Five talking points from Super Rugby Round 10

An interesting round of Super Rugby is almost at a close and there’s been a lot to talk about. So let’s dive in and get chatting.

Kerevi still knocking on door No.12
In this same article a few weeks ago I commented that Samu Kerevi was playing well at No.12 for the Reds and could start to make things complicated for the Wallabies and Kurtley Beale. Well, he hasn’t let up.

In a losing Reds side, he still managed to pick up two tries. Meanwhile, Beale had a very average game against a rampant Lions side.

Part of the value of Beale at No.12 is that he’s outside his Tahs teammate Bernard Foley at No.10. But that value is reduced if Foley and the Tahs aren’t performing. Yes, they are top of the Australian conference but their inability to score a single point in Sydney against the Lions is surprising and concerning.

Kerevi is just not as effective at No.13 and Michael Cheika is going to need a hard-hitting centre to keep the Saffer and Kiwi defences honest in the Rugby Championship.

Aussie teams starting to struggle
There had been some signs earlier in the season that the Aussie sides were going to be more competitive this year. The painful Force issue would mean that the remaining teams would be better RA told us and in the early rounds the Rebels and Reds were showing that even the arguably weaker Aussie sides had something about them.

But over the past few weeks, this theory has started to stumble. The Rebels and Reds strong early starts have turned into a string of losses and clashes against Kiwi sides and have led to the same result as last season.

This weekend the Reds, Rebels and Tahs have all lost and looked average while they did it. Currently, there are just three Aussie sides in the top ten and the Rebels are sliding down the ladder fast. With hard matchups against Kiwi sides around the corner, the Aussie sides really need to step up.

Chiefs dedication to the bonus point
The Chiefs beat the Reds pretty easily and had the game locked up early on. But what stood out was the way that they fought as if the game was on the line after the buzzer as they desperately hunted for the try that would give them the bonus point. And they got it.

That drive is impressive and the ability to keep calm, stay error-free and get that all important try is one of the things that separate the very best teams. In the competitive Kiwi conference, every bonus point is important and the Chiefs may well look back on the closing minutes in Brisbane and be very grateful that they didn’t just take the win and get back on the plane home.

Having the desire to score one more try is important for sure but plenty of teams have that – who doesn’t want to score more? But to then have the skill to make that happen under fatigue is impressive.

Are we all on the same page about the Sunwolves?
There was a 30 minute period in the Sunwolves match against the Crusaders on Saturday where they led the session 11-0 and overall the scoreline was closer than many expected. However, there was no doubt that they were going to lose.

Just like most if not all of their games – they are big underdogs and usually the result backs that up!

So what’s the point in them? There are those who keep saying that they are getting better and that it’ll take time for them to be truly competitive but that they will get competitive. But is this really the reason why they should stay in the comp?

In two and a half seasons they’ve won just three games from over 30 matches and are conceding an average of over 40 points per game.

(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images for Sunwolves)

So let’s be honest – they might get better, but they will never threaten the big names for the title and arguably will never see finals rugby. But they do serve a financial and brand awareness purpose.

The Sunwolves are basically a marketing activity for SANZAAR and while that isn’t necessarily terrible we should at least make sure that we all agree what the Sunwolves are all about.

To be clear – not being a real threat to winning the title doesn’t mean that a team shouldn’t exist. But being whipping boys week in week out can only go on so long.

Umaga might want to update his LinkedIn
Yes, the Blues have been hit hard by injuries this year, but the stories are already starting about how the club might want to consider a change at the top. Since Tana Umaga took over in 2016, the Blues have not really gotten better.

Sure the 18 players on their injury list this season has made it hard for him to pick a stable team, but that excuse can’t go on much longer.

The Blues are in 13th place overall on the ladder and continue to struggle against their domestic rivals.

Missing finals again will surely lead to Umaga seeking other opportunities and while he’s currently doing a good job of praising his players’ efforts under difficult circumstances, its the results and the performances on the field that matter most – and those have been missing in action for too long.