakdown focus.
Maybe the wily old Waratahs coach of yore was hoping his taunts would elicit such a response from the Wallaby incumbent? Who knows, he may even have colluded with his old charge at Randwick Michael Cheika, in on the ploy to get Hooper’s A-game back. Whatever the means, they seem justified by the ends.
Myth 4: The Waratahs scrum is a pushover
Sort of busted – you’re only as good as your next scrum. But with Tatafu Polota-Nau back in a beefed up pack, the Tahs enjoyed parity, then ascendency with the impressive eight-man shove that sent the Stormers back to whence they came and led directly to Hooper’s match winner in the dying stages.
If they can continue to work from a decent platform there’ll be no end to what the Berand Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau combo will cook up.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.