Here are five talking points to come out of Super Rugby in Round 16.
1. The Brumbies aren’t finals material
The conference system is an unmitigated mess. As we look forward to next year’s rejig, one element remains a problem – the automatic finals spot for conference winners.
The Brumbies getting a free pass to a home final because they topped the group is borderline embarrassing. An overall points table would see them in ninth.
No doubt they’ll try to make the best of the format quirk. Their defence is solid if nothing else. But I think we all expected a little more endeavour under the tutelage of Stephen Larkham. Their last-minute loss to the Reds on Friday made for grim viewing.
2. Koroibete at the ready for Rugby Championship
Marika Koroibete is staking a real claim for a Wallabies wing spot. The former NRL flyer has been steadily improving and capped it off with a first half double on Friday against the Force. It was surprising not to see him feature at all in the June Tests given Michael Cheika’s rotation of outside backs.
Week by week, he’s becoming more involved and more influential. He’s an abrasive ball-runner with the ability to finish, and he’s strong in defence. In a struggling team, he’s been a standout performer. Play him while he’s hot, Cheik.
(AAP Image/David Crosling)
3. The Force are going down swinging
It’s the saga that’s dragged on and on throughout the season. Who’ll get the chop ‒ the Rebels or the Force? The ARU has sat on its hands, hoping the decision will be made for them.
Well, if it was purely on merit, the Force would survive. They’ve shown infinitely more fight than their Melbourne rivals. Friday’s 31-22 victory in Perth was a case in point. It can’t be easy to play with such an uncertain future, but the men from the west are doing their darndest.
With just one round remaining, they sit second in the conference. If they roll the Tahs in Perth next week ‒ and that’s a fair shout on current evidence ‒ there’s every chance they’ll end up with the same amount of wins as the Brumbies. What then?
4. The wheels have fallen off at the Waratahs
No Australian team has covered themselves in glory this year, but the Waratahs are perhaps the biggest waste of potential. No team has a showcased a larger gulf between their best and worst form. Unfortunately for the Tahs, we’ve seen far more of the latter.
They’ve shipped an obscene amount of points, including 40 or more in each of their last three games. The majority of these have come in the first half, forcing them to play catch up.
Their penchant for comebacks suggests it’s not an issue of fitness. But they demonstrably don’t have the poise to build a game from scratch, or when it matters. You’d be tempted to call them valiant defeats, but valiance doesn’t really apply when you’re the one handicapping yourself.
After next week, the Waratahs lose both defence coach Nathan Grey and forwards coach Cam Blades, and lack the funds to replace them. This puts even more responsibility on the shoulders of head coach Daryl Gibson. Someone pass me a drink…and keep them coming.
5. Australian rugby hasn’t earned a holiday
Any fan will tell you, the basic skills in the Aussie conference have been wretched. It’s not a new problem ‒ poor handling, aimless kicking, non-existent support play, passes behind the man, passive defending, indecision, and ill-discipline are all too prevalent on these shores.
The Wallabies aren’t in shape for the Rugby Championship. Contractual obligations be damned, I say. Every professional rugby player in Australia should be forced to attend a rigorous skills bootcamp from now right up until the opening fixture of next season.
It’s a damning indictment of the talent pool, coaching and apparent desire currently on offer in this country. At a time when world rugby is in relative good health, we’re stumbling backwards.
katesy
Guest
Highlanders - Reds game on friday night, Highlanders try midway through 2nd half is disallowed due to ball control. during the placing of the ball, Quade Cooper has unleashed a flat out shoulder charge, which was ignored by all the officials, result should have been a penalty to Highlanders and Cooper in the bin, as has been the case all year? but nothing happened, given the number of officials, why is there still so many things missed, wrongly adjudicated on? the game is hard enough without inconsistent referreeing????
Jimbo
Guest
Merts got it RIGHT, let the South Africans go and play in the European competition and start a Super Rugby comp with five Australian Teams, Seven New Zealand Teams and a Japanese and either Hong Kong or Singapore team - or similar structure. Why does it take a New Zealander to show the most common sense of all the commentators (perhaps because he isn't an ex Shute Shield boy). Why should either the Force or the Rebels be dropped at the whim of the South African Rugby Union? Show some guts ARU and sit down with our cousins across the ditch and work out a solution.
Link
Guest
concerned supporter @ If Chieika wants terrible Waratahs in his Wallabies,The ARU board cannot do a damn thing about it.They are powerless.
piru
Roar Rookie
Maybe the NPC would let us in?
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I wish I didn't have to wear mine. I have been wearing it so long it is cutting ring a groove in my ever increasing forehead. A coach that doesn't respect the kick, tactical, box or bomb? Bozo out. There is plenty of Australian "cattle" capable of playing regular rugby. I have know Idea what Cheika and Grey are playing - it is closer to league.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
I'm actually rather attached to my tin hat Timbo.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
EagleJack, For me, my vitriol against the Tahs is the perceived/(Actual) selection bias for the Wallabies. When the coach selector chooses a guy that has player 25 minutes of rugby this year and makes an exception to his "going overseas" rule to make way for yet another Tah, and a Half Back that not even his coach will start smells of rotten fish. When he plays Tahs players out of position and/or without balanced skills us tinfoil hat wearers start to rage against the machine. Given SR performance, the Wallaby 23 should have between 4 and 6 players from each team. This just isn't the case, Instead the player ratio's are more like Foxtel viewer stats ratio's and it sure as eggs isn't working. That aside, there are some great players at the Tahs, and some great players developing.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why is Wessels the only coach that is "coaching"?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If the just Rebels hadn't lost 12 games they'd be leading the competition too.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Baby, Bathwater. There are some good players at the Tahs, perhaps not ready for the Yellow Jersey but with mentoring, not far off. There are some over-paid media darlings that could be knocked down a peg or 2. There are some horrible game plans, most likely centered around aforementioned darlings. Lets get back to basics: Ball Skills Wide range of weapons in the armory (Box and tactical kicks are good when used at the right time and supported the right way. Players that can both attack and defend and do all the jobs required for their position. Nurture depth at #10 - Buy back Mike Harris. Train Jake Gordon, Give Mack Mason some time in the sunlight. The formula is simple. Coaches across the Planet are following it. Why can't we
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Maybe the chopped teams should start their own comp.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
4 players from NSW and 2 from Qld in the 23 for the Force on Friday.
Gman
Guest
I think the major problem is everyone who supports the game is turning on each other. Coupled with our senior players not seeming to have what it takes to turn the corner (if they can) Supporters want the best for the code first - All opinion has some merit (albeit misplaced or less informed than others) if we cant calmly muster and discuss, we have already lost....we are no better than the ARU The way it see is its 'our' game- and its been hijacked and stacked . All supporters can do more to wrestle it back or collectivley we are no better than seagulls fighting over chips .
bigbaz
Roar Guru
if you can't see that the major problems of Aussie are comming out of Sydney then you can't be helped. The SE cnr of QLD is nearly as bad but they are only trying to fick QLD rugby, not the whole shooting match. If you ever get out of Manly or the GC you would see there are outstanding players in more centres than your little world. Meanwhile the rest of us are enjoying our footy without the BS you Northshore types are bringing to our great game , emphasis on our.
piru
Roar Rookie
If NSW and QLD rugby is weak – Wallaby team is weak. Well, yes, if you load the team up with players from QLD and NSW... which they always do
piru
Roar Rookie
Or that brain fade against the Crusaders
piru
Roar Rookie
I did notice Haylett Petty trying to target him with kicks behind, but it didn't seem to come off.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Hanigan, Robertson, Grey.
ScottD
Guest
They have had a great 2nd half to the season for sure
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mike, the only Coach who is in fact 'Coaching' is Dave Wessels, and Stiles, Gibson, Larkham and McGahan should take leave now, no ifs or buts, ~ the only problem with that is, where are you going to get their replacements?, there's none in Aussie! The complete ARU structure from top to bottom should, along with the methodology, get an absolute major overhaul because as it is right now, it's unfixable!