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As the world’s best rugby competition kicks off for another year, we ponder the potential or possibility of success. It’s all about the campaign, not necessarily the players.
The campaign is all about the people involved: how proficient they are at structuring and implementing a system that manages a team, and a successful strategy which continually evolves throughout this arduous twenty-four week competition.
When I look at the Super season, I look at the coaching and management group and how experienced they are at putting successful campaigns together.
This narrows down the field somewhat.
In New Zealand, it is fairly clear that the Crusaders have been the most successful franchise at running effective campaigns and they have done so under three head coaches: Wayne Smith, Robbie Deans, and now Todd Blackadder.
The Chiefs have had limited success, but now with Dave Rennie and his assistants, who include Wayne Smith, the world’s best back coach, this will change.
Dave Rennie has had a history of successful campaigns at club, provincial, and NZ U20 level. Together, they will neutralise the suspicion that the forwards are underpowered.
They will get the best out of them and prove that a good team can beat a team of good players.
Next in line are probably Jamie Joseph and Simon Culhane at the Highlanders. Both have a track record of running successful campaigns, albeit at provincial level.
The Blues and the Hurricanes’ coaching groups don’t have the same record. And when it comes to the crunch, I doubt they’ll be figuring.
This is dangerous territory when I look at the personnel involved in the Blues line-up, possibly the strongest squad in this years’ Super competition, and at some stage, they should become a powerhouse again.
The Australian franchises are interesting.
Clearly, Jake White has had success at the highest level and has been synonymous with successful teams. So if my theory is correct, the Brumbies would have to rate number one, followed by the Reds and Ewen McKenzie, who has had more immediate success winning last years’ Super competition.
Michael Foley and Scott Bowen at the Waratahs do not have a pedigree as far as successful campaigns and neither does Richard Graham at the Force or Damien Hill at the Rebels.
I am aware that Rod MacQueen is lurking in the background. His influence is valuable and he is the right man to build the Rebel franchise from nothing in a sport-crazy province where rugby is of secondary profile.
Lastly, but certainly not least, we have the Republic, which is as confusing as usual.
John Plumtree has had a reasonable degree of success in running campaigns in different continents for a number of years, and with the very competent Grant Bashford, I’m picking the Sharks to perform and be there or thereabouts.
The Bulls are a bit of a secret society and play things close to their chests.
But who could ever doubt their affinity towards winning, irrespective of the style of game they play.
John Mitchell with the Lions franchise goes into Super Rugby hot on the heels of staging a highly successful campaign during the Currie Cup.
Whether he can continue this at Super Rugby level is yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure, is he has significant experience in putting together campaigns, and one would imagine his skill-set in this degree is now very good.
The Stormers have been under-achievers for a number of years, and with the loss of Rassie Erasmus, I think they will struggle, particularly towards the latter part of the competition, as will the Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs are over-performers in many respects, considering their lack of resource in money and player numbers. But Naka Drotske has been a solid campaigner.
It is easy to draw a comparison here with the New Zealand franchise, the Highlanders.
I believe successful operators develop successful teams, and successful teams come from the utilization of their best players managed strategically from week to week.
This is the first installment in a new exclusive weekly column for The Roar by former All Black great, Murray Mexted. Mexted is the Managing Director of The International Rugby Academy (IRANZ), the leading global Rugby Academy. IRANZ offer an independent high performance pathway for coaches, players and teams worldwide. More details here.
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.