Movers, shakers and upsets galore. Round 2 of Super Rugby for 2019 had it all.
Here’s edition two of the weekly Power Rankings.
1. Crusaders
Last week – fifth
The defending champs are a scary proposition. They had three of their best resting against the Hurricanes on Saturday and still ran away 16-point winners.
Their control of the pace of the game is breathtaking and their ability to suffocate their opponents out of a contest is the reason they’ve been the standard in this competition for three seasons in a row.
2. Sharks
Last week – sixth
The Sharks made light work of the Blues. Robert du Preez has been great through the first two rounds, and Curwin Bosch provides plenty on the edge. Their defence is starchy in the middle, too – teams will find it difficult to post points against them.
3. Highlanders
Last week – third
The Highlanders have had two close contests, and were lucky to pinch Friday’s win from the Reds. The 36-31 scoreline was befitting of an entertaining, fast-paced match. Shannon Frizell was immense for the home side, nabbing a double, with Dillon Hunt scoring the match-winner in the dying stages.
Still, for their flawless record, their tendency to turn the ball over and make mistakes is cause for concern. However, elite teams find a way to win when they aren’t playing all that well. File the Highlanders in that category for the time being.
4. Brumbies
Last week – 12th
This week’s big movers. The Brumbies were average in the first week of the competition, and not even the most astute of observers could have predicted their demolition job on Saturday.
A 54-17 embarrassment of the Chiefs was underlined by the standout performance of fullback Tom Banks, while Tevita Kuridrani and Chance Peni also had doubles. Importantly, their forwards looked like they’d shaken off the slow start.
Tom Banks of the Brumbies (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
5. Lions
Last week – second
The Lions lost 19-17 in a thriller to the Stormers, following up from a good away win over the Jaguares. I’m keeping them above the Stormers, because they had to travel mid-week, and still looked OK in this contest.
They had a comfy halftime lead, and can mark their second-half down as a blip.
6. Hurricanes
Last week – seventh
The Canes pinched a win late against the Waratahs in Round 1, before being soundly defeated by the Crusaders.
They were playing a composite 1st-2nd XV though, and would have been satisfied with the performances of a couple of their reserves.
7. Stormers
Last week – 14th
The Stormers bounced back from their first-week pummelling to steal a late win over the Lions. Siya Kolisi was inspirational and Herschel Jantjies’ try in the 84th minute was a nice example of patient rugby union.
8. Bulls
Last week – first
The Bulls were disappointing against the Jaguares after their first-round stunner against the Stormers. They were out-enthused up front, and looked static in attack. They now have a model of how best to play, and how best not to play!
9. Jaguares
Last week – 11th
The Jags notched up their first win of the season in Round 2, controlling things nicely against the visiting Bulls in a 27-12 win.
The Argies weren’t put under any pressure through 80 minutes.
10. Waratahs
Last week – tenth
The Waratahs plain stunk against the Sunwolves on Saturday, and were lucky to win their first game of 2019. Turnovers and ill-discipline in the forwards was a constant problem, and while they found attacking easy, defence is also 50 per cent of the game – a fact that was lost on the majority of the 23 for 80 minutes in Tokyo.
Karmichael Hunt was good again and Israel Folau is the best ball-in-hand attacker in the country. Many questions to be answered however in the coming weeks.
11. Reds
Last week – 15th
I can’t put them higher because they haven’t won a game yet, but boy do I want to! They were exciting against the Highlanders, playing with passion, grit and pace – but lost in the dying stages. Izack Rodda was one of the players of the round, following the mid-week death of his father.
The forward pack was tight, and their backs were willing to throw the ball from edge to edge. Scoring 31 points is a big plus, conceding 36 points the big minus.
12. Sunwolves
Last week – 14th
The Sunwolves are zero from two through the first couple of rounds, but were impressive in their defeat to the Waratahs. Their counter-attacking skill is elite, with their defensive woes the constant thorn in the side.
Hayden Parker should kick for goal whenever the Sunwolves are in their opponents’ half – it will keep them scoring points and ticking things over when the ball is not sticking.
13. Rebels
Last week – fourth
Had the bye.
14. Blues
Last week – ninth
The Blues failed to fire a shot against the Sharks. Their second half was significantly better than their first, however their lack of forward depth will make this a long season for them.
15. Chiefs
Last week – eighth
Their loss to the Brumbies was plain ugly. Damian McKenzie has been poor in the first two rounds, and it’s amazing how a team can lose their way when their attacking spark is taking its time to work into the season.
The Brumbies exposed them down the edges, with plenty of work to be done in defence and up the middle in future weeks.
Bruce White
Guest
this has got to be the most ridiculous ranking format. What is it based on.????
Rugby First
Roar Rookie
Following on from your article. How about this as a dream? Crusaders - N01 Ranking for the world cup! All Blacks minus Crusaders ranking 2, 3 4, 5, 6? England had the AllB's on the ropes and Sonny Bill departed, Reid called a huddle changed gears to "Crusader" mode and scraper in.
MH01
Guest
I think the pieces will fall into place once we are a few more rounds in . Keep up the good work!! Appreciated. look forward to following this regular piece through the season .
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
No
Paul D
Roar Rookie
When the measure is subjective there will always be differences of opinion. I could nitpick about a couple of things, but the only suggestion I'd really like to make is working out a better way to account for the bye. Rebels certainly don't deserve a slide like that on the list. I think the previous weeks performance needs to at least be considered as repeated until they play again. Good or bad.
Takeshi Kovacs
Roar Rookie
Did Damian McKenzie play in the first round?
Stu
Roar Rookie
My brain hurts from the subjectivity.
Grugby Fan
Roar Rookie
Interesting comments and in the perfect world I might agree. The selection of combinations does not always work. I think the challenges of a solid tight 5 while no doubt a weapon at one level does not make a quality performer at another level. Brodie Retallick, his bag of skills place him as a first pick in the locking department for the ABs. He doesn’t need to play with the Crusaders everyweek to develop a combo with thos guys. I agree that combos are key but only in so much as long as it is a combination of similar skill sets. Tight five combinations may mask certain weaknesses of individuals and once that is exposed that combination may fall apart. The Reds no doubt have a potent scrum and are beginning to show further signs of improved skill sets. It would, however, be a brave man to select any of the other props apart from Tupou for the Wallabies given their catch and pass is not that evident just yet. Too early to get too excited and while for 80 mins there was reason for optimism the discussion around combinations will forever be debated. Coaches often use combinations that will unfortunately at times mask certain individual weaknesses. The fact that all these players are professionals and should be prepared to buy into a coaches game plan will mean they may have to make adjustments to their game, master those adjustments and add them to their kitbag of skills. That is the real challenge, clarity in detail, buy into the plan, execute in a game. Once all are playing with similar skill sets then combos will not only work but develop at a more consistent level. Its no fluke the ABs have been able to pull off some last minute wins. Every player has the confidence that next to him is a player of similar skill.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah and the Chiefs loss puts the Highlanders Round 1 win into context.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Crusaders look to be the standard again this year, and being 2/2 naturally slipped up to first. I’ve explained other selections and staggers below in another reply – but I imagine as the ladder thins out slightly and becomes more consistent – so too these rankings. Rewarding teams based on W/L stats as well as the significance of respective wins or defeats explains these rankings (and some peculiarities) through the first two rounds. Thanks for the feedback – keen to hear your thoughts as the season continues.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
The first few weeks will definitely be a feeling out period – but I’ve explained my thought process above in another reply. Agree it will become more consistent ans the season progresses. Thanks for the feedback!
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Agreed. Will be one to keep an eye on!
Stu
Roar Rookie
Maybe a bit off topic, but my abstract thoughts on selection: With Rugby being a game so overwhelmingly dependent on solid teamwork and combinations, I’ve never understood why selectors/coaches choose good individuals, just because they figure they’re the best in that position. So having picked 15 (23) individuals, whether they have practiced combinations with their closest players or not, coaches then go and say “go play as a team” - like they can just do it with players from other clubs that they never train with. Surely not wasting a whole season of Super Rugby combination developments would be a better way to go? How much better is (say) Tupou on his own when just thrown into a Wallabies scrum as an individual, then if the whole Reds tight 5 were selected? They’d monster every forward pack going due to their solid combo work done under Thorn every week. Same for the backs. I know it’ll never happen, but an example of selecting by combinations rather than individual brilliance could turn rugby on its head. Either of the Reds or the Brums settled teams would have slaughtered our Wallabies side last week if they were to give them a run. A selection example for a seamlessly integrated Wallabies side could be: The entire Reds tight 5 Rebels 6-7-8 (or even the whole Reds 8 pack) Brumbies 9 thru 15 (Irae Simone would be a great Wallaby solution at 12 if kept within his usual Brumbies combo, and Banks at 15 is electric with them all) 16-23 I suppose I’d relent and cro-bar a few Waratahs combos in somewhere on the bench, maybe the front 3 and 2 backs, leaving the Reds to fill the last three lock/back row spots. The “play as a team” mantra - surely watching the Brums and the Reds do exactly that last week - playing great, solidified combos that make the Wallabies efforts of individual players with no combos look emaciated, means we should look at combination selection over individual brilliance. Folau is the obvious casualty but I’d much rather Banks at 15 anyway as a complete Rugby fullback - is there really any loss there? I don’t see how a coach can select essentially strangers individually, have a week together, and then just say to them ‘righto, play as a team’. What’s the point of having combos all Super Rugby season develop great things at club level, to dismantle all that synergy for Wallaby duty? The Wallabies have never played like the Brums and Reds did last weekend.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Fair feedback! For the first couple of rounds I decided to stagger the rankings based predominantly off ladder position combined with the gravity/significance of victories/losses. Obviously that may make for some slightly weird reading in the first few rounds – however my mindset was that I didn’t want a team with one win but looked great in a second round loss above a team with two unconvincing and gritty wins in their first two games. As the season progresses these rankings will no doubt settle. I’d be keen to hear your feedback in coming rounds! Appreciate it.
Emuarse
Roar Rookie
Nick, I think your analysis of standings for the teams is an interesting read. Of course it will be open to criticism, but that adds some zest to it. Keep it up. As the season progresses and there is more input, so too will the analysis become more testing.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Roarers seem skeptical. Let me add to this. Everyone has been saying that the Jaguares without Nico were rubbish. I keep insisting that the props were more of an issue. Diaz Bonilla did quite well. And the props were not so bad either. Be careful of the Jaguares. I hope they have another season like the last one. The Bulls collapse from the first round was horrendous.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yeh,& only after TWO rounds! What do we really expect? No doubt many things will change as we carry on into the season. Time will tell!!!
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
I cant understand how you work out your rankings. So the Rebels beat the Brumbies at home and then the Brumbies flog a NZ team and they rank higher than the Rebels? Have the Tahs looked better than the Reds? Was the Highlanders performance worthy of their position? I like the concept of power rankings, but there needs to be a formula that is consistent. If this is a regular article through the season please explain the logic behind it
MH01
Guest
What’s the power ranking based on? The chiefs last ? Had the tahs lost the Sunwolves , would the biggest upset be Brumbies over chiefs ? Also the reds in one game showed that are higher than the tahs in 2 games . And one last one , let’s not get carried away with the Brumbies thrashing of the chiefs, they did not jump 8 spots :p the one I do agree with is the crusaders .