Super Rugby - Australia Preview

What is always a close conference promises to be closer than ever this year, with the Australian teams hoping to build on the National Teams progress:

Brumbies

Last Season: Semi Finalists
Key Player: David Pocock

The Brumbies are always there or thereabouts when it comes to the playoff mix, and this year they have built themselves a formidable pack with Wallabies all the way through. The front row contains the breakout performer of the World Cup in Scott Sio as well as the captain Stephen Moore, while the back row contains arguably the most destructive player in world rugby, David Pocock. Add in Ben Alexander, Scott Fardy and Sam Carter, who will be raring to go after an injury-ravaged campaign last year, and you not only have World Class performers but also players with a lot of big match experience as well. That was very evident when they went to Newlands in the quarter final last year and won. It will be interesting to see how they go without Nic White at scrum half, but everything from 10 onwards is enviable. Matt Toomua at fly half, a centre combination of Tevita Kuridrani and Christain Lealiifano and Wallaby wingers in Joe Tomane and Henry Speight is not a bad looking back line. With the strength and depth they have, it will be hard to bet against the men from the capital.

Prediction: Semi Finals

Waratahs

Last Season: Semi Finalists

Key Player: Michael Hooper

The biggest loss since the end of the previous season has been Michael Cheika to the Wallabies. New head coach Daryl Gibson is confident in his abilities (even to the point of saying he would leave if he didn’t get the job), however he has huge shoes to fill. Some key players have moved on as well - Adam Ashley-Cooper and Sekope Kepu to Bordeaux and Jacques Potgieter to the Sharks. Kepu in particular leaves a hole, and a lot will ride on Ben Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau in the front row. Wycliff Palu at number 8 will be hoping for an injury-free season as the only recognised 8 in the squad. With the incumbent Australian 9/10 combination in Phipps and Foley, game control shouldn’t be a problem, and with Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau they have some serious match winners. The additions of the talented but troubled Zac Guildford and Reece Robinson from rugby league will be intriguing, but it may be a tougher season than people imagine for the ‘Tahs.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Western Force

Last Season: Wooden Spoon

Key Player: Ben McCalman

2015 was a tough year for the men from Perth, with only 3 wins registered. This season they have a very unkind draw with an early trip over the Tasman to face the top New Zealand sides. They are

a team that are able to pull out a few shock results, having beaten the all-conquering Crusaders a

couple of years ago and shocking the Waratahs in the opening round of last year’s competition. This is they won’t get the wooden spoon, but they will most certainly struggle. More than the 3 wins mustered last year would, in my eyes, be a significant achievement. For the good of the game in Western Australia I would love to see them make a couple of marquee signings and move up the table, but it won’t be happening this year.

Prediction: Bottom of group

Queensland Reds

Last Season: 13th

Key Player: Karmichael Hunt

Since winning the competition in 2011, the Reds have been on a steady decline. A lot of key players have moved on or been injured long term and that has taken its toll. Last season they finished again in 13th place but with one less win than the previous year and 6 less points. Again, some big players have left - James Horwill to the Harlequins is the big loss in the pack, but the departures of Will Genia and Quade Cooper to Stade Français and Toulon respectively will leave the biggest holes. It is not all doom and gloom though. They have picked up the Japanese hero from the World Cup, Ayumu Goromaru, and have a young, hungry squad that they are building. If they can continue to keep these players together then The Reds will once again be a serious contender in Super Rugby, just not this year. One to really keep an eye out for is Junior Laloifi, plucked from the NRC after a blistering campaign in which he scored 14 tries in 8 games.

Prediction: 4th in group

Melbourne Rebels

Last Season: 10th

Key Player: Sean McMahon

Since their inception into Super Rugby, the Rebels have flattered to deceive. Each year they have tried to make a marquee signing or two in the backs, and neglected their pack. It seems that they have learnt from this and have put a lot more emphasis on their set piece and last season’s result proved that, with their best-ever finish including a notable win in Canterbury against the Crusaders. They are taking the time to build a squad that, with the addition of a couple of high profile players in key areas, will challenge the perennial powerhouses in Australia. Scott Higginbotham moving to Japan is a loss no doubt and there will be a lot of expectation on Sean McMahon’s shoulders to get the ball moving forward as well as make his bone-crunching tackles. Tamati Ellison is an experienced campaigner at centre and in Dom Shipperley they have a finisher out wide. Whilst this season may be a touch too early for the playoffs, if they continue to build in this vein it won’t be far off.

Prediction: 3rd in group

By Rob Seltzer - http://www.therugbypod.com/