We’re heading into what will be a very interesting Super Rugby season with a number of important questions on the table: most importantly, will the Australian sides finally break away from their defensive mentality and show us some real attacking rugby?
Rugby at this level is very much a team sport.
Most of our Super Rugby sides have a couple of star players, but the problems they’ve faced in previous years is that they haven’t all played as a tight unit. Instead, the Australian sides have tended to take the defensive option with the fear of making a mistake.
This is where our teams contrast with a side like the Crusaders, who set the benchmark for effective team play.
If one of the Crusaders stars, like Dan Carter, for instance, has an off day, someone else will step up and take charge. This is the formula for winning rugby and it’s been disapointing that Australian sides haven’t risen to the challenge.
The exception, of course, are the Reds, who were the standout team last season. But even then, they largely rode on the backs of Quade Cooper and Will Genia for much of the competition, and with Cooper out injured, they will find it very difficult to win back-to-back titles.
Their opponents this weekend, the Waratahs, have been dissaponting in recent seasons.
They offer a lot, but generally provide little, especially in the way of exciting, attacking rugby. Teams have a responsibility to play entertaining rugby to keep the crowds coming back, and on this front, the Waratahs have been very poor.
They often play stupid rugby, as if they’re trying to work out which patterns they want to play while they’re on the field. Much of this is due to the Waratahs’ forwards, who tend to want to dominate. This is a legacy of Phil Waugh’s captaincy.
The backs weren’t getting quality ball, and as a result, they’ve been afraid to try new things. And that is counter-productive in modern rugby.
You need to be able to try things without worrying too much about what happens if they go wrong. The Waratahs backs, in particular, have been scared to try things, fearing that the opposition will capitalize. With Barnes at 10, the waratahs have a great opportunity to change all that but Barnes must have the support of the players around him and the team must think the same. If this doesn’t happen, Barnes will be under pressure to play a defensive role which is what they should avoid.
Hopefully this season the team will focus more on scoring tries than winning by kicking goals. When New South Wales rugby is strong, the Wallabies are strong. So it’s crucial that they lift their game this season.
The Rebels have some good attacking players, Beale and O’Connor in particular. But it remains to be seen if they have the combinations in place to work as a team. They haven’t got the forward pack they need, especially now they’ve lost Greg Sommerville, which was a big blow.
Most games these days are won up front. And while the Rebels have great individuals, as a team, it might take another year or two until they find their feet.
The case of O’Connor is a curious one: he wants to play closer to the action, and he keeps telling people that. But his best position is on the wing. When he comes in closer, he actually puts the defense under less pressure. He gets the ball and he’s isolated. He needs room to move in to utilise his natural speed.
Both the Force and the Brumbies will struggle.
It’s going to be difficult for Jake White. It’s a unique culture down there in Canberra, and the Brumbies have always had a chip on their shoulder. They need a mix of experience and youth, but I don’t think they have the old heads to do it.
Not much has changed in rugby since I played. Most teams have the same backline movements. It’s going to take an Australian team to make bold changes, to take some risks, and to throw caution to the wind for them to really stand out in 2012.
This is the first of a new exclusive weekly column by David Campese for The Roar.
zackh
Guest
Well, everyone would know that the only reason All Blacks won the world cup was because of Home ground advantge...or else France would have beaten them...
peterlala
Guest
Canterbury fans are known for being one-eyed. guiness14, it's good to see you are honouring that tradition.
Justin
Guest
Knock yourself out...
Rugbug
Guest
Your certainly placing some faith in the Canes Suzy they'rte my pick for the wooden spoon this year
Rugbug
Guest
I will also be reminding him if it does eventuate. In saying that I've laid it all out on the line so if they do deliver I will be in for one hell of a tirade, but hey why pussyfoot around lay it out there for everyone to know. Sadly many here at the Roar will wait until the seasons nearly finished and then they will start talking about how they knew the Force would top the table how could they not etc etc, it happens all the time on these forums Then again Still, Justin here also believes you can not judge a team by their previous season...........
stillmatic1
Guest
i hope you remember your last sentence throughout the year, justin. i may bring it up everytime your team loses and you spout on about the maybes, what ifs and whats!
soapit
Guest
yeah its all very well if you've got the ability of campo but the mere mortals would be worried about being dropped if they made too many clangers going for the big play week after week. this is what all greats forget that not everyone is capable of doing what they consider even a par performance
soapit
Guest
check the trophy mate, it doesnt mention the crusaders heroics, only who won the comp.
soapit
Guest
this is the australian coach who is dyed in the wool crusader man. means very little when you think about it.
NF
Guest
'then those two other codes would be contemplating the sunset.' KPM you're dreaming but keep up the delusions you & johnno tend to one-up each other in who can come up with the most laughable statements no wonder why you agree so much with each other.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Rugbug, Pretty good prediction, however I think the Tahs are already struggling with injury, and depth. The Reds may have established a winning culture, but without Quade will struggle with a tough draw, So far have been very very lucky with injuries. Quade was the first big injury, and I believe their luck will run out, and they will not make the top six, this year. I disagree about your view on the Saffa teams. I predict there will be three Saffa sides in the top six. The Sharks, Stormers and Bulls in that order. My surprise packages this year, will be the Blues, Lions, Brumbies and the Bulls. I reckon the Blues are going to top the log. The Lions and Brumbies are going to shock some teams, and so are the Bulls. All and sundry are writing off the Bulls chances, but the Bulls have recruited some incredible up and coming talent, Names like centre, John Sadie, that Australians and New Zealanders have not heard of. 1. Blues 2. Sharks 3. Crusaders 4. Stormers 5. Tahs 6. Bulls 7. Reds 8. Chiefs 9. Lions 10. Brumbies 11. Highlanders 12. Canes 13. Force 14. Cheetahs 15. Rebels
Rugbug
Guest
Sheek, Maybe you should read what I wrote? No where have I whined about rugby being trumped by AFl or League I am a fan of all three codes. I simply acknowledged a curiosity or question and thankfully Cattery took notice and gave a well informed reply to that question. The comment I made was it is amazing how two local codes that lets face it don't have any real international reputation of note have pulled the Aces in regards to fan base and playing numbers in Australia oppossed to Rugby which is an international sport and can boast one of the largest sporting events in the world. Sure league has superstars within the game in Australia / NZ and England however the global appeal and recognition of Rugby is much wider. KPM makes the argument that Australia needs more teams I counter that by saying they are not competitive with the teams they have now why would you want to dilute it further. I think a semi pro or pro domestic league is what Australia needs to make a decent inroads into the player and fan base of the two dominant football codes, again of which both I like. I do not get into code wars as I like most sports League is definitely up there for me just slightly behind Union, AFl I don't follow so much as I live in NZ however I still respect the game from my time living in Melbourne. So in essence Sheek lets make this clear I am not advocating for rugby to be the great sport of Australia i'm just intrigued that a wider global sport is such a niche game, Then agian like I mentioned above Soccer the biggest sport on the planet struggles in Australia and NZ for air.
Rugbug
Guest
Jiggles you do realise its a 6-7 hour drive from Christchurch to Nelson and by the time a night super rugby match is finished in all likeliness the last flight out of Nelson to Christchurch would long since have departed
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
NF yes absolutely; if rugby halved its playing squads, kept the best half in the existing teams and the others in 5 new teams per conference, allowed more foreign imports and plundered the NRL, allowed private rich owners and moved into north America and Japan, then those two other codes would be contemplating the sunset.
NF
Guest
'There is nothing inevitable about the dominance of the NRL and AFL: it is rugby’s in competence that allows them to still exist in such health.' lol so by your logic the moment Rugby goes competent there goes AFL/NRL out the window, 100+years of culture and history of the professional teams and supporters and bam we all love our rugger LOL.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Rugbug, NF, Sheek and The Cattery, sorry for the slow reply but I wasn't able to get to the computer for a long while. The dominance of the NRL and AFL is simply because they were professional for decades longer than rugby and had the money so spend on promoting, structuring and developing their games. And when rugby did turn professional, it shot itself in the foot by a) only having a minute number of teams so providing little competition to the other codes and choice to their fans b) not allowing rich private individuals to plough the game with money. There is nothing inevitable about the dominance of the NRL and AFL: it is rugby's in competence that allows them to still exist in such health.
Lorry
Guest
on a side note, has Adam Frier ever played - and will he ever play - for the Rebels?!!
Lorry
Guest
Great to have you here Campo!!!!! Just thought I'd re-post my 2010 Roar article comparing the careers of Campo and Maradonna: http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/01/the-comparison-of-david-campese-and-diego-maradona-is-apt/
sheek
Guest
J-B, It's really a matter of how you handle things. Not everyone is going to be able to play where they want. Ultimately, you play where you best serve the team, not yourself. O'Connor referred to himself last year, somewhat unwisely, as "Brand O'Connor", hardly a team-man coin of phrase. Otherwise, take up golf, or tennis, or athletics, or swimming, or cycling..........
guinness14
Guest
The Crusaders were the best team last year. These guys travelled all season, playing with jetlag and bought it home. They were not thrashed by no means but it was noticable on how buggered they looked in the final. Good on the Reds for the win, but I will still back my team,The Crusaders to be in the top 5 this season. Good luck to all teams this year. Bring on the Games. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.