Misstep and miss out. You always want high stakes at play and the strange two-division splintering of Super Rugby Pacific is just that.
Few seasons in Super Rugby since 1996 have had the canyon between the best and rest like this 2023 season.
There’s a top five and, well, Div B for teams who have no shot at winning the title but are in a fascinating battle of their own for positions No. 6-8 in the play-offs over the final few rounds.
The 10-0 Chiefs scored seven tries when slaughtering the Highlanders last round and there wasn’t a rolling maul try in sight. Treasure that thought.
The Queensland Reds also seem to have made a conscious decision to ditch overdoing the box kick. Treasure that too.
With four matches to play, the order at the top behind the Chiefs (45 points) has plenty of somersaults still to come.
Only three teams among the ACT Brumbies (36), Blues (34), Crusaders (33) and Hurricanes (32) will earn home ground rights for the quarter-finals.
That also means a home ground pay day. To misstep will be costly and that could be as soon as Saturday when the Blues and Crusaders both can’t win in Christchurch.
Back in Div B, the NSW Waratahs (21), Reds (19) and Fijian Drua (17) have nothing guaranteed in slots 6-8 with the Melbourne Rebels (15) and the Western Force (13) still pressing to leapfrog into the finals.
Again, Round 12 is crucial. A Rebels win over the Waratahs in Sydney and the Force toppling the Drua in Perth and the chairs change again. What are we talking about?
Campo commonsense
Wallabies great David Campese was in Townsville for the Reds-Waratahs game last weekend. He made the point pre-game that Eddie Jones’ wily ways are paying off again.
“Campo” straight out said that leaving Tate McDermott out of the first Wallabies’ training squad was calculated to see how the halfback would respond.
The result? Three of McDermott’s best games of the year.
“Eddie is the master of mind games. He wanted to see how Tate responded…and likewise Noah Lolesio,” Campese said.
We saw how much it meant to Lolesio to have a big opening against the Rebels last weekend. Hitting a flat Nic White pass for the opening try and commanding the game early on was exactly what every fan has been wanting to see more often from the young ACT Brumby.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
His “Carter Gordon” shout at the TV cameras is what you want to see more of…players who care, players who respond, players who make it personal.
There was barely any personal niggle at all before the Reds-Waratahs game. We needed Queenslander Toutai Kefu baiting old mate Brendan Cannon with his fabled crack after a wonky lineout throw: “Do those pies come with sauce?”
Another “Campo” pointer. He’s delighted Jock Campbell is getting a shot at fullback against the Chiefs in New Plymouth on Friday night. He still regards Campbell as being Australia’s best and most natural fullback option.
Harry Wilson on the bench
Look a bit deeper to the call from the Reds for Friday night. The Reds aren’t going to beat the Chiefs in New Plymouth.
They have to sharpen some firepower with a rest before the match that could define whether they make the play-offs or not…the match against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium a week later.
No.8 Wilson is being given a lighter week after a heavy workload run of big 80-minute efforts.
Get Carter
You’d have to say Melbourne Rebel Carter Gordon outpointed Noah Lolesio last start although both had fine games.
Gordon has another big match-up at flyhalf on Saturday night against Waratah Ben Donaldson in Sydney.
Donaldson does some nice things. His straightening line to throw an inside pass is good, his goalkicking comes easily and he’s starting to establish himself.
Gordon is more physical, imposes himself more on games, is a better tackler and his confidence is way up on last year’s uncertain start.
It will be another instructive clash of young No.10s to start a month of higher stakes games for both. There’s just a bit more pressure on Donaldson too to be the answer. He’s yet to satisfy all those tests.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman did a magnificent job of rousing the Waratahs in 2022 with the “battlers” theme. He’s got a big job over the next month to show he can shake some consistency into his side to reach the play-offs.
The White time
Nic White’s move to the Western Force next year will be a boon for the team in the west. The livewire halfback still has plenty to offer.
People need to see that it was a squeeze call. The Brumbies rate White too but want to give 2022 Australia A captain Ryan Lonergan a more prominent role at halfback. Fair enough.
There was a squeeze in the salary cap with so many Wallabies on the roster in Canberra. The Force are better equipped to pay a fair contract with way fewer Wallabies.
White will be full-throttle to achieve everything he can with the Brumbies to end his decorated 100-plus game career for them in style.
James O’Connor? He’s off-contract and wants to stay in Australia next season.
The Reds would be mad not to keep him for another season but, if they are touched by the Queensland sun, the Force would be a good home.
Wing worth
It seems the Wallabies have a bunch of wing contenders but perhaps not enough is mentioned about Lachie Anderson.
The Rebels finisher is in a rich vein of form. He barrels through tacklers, he positions himself well, he cover defends like a demon, he has size, he has a big workrate…what is there not to like?
A big one against the Waratahs is next. Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase would love his biggest game of 2023 as well.
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Mature Quade was very good and even though his step is gone and he's a bit slower off the mark, the pass of either hand, his kicking game, and the ability to put people through a hole is the best we have. I reckon the Walls and Brums play off 9 so much (a) because of Nick White's ability; and (b) because Noah just stands too deep and lacks authority. I think Noah is really more a 12.
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
Roar Rookie
Whilst great days this horse likes the tough stuff :silly:
piru
Roar Rookie
It's a balancing act. I think we do alright
piru
Roar Rookie
I didn't say he'd be part of it, I said he's what we need to help develop it. Guys like Fines and Pasitoa, Tizzano and Callan are our future leaders, in White they have someone they can learn from
jameswm
Roar Guru
Geez those hookers look better than Porecki, Lonergan and Fainga'a. Of course 4 Tahs out of 19 forwards is too many...in fact the count is (counting Tupou as a Red, Philip over LSL and Samu as a Brumby) Overseas 3 Brumbies 5 Tahs 4 Reds 2 Rebels 4 Force 1
OwenL
Roar Rookie
That’s another problem whilst we do have plenty of talent in our WA boys, we don’t seem like we care, we don’t give them enough of a chance instead we take either overseas players who are only here for a short amount of time e.g. Spink, Kibirige, Simpson or we just use wallabies who are just here to finish off their career and stay in Australian Rugby e.g. Fa’ainga, Rodda and soon to be White
OwenL
Roar Rookie
How can he be part of the leadership group if he isn’t starting
piru
Roar Rookie
Hamish thinks he's a 10 though - will he hang around?
piru
Roar Rookie
We have a lot of young talent in WA, but the result of our being shafted in 2017 is that our long term leaders have all moved on. White is just the sort of high level pro we need to help develop our leadership group. I would still expect Fines to be the our man at 9, and once Reesjan is back he'll be at ten I have no doubt. O'Connor was never and has never been a 10
piru
Roar Rookie
It's too complicated for backs mate, I'll help When you have your quote typed / pasted out, select the whole thing so it highlights, then click 'italic' above the text window. You'll get two little bracketed notes before and after the phrase, and when you hit submit it'll be in italics
jeznez
Roar Guru
I’d be picking Frost or Rodda, both work horse players, whether Skelton is in or not. Isn’t an extra sacrifice for me.
Beefa
Roar Rookie
To play Skelton, his other locking partner has to be work horse. (Either of Neville, Phillips or Rodda or Arnold )’ The sacrifices you have to make to include Skelton is just too much for my liking.
Swede
Roar Rookie
On form id go . White, Lonergan, J Gordon Cooper, Foley Kerevi, Foketi Ikitau, Perese Koroibete, Nawaqanitawase, Petaia Wright, Kellaway
Swede
Roar Rookie
How has Carter Gordon handled the defensive workload in a test match against more talented more physical and more organized teams. Oh right. :thumbup: :shocked:
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Absolutely.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Cheers mate, I mean obviously too many Tahs but I reckon that group could play a pretty good brand of footy. Nice mix of power and pace and some pretty canny halves to steer them around.
JohnMc
Roar Rookie
I've always been a fan of Noah Lolesio. I got quite angry how I perceived DR treated the kid the last 2 years, but Carter Gordon is just a cracker! He and Noah are the future at 10. Hope he develops even more. On another note, sad to see Petaia on the injury list and out for the rest of SR2023. His RWC bid may be over with the talent available for the back 3 spots.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Campbell's tackling is reminiscent of Campo's - a sometimes thing. Campo obviously doesn't see it as a necessary thing for full-backs. Every try saved by a full-back who can read play and really tackle is as valuable as a score at the other end.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Some of the injury ward may not make it, but I like the shape of that lot.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Yes. The 3 Amigo days. Beale, JOC and Cooper. All such talented rugby players but where was the senior player and coaching guidance for them? They needed to have their heads pulled in and properly supported. Imagine if that was done when they first came on the scene?