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Brett McKay is one of The Roar's good news stories and has been a rugby and cricket expert for the site since July 2009. Brett is an international and Super Rugby commentator for ABC Grandstand radio, is the voice of ACT club rugby, has commentated on Under-20s Championships, Women's Uni Sevens and National Rugby Championship coverage, and has written for magazines and websites in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. He tweets from @BMcSport.
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At the time of asking the guys for their tips and even at the time of writing these intro paragraphs the two matches scheduled for the final round to complete Super Rugby Aotearoa were and are still going ahead.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote of Round 3 being the weekend that made Super Rugby AU, the round in which Queensland and the Western Force played out a belter on the Friday night, and New South Wales and the Brumbies followed up with a one-point thriller on the Saturday night.
You’re going to hear a lot of talk about ultimate pens this weekend, being the second-last week of competition in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Every now and then, something is said in a press conference that immediately breaks free of the standard cliché and routine.
Three rounds to go in New Zealand, the halfway point about to be reached in Australia. Have we learnt anything yet that we didn’t already know?
Once upon a time, not that long ago in fact, it was sites like this one and others that were the domain of theoretical new rugby competition formats.
Last week was bound to be disappointing and it mostly was for those of not answering to the name ‘Digger’. But this week looks a bit more clear-cut and that is every bit as nerve-wracking.
After all the sky-is-falling discussion after the Rebels and Reds played out ‘The Draw We’d Rather Forget’ in Round 2, it was great – nay, bloody fantastic – to see Super Rugby AU dish up two really, really enjoyable games across the weekend for Round 3.
The resumption of Super Rugby AU introduced too many variables into our tipping for my liking, and with the Crusaders having this week off, it feels like Week 6 is sitting there in front of us just waiting to decide how many ways it can go south.
We’ve only had four games played with the new law variations in place, and the Brumbies and Western Force have only played one game each over the first two rounds.
In a year of Australian rugby that’s seen a coup led by ex-captains, player payment disputes, mutiny because of said dispute, a CEO rolled, a new Chair and interim CEO installed, all with the backdrop of a nervous broadcaster, you would have been excused if you expressed extreme doubts over the likelihood of any actual […]
For someone who doesn’t officially start his new job for another week, incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has sure done a mountain of homework already.
Honestly, it’s like we’ve been reading about a different sport over this last week, with the dramatic change in tack around the reporting of rugby in Australia.
With Super Rugby Aotearoa due to kick off this weekend, and Super Rugby AU still aiming for the first weekend in July, there’s no coincidence that the closed competitions will take the opportunity to try a few law variations.
Three significant boxes were ticked over the last few days, as Australia’s domestic Super Rugby replacement for the 2020 season edges closer to its yet-to-be-announced but widely accepted July 4 start date.
On the surface, a joint statement from both SANZAAR and the Six Nations around long overdue discussions on the alignment of northern and southern seasons should be seen as a good thing.
As the magnets continue to be shuffled around different whiteboards in different countries to work out if and how and when a resumption of professional rugby might be possible for this year, attention is also being cast forward to see if workable solutions for 2021 can also be found.
It’s felt like the target that we might never get to, but all the planets are aligning for the Australian incarnation of Super Rugby to get underway in early July.
It’s long been a ‘silver bullet’ pipedream for Australian rugby fans and even Australian rugby broadcasters, but never really given a lot of thought on the New Zealand side of any trans-Tasman thinking. But two recent developments show that this idea is edging closer and closer to reality.
Ultimately now, what’s done is done. Rugby Australia is in a messy state of flux once again, and once again the blood is on the hands of Australian rugby.
More cases in Auckland this morning only narrows the chances of Sunday’s game being played, I’d imagine RT. Which is a shame, but obviously the right call..
Super Rugby Week 10: four becomes two?
Can you imagine the Lions playing Warringah, wre?
And a national club competition won’t reach Currie Cup or NPC standards either. Won’t even go close..
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
That Grassroots to Wallabies concept might get up yet! 😂
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
Except that that’s not how 2020 has played out.
Up to the suspension of Super Rugby, the home/away split was 26/20.
In nine rounds of Aotearoa, it’s 10/8.
In AU, it’s 7/4 (1 draw), and only one of those four – the Rebels beating the Force at Leichhardt – doesn’t fit the ‘true’ meaning of an away win, in that both the Force and Rebels are on tour.
But you’ve been banging on about this for six rounds, so I can’t imagine this will stop you. I don’t really see what you’re trying to achieve, if I’m honest..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Well Tim Sampson’s an obvious one. Jason Gilmore was in the Qld age ranks, but went on to National U20s duties after his NRC stint with Qld Country. Thorn was still playing when he got his first taste of coaching during the NRC. John Manenti gets into the Sevens scene after coaching Western Sydney. Dwayne Nestor is now the Wallaroos coach after coaching Perth. Darren Coleman was by far the best NSW coach to cmoe through the NRC and was chronically and repeatedly overlooked, and will now coach an MLR team in the States. Chris Harris ends up in Fiji after coaching Canberra. Rob Taylor won a Premiership with Sydney Uni last year, missed the finals with NSW Country by a point is now with Leicester. There would be others.
You’re trying to frame this very selectively (particularly players) with your caveat “they were not in focus”, but this was the whole point of the NRC, to test guys that were being looked at, or who had done a pre-season or two, or were on token training contracts, and that’s ridiculous unfair because the absolute vast majority of the current playing ranks would have played in the NRC at some point over the last six seasons.
So what you’re trying to throw up is a complete red herring. And I would argue that the main reason so many of last year’s Junior Wallabies have been able to make the step into Super Rugby so well is because of their grounding in the NRC. They might all have still worked their way through without the NRC, but how many would’ve done it the next year? Not nearly as many, is my guess.
The point being the NRC was a major point in the pathway. All these guys – and it’s upwards of a hundred now, over six seasons – that have taken the step were ‘in focus’ in some shape or form, but the NRC confirmed that they were ready to take that next step.
But you’ll still want names… So here’s a couple: Will Miller. Tom Cusack. Folau Fainga’a. Brandon Paenga-Amosa. Matt Philip. Isi Naisarani. And there’d be more again. Any guys who essentially went interstate to take up a pro deal would fit your narrow criteria, basically..
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
Scotty, I’m in exactly the same boat!
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
LBJ, could you elaborate on what you mean by “I would go further and argue that there are no players that have been selected through the NRC”, please?
Because the immediate reaction to that statement is not exactly family-friendly, and I’m hoping I’m misinterpreting what you mean..
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
Come on Moa, one of most common words used in criticisms of both Michael Cheika and Raelene Castle was inept!!
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
And he definitely does, have plenty of potential. Dan McKellar has said a few times there was nothing between them in pre-season and coming into the first game..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
I’ve not seen that, but I suspect that might be more the Courier Mail? I’m not seeing that in the Telegraph or The Australian, where they both have dedicated rugby writers in place.
Don’t disagree with your point above about player development, and it could well be TV driven again, but I will remain surprised. I even look forward to being surprised..
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
It impacts the competition Sheikh, for sure, but it not to the extent expressed above: “The home/away designation is therefore quite meaningless in this year’s competition” just isn’t true..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Yeah, a fair question Mitch, and one I can easily see the Brumbies asking of themselves.
Did their own game plan contribute to Kuenzle having a hard time of it? All valid questions..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Boz, I’ll be pleasantly shocked if the NRC makes a comeback next year.
It made sense to not play it this year, which is the last year of the original Fox deal, and I think it hasn’t been mentioned in this new bundle of Rugby Australia ‘product’ for very obvious reasons..
Optus reportedly eyeing off Rugby AU's new broadcast offering
No, I knew the Reds’ record wasn’t great – the Brumbies went 15 & 1 from 1996 through to 2010, and the Reds didn’t win in Canberra until 2011.
In fact the record in Canberra is still Brumbies 17 Reds 3!
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
😱 It’s true! Just looked it up..
BRU v RED (since 1996) Played 35, won 26, lost 8, 1 draw.
BRU v REB (since 2011) Played 20, won 11, lost 9.
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Kayo has had a massive surge in subs, too, something like 140-150K since the end of June!
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
I didn’t mention specifically Robbo, but I consider those factors impacting the Force and Rebels all the time. From one game to the next, it’s actually hard to know how it impacts them.
The Rebels for eg, will be riding high with confidence now, but this might just be the week where homesickness and the drain of living out of a suitcase really kicks in for a couple of players.
Equally, the Force might be really battling this week to ‘get up’ for a game after a bye while on tour.
The Rebels I know had been (and may still be) trying to seek a Qld exemption for Cottrell as a Qld resident, in the hope that he’d be able to meet them in Brisbane this week. And I’m sure they’d love to be able to have Tom English and Ross Haylett-Petty available, too..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
That’s the thing now Jarrod, it feels like the Tahs should start comfortable favourites, but what does that even mean now?!
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Made that very point above BS. He’s played one game off the bench, reckon it would be a bit much to ask him to start a game now..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Well, not my tipping sheet, Mzil, that’s for sure!
In fact, only Geoff’s punt on the Rebels saved us from a complete AU wipeout in Round 6! 😂
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Can’t argue with that, SMI. I think we undervalue a left-footer, too..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
I get your point Kova, but I reckon most teams with a 38-point halftime lead would make a similar decision when faced with the torrential rain that appeared around halftime..
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
Very good Terry, very good. And well earned smugness, too, might I say.. 😁
Hanigan’s been getting better and better since his return, but I agree with you, he was excellent v Qld.
Perfect timing: The round that has Super Rugby AU at sixes and sevens
I’m with you on the Blues, Hairy Man, but that’s where our primary colour allegiance ends…
Super Rugby Week 10: four becomes two?