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Well 2015 is looking to shape up as another fantastic year of super rugby and could be one of the most competitive yet with around ten teams who could potentially take the trophy.
In this mini series, I will preview the five teams in the New Zealand Super Rugby conference.
I’ll start with the Crusaders. With a disappointing year last year, falling at the last hurdle, both the players and their coach Todd Blackadder will be desperate to get their hands on the trophy that has seemed to elude them since 2008.
With a very strong forward pack in the recent years, one of the biggest problems for the Crusaders since the departure Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean, has been a lack of punch in the backline.
Last year they were unusually one dimensional in their attack. I think it was largely due to a lack of size in the backline, they became dependent on Nemani Nadolo to take them forward. In 2015 this will no longer be the case.
The Crusaders will have two large potent backs with Nadolo and the return of Robbie Fruean. Include Northland Winger Jone Macilai who had a very impressive season in the ITM cup, with the third highest number of clean breaks and metres gained, size shouldn’t be a problem for the Crusaders this year.
If you add Carter back into the mix, with the increasingly impressive Colin Slade and Ryan Crotty, and the ever dependent halfback pairing of Ellis and Heinz, the Crusaders have a very good backline.
The only problem is the lack of another winger. Johnny McNicholl usually plays on the right wing, but has a habit of having a few very costly brain explosions. Israel Dagg will also hope to impose himself, after a disappointing 2014 but could potentially lose his place to Slade.
The forward pack really does speak for itself. With starting All Black props Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks, the Crusaders have very good scrum. Having the best lineout lock in the world in Sam Whitelock and returning All Blacks partner Luke Romano, and with Dominic Bird waiting in the wings, they have an impressive lock combination.
The Crusaders have an embarrassing amount of quality in the loose forward department with All Blacks Richie McCaw, Matt Todd and Kieran Read. Both Luke Whitelock and Jordan Taufua had impressive ITM cup campaigns and are able replacements.
Traditionally the Crusaders have had a slow start, which in the past four years, have cost them home semi-finals/finals. They have a slightly easier start than last year.
Starting with the Rebels (H), Highlanders (A), Chiefs (A), Lions (H), Cheetahs (H). They should be targeting to win at least four of those five matches, with at least two-three bonus points on top.
The Crusaders lost five games last year, three of which were in their first five games, so a good start will be crucial.
Perhaps the biggest problem for the Crusaders last year of was the lack of consistency in the starting XV. If one was to look at the 2014 champions, the Waratahs, they had a fairly consistent XV, the Crusaders XV however, was all over the place.
Playing the same XV, particularly in the backline, is crucial for creating combinations and a familiarity with each other. The Crusaders will need this if they want a chance at their eighth title.
One would suspect this to be Todd Blackadder’s last chance to get his hands on the trophy.
Failing in the final twice in four years, the pressure, perhaps unreasonably, is mounting on the coach. 2015 is his best chance and it will be interesting to see how the Crusaders go.
Potential starting XV: 1.Crockett 2.Funnell 3.Franks. 4.Romano 5. Whitelock 6.Todd 7.McCaw 8.Read 9.Ellis 10.Carter 11.Nadolo 12. Crotty 13.Fruean 14.Macilai 15.Dagg/Slade
My prediction for the Crusaders is that they will finish in the top two but will have to travel away for the final due to a characteristically poor start to the season.
The Hurricanes, the most exciting team in Super Rugby, will be hoping to have a successful campaign under new head coaches Chris Boyd and John Plumtree, both very good coaches.
The biggest news to come out of the Hurricanes off-season was the signing of Ma’a Nonu. In previous years I would have said this was a dangerous move, with Nonu’s poor Super Rugby record, with both his performances and discipline.
However 2014 at the Blues was Nonu’s best season since leaving the Hurricanes and I believe he will make a positive impact at the Hurricanes, particularly now they are under new management.
James Marshall, previously with the Cheifs, is now at the Hurricanes. John Plumtree will be hoping he can rediscover his 2013 form while he was at the Crusaders.
Melbourne Rebel Jason Woodward has returned to New Zealand to join the Hurricanes. I was first excited about this due to his strong performance with Rebels. However his ITM Cup campaign with the Lions left much to be desired, with poor performances and showing off a bad temper.
It will interesting to see if he gets much game time in an All Black-laden backline.
The loss of Andre Taylor is massive. It will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes replace him. My bet is the impressive Matt Proctor to fill the fullback role.
The Hurricanes biggest problem is consistency, it always has been. On their day they could beat any team by 60 points, but on an off day they can be truly dreadful, particularly in defence.
With an incredible backline, the Hurricane forwards has often been found lacking in drive and aggression. That’s not to say they don’t have it and the backs haven’t been equally poor. Their two games against the Crusaders last year shows how good they can be, bullying an All Black laden pack around the park.
If they can find consistency, and control their aggression, they will have a forward pack that can compete against any other pack in the competition.
The forward pack may not be filled to the brim with All Blacks like the Crusaders, but they certainty have some talent.
All Blacks Ben Franks and Dane Coles bring international experience to the pack. Dane Coles has proven that he is not only good at the set piece, but one of the fastest and most skillful hookers in the game.
The Hurricanes will also be buoyed by the recent emergence of Jeremy Thrush. Although slightly late the party, Thrushes recent performances in Black have been very good, most notably against Scotland.
Ardie Savea will be one to watch. Strong, fast, and very good over the ball, he is a younger version of his brother Julian. I expect him to make an impact on 2015. This year will also be an important time for Victor Vito.
When not injured, he is a very good player and leader of this forward pack. Vito will be looking for a strong Super Rugby season to make his way back into the All Black setup for the Rugby World Cup.
And that brings us to the backline, and my do they have some talent with six All Blacks in their starting backline.
TJ Perenara, Beau Barrett, Nonu, Conrad Smith, Corey Jane, and Julian Savea. One of the most, if not the most, potent backlines in the competition. One criticism however has been defence, and rightly so.
Barrett has often been targeted and inside centre has also been a problem. Barrett is now much stronger defensively and the established combo of Nonu and Smith should also help, so one would hope their defensive frailties are a thing of the past.
Much of it also depends of the new systems Boyd and Plumtree will put in place. Barrett will also have to fix his kicking after a poor performance with the boot on the November tour.
The Hurricanes have a tough start to their season, starting in South Africa against the Lions and Bulls and then to Perth to play the Force.
If they can win two of these three games and target a bonus point win over the Lions or Force, then I think that will give them the start and confidence they need to make it to the play offs
Potential Starting XV: 1.Franks 2.Coles 3.Allen 4.Thrush. 5.Broadhurst
6. Shields 7.Savea 8.Vito 9.Perenara 10.Barrett 11.Savea 12.Nonu 13.Smith 14.Jane 15.Proctor
My prediction for the Hurricanes is that they either sneak into the top six, finishing either fifth or six, if they mange that, I would not be surprised if they went on to win. Or they will fall short once again after failing to win matches they really should have won.
Hope you all enjoyed the article and will join me next time as I take a look at the Highlanders, Blues, and Chiefs.
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.