Super Rugby Round 1 is done and dusted, and we’re all still shaking our head at a string of strange results. What’s up and what’s down? Who’s good and who isn’t?
Here are five massive overreactions to the first week of rugby.
The Waratahs are more a poor John Farnham reunion tour than U2 following Joshua Tree Tour with Zoo TV
Look, it’s easy to get down when the most memorable part of that Waratahs performance was Kurtley Beale getting smacked on the head with the ball instead of catching it. (Was he distracted by his phone?).
But the truth is that they were always going to be underdone. Coach Michael Cheika knew it enough leading into the match that he specifically spoke about it in the Fox Sports pre-match interview. Some may see that as excuse before the fact, but I think he knew the Tahs would be slow starters.
Lots of players were involved in more matches than they’re used to last year – Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Will Skelton, Rob Horne, Israel Folau and others all played a lot. Even Beale hasn’t been through a year without missing games due to injury for a while. Backing up was always going to be hard.
I think Cheika will be satisfied with a lower-seeded finals spot this year and just make sure the troops are ready at finals time.
The Cheetahs will win the South Africa conference and Sharks are cooked
Look, the Cheetahs still aren’t going to win it but the South African conference is certainly up for grabs more than last year, and more than it appeared going into this year.
Are the Cheetahs going to make us look stupid and climb into a finals position like they did two years ago? If they did it would be like Atletico Madrid winning La Liga, because despite scoring 35 points, they weren’t dominant, it was mostly counter attacking.
In football a goal on the break wins you a lot of games. In rugby you need to put together longer passages of play and construct tries to be successful over the long haul. If the Cheetahs find a way to recycle the ball well then they’ve got a shout.
As for the Sharks? It’s just a flesh wound. There’s far too much talent and far too many games left to get worried.
A team of just Sonny Bill Williams and one other person to offload to could win games
Ok. This one is a bit less of an overreaction. I’d actually like to see how much Sonny Bill could get done with just one support player on the field. Every time he had possession he drew more defenders than he should and put someone else into space. He’s still got it.
We’re going to look back on his time in rugby and consider how he re-defined the inside centre position when it’s all said and done.
The only reason Israel Folau could be seriously considered as an outside centre – because it’s obvious his talents are much better suited at fullback – is because of what Sonny Bill Williams has done at inside centre. He’s turned it into ‘I can draw and pass better than you can tackle’.
When the Chiefs have their full legion of attack-bots positioned around him they are going to be impossible to beat most nights. A new team winning the New Zealand conference is looking unlikely already.
The Melbourne Rebels are a slick killing machine this year
I am so excited for the Rebels despite them upsetting what was supposed to be a simple tip in Round 1. Good on them for going to a finalist’s home ground and securing their first international win in club history. It was also the Crusaders’ first loss to an Australian side at home since sometime just before the Putaringamotu purchase in Riccarton, Christchurch.
But let’s be honest – that was a scrappy match. They aren’t a killing machine, but they may have the foundational elements of becoming one. Guts and belief. That’s what teams in the top six at the end of the year have in common, no matter the style or nationality.
To get that win despite having two people sent to the bin shows the Rebels have another gear they can get to this year when required.
Grabbing some more wins around a back-five of Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Colby Fainga’a and Scott Higginbotham with Scott Fuglistaller off the bench is eminently possible.
The trick from here is to find a way to express the talent of Tom English, Dom Shipperly and Mike Harris and cash in on that grunt and physical power more often.
The Reds are looking forward to getting the season underway, despite an underwhelming performance in their last trial match in Canberra
Ah, yes, the only team that made the Waratahs look prepared. The good news is the Reds playing group has been advised the games are real now and competition points are up for grabs.
I was keen to see how Karmichael Hunt would go back in rugger, but with his side barely getting any rugger played seriously sussing him out will have to wait another week. Matt Toomua and Stephen Larkham both declined to assess Hunt’s attacking game but said he was strong – I saw it a bit differently. Hunt that looked ordinary out wide on defence when Toomua scored and then James Dargaville crossed for his steak on debut.
I also wondered why he was out so wide in the defensive line.
Actually, I’m a little worried about the Reds. They were absolutely unable to secure their own ball against the Brumbies. Holding it for two phases was a chore, one they’ll have to get better at before they expect to beat many sides this year.
MH01
Guest
Hence my point, the tahs have never had a bad squad, and to be honest they have had amongst the best squads on paper in OZ since SR began, I always expected them to click and win the title. Remember the February champions joke on the Roar. Years and years of the media talking up the Tahs as the real thing, im sure the same happens in NZ, hence I asked the question , which team gets all the hype.... And the reason I brought up the Canes and Blues, is cause I have watched them click and destroy excellent teams on the day. I saw the tahs to that last year, they were awesome.
MH01
Guest
Elisha used some very good humour in his article, and my little play of words makes me a Beale Basher.....okay? Bit sensitive? If you referring to his comments in the Press article, I consider it a PR stunt from his management/press to rebuild his image after last year. Yeah I am cynical.
AJ
Guest
Zoo TV concert kicked Ass. (they played Joshua songs as well)
Aussie Bokkie
Guest
Nice article Elisha. I like your style and you make valid points -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Elisha!: - Ah no. No one saw the Tahs defeat coming - Cheetahs looked good. And no one saw that coming too. All four tries were not counter attacks 1. Deep Cheetahs restart, and defence. A short kick from Sharks. Line out win, Cheetahs. Big bust by Torsten (h) and Coenie (thp) and few others into the Sharks 5m. Quick cycle, a 3 cutout by WLR to Cook (bsf) for 5 2. Deep Cheetahs restart and defence. Short clearance from Sharks. Billy Britz cacthes and runs through broken Sharks defence. Draw pass to Venter (osc) for try 3. Cheetahs lineout drive then ruck wins, then ruck pen win (this started from their own 30m, after a Joe P missed penalty touch finder). Finally a try from lineout drive from Sharks 10m 4. Similar as 3, except Shark stops the maul at around 22m. Few rucks. Pretorious snipes, then sets up the try Actually, I thought K's defence was excellent. The tries near his channel was when they defended with one man down Toomua try (within one minute of Big Kev's yellow): - an inside pass from Lelo to Tevita centre, taken by SamuK. - But the inside pass draws 3 Red defenders back and stops the jockey / slide defence - Next ruck, Brumbies created a 3 on 2 (Carter + 2mua + JoeT vs K + Turner). Then it was try time - Carter was charging K, who was readying to take him. - Lelo instead passed to Toomua instead, who Joe open to score, and only Turner flatfooted between them Dargaville try, the overlap created wasnt as clever (within 3 minutes of Big Kev's yellow): - It was a clear overlap - K was lining up the two Brumbies to his left. - Dargav run pass Cam Mag who missed read, and missed his man Checkout timestamp: - 54:35 onwards. - 1:24:20 onwards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO3BZd22q1g
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
I'd day the Blues are my favourite NZ team too. But that's probably just because the last time they managed to beat us was way back 10 years ago, a few months after the Tsunami disaster and I was still finishing off my university degree. Lol ;-) 10 in a row. It's like the Boks vs England streak :-)
Magic Sponge
Guest
5 certainties. Brumbies to make the final 2 Reds to finally take the spoon Skelton to run on for the wallabies at the world cup. NRC to be axed Force to just miss out on the semis.
toa
Guest
Hi Elisha, I replied indirectly to your claims about Hunt’s defense on a post to John – Defensive flaws noted by Elisha raises valid questions, the tackle on Tommua was absolutely disgraceful however how does one explain his bell ringer which cause Toomua to cough the ball up? Was the first miss on Tommua lazy? Wrong technique? Wrong mindset? As a keen follower of all sports, again, for educational purposes, the defensive coverage out wide on James Dargaville appears on replay - Hunt sweeps from a ruck he assisting he notices a shortage then reacts by focusing on the unmark runners due to an overlap. James Dargaville man was for Magnus to pick, does Hunt jam in on James & assist Magnus? or does he try to diffuse the overlap by pressuring James to pass? I’m interested how both those plays (if it’s the correct ones) created your decision thinking Hunts defensive work was that of a player not sure of what he’s doing. Appreciate any insight.
toa
Guest
I don’t think your being unfair, it’s your view that’s important, that said I absolutely disagree with your description regarding the requirement of what he’s meant to do further out. I’m strongly convinced in order to create the shape both player & field positioning has to be correct. Now the reason (and you would know this because you followed Hunt) why the Broncos had such fluent attack during structural raids is solely because outside of Lockyer, Hunt positioned/ensure/tweak the spacing & shape of his troops, which was indicative of how the structure played out. Your right it’s not league however the concept of providing the spacing & shape to whatever attacking structures against rush/slide defense is the same. There was clear evidence on Friday night that supports my view of why I believe your wrong that development & time is against him - Keveri who has played more rugby hours than Hunt got caught out running behind his own player when he should of hit short or went out the back, when he did go out the back he didn’t find his mark, the third time Hunt blew up at him because I guarantee you he changed his line to suit his own shape. (By the way no disrespect to Keveri I’m using him to describe my claims) This all stems back to having someone forming the shape, if you don’t, discipline goes out the window, then you’re relying on playing instinctive football & going through the hands to get you out of trouble. This is why I asked you if Hunt practices Bennettism? – 90% structural 10% instinctive.
Digby
Roar Guru
Yip, should be a cracker!
Lano
Roar Guru
If agreeing with you makes me astute, then I agree with you whatever you say!
Digby
Roar Guru
If your not early, you are late ;)
Beagle
Guest
Really looking forward to the 'Canes against the Force in Perth. That is looking to be a great game, especially if both teams play their very best.
Daz
Guest
Lano you strike me as a pretty astute judge by agreeing with me so I'm going to throw my lot in with yours and make the Force my second favourite team too. If the Reds don't shake off their lethargy and some of their bad attitudes the Force could even move up a rung. They epitomize my definition of what is a champion team. The Reds are like my kids used to sometimes be at school. They tried harder for the teachers they liked better. I used to tell them it was like cutting off your nose to spite your face and it was up to them to try hard all the time. Many thousands of dollars later and many facial reconstructions later I think they have got the message.
Chivas
Guest
I loved his aggression to take a swing when he copped an elbow. Could have been sent to cool his heels, but like the attitude from a 19 year old first five :-) Good southern lad from the real South not like those pansy cantabrians :-). Good poach too :-) hope they keep giving him a run while he is on fire. Night be the pressure Cruds needs to maintain his own kicking percentages.
WQ
Guest
As mentioned, I think everything the Reds got penalised for was probably legitimate, what was not legitimate was the Brumbies doing exactly the same things and getting away with it. I hear your point re: the Reds failing to adjust. It is hard to adjust though when the Ref is not Reffing both sides with the same intensity.
Daz
Guest
I think Folau's better position now is on the wing but it would be good to put him at 13 for the Tahs just to watch AAC get a workout. Nah just being catty. As for Folau wanting to get more involved nothing specific just reading between the lines of a few articles the most recent one being where Cheika said he won't be trying him at 13 until next year. I took that to mean his fear of alienating Mrs AAC trumps his fear of alienating Folau. Maybe I read too much into things.
jameswm
Guest
Ever heard of Tevita Kuridrani?
Chivas
Guest
You mean when he pulled a blues Jersey on and made transformed into Jimmy Cowan.
jameswm
Guest
How about this: "The forwards give the backs the chance to win the game". Doesn't ring true for when England have beaten Australia lately though.