WE ARE ALMOST at the halfway stage of the 2015 Super Rugby season so there are some conclusions we can draw as we near ever closer to this autumn’s World Cup in England.
- The All Blacks are in an ideal place.
- The Australian backline will be very dangerous.
- The South African’s have spread the wealth around their country.
The first point can almost be used to describe New Zealand rugby at any given time but it looks especially true at the moment. After an impressive 2014, a number of key All Blacks have carried their stellar form into this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
The Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders and Crusaders occupy four of the six playoff spots, with the ‘Canes currently boasting a perfect record of seven wins and zero defeats.
The Wellington team have always had a lot of talented backs – Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen have all played for them – but until this season they have generally been mediocre in Super Rugby.
The man who used to sum up the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby displays was Ma’a Nonu, someone who delivered consistently for the All Blacks but would then play for his club as if it was a massive inconvenience for him.
Eamon Dunphy likes to pick on Yaya Toure but he could easily have been describing Nonu’s Super Rugby displays when he said of the Man City midfielder, ‘he is lounging around midfield like a lounge lizard, looking like his wage packet fell on his foot’.
Playing for his third team in three years, it looked like the inside centre was just happy to lazily mosey around New Zealand cashing checks outside of international windows.
But Nonu, like the ‘Canes in general, has been rejuvenated this year. They also have Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith and Julian Savea in their backline and they have been devastating at times.
Besides the league leaders, the Chiefs have also impressed and Sonny Bill Williams’ form will make him a big contender for All Blacks selection. SBW will have to edge out Nonu or Smith, which is a tough task, but the magician’s sleight of hand as been as glorious as ever this season.
There is also the intriguing sub-plot of Aaron Cruden v Beauden Barrett v Dan Carter for the All Blacks ten jersey and based on their displays so far, DC is probably in third.
The Crusaders have struggled at times this season but looked close to their irresistible best on Saturday, shredding the Sharks in Durban in a 52-7 win.
The Brumbies look the most likely team to disrupt the New Zealand dominance and their backline has played some scintillating rugby under Stephen Larkham’s guidance. The legendary ten has clearly helped develop Matt Toomua’s play-making skills and outside him Henry Speight and Christian Lealiifano have been dangerous too.
Tevita Kurdrani has yet to play in Super Rugby this year because of injury but he remains one of the Wallabies key men ahead of the World Cup.
The Bulls are the only South African side in the playoff positions at the moment and it has been a poor start for their franchises. The Sharks, who made the semi-final last year, have been quite poor in a lot of their games and the Stormers have disappointed too.
It is interesting to note the make-up of the Springbok squad though, because the balance of power isn’t located with just one or two teams. So while their Super Rugby teams haven’t looked particularly impressive so far, it isn’t as reflective of the health of their national team as it might be in some other countries.
Here is how the table looks with eight of the 18 rounds completed.
There is a lot of rugby left to be played before the World Cup but it looks like the perennial favourites are in a prime position to retain their title.
The king stay the king.
no Conway is the man. fast can tackle & safe hands under a high ball
@john fleming: shtop.
@john fleming: Ha ha ha
He’s too dangerous a finisher to take off the wing. I’d like to see Stockdale-Lowe-Larmour next season
@Rudiger McMonihan: Lowe is qualified?
@Rudiger McMonihan: that would be a ridiculous backline
@Rudiger McMonihan: oh Jesus Christ !!!!
@Bluepoolroad: after the world cup
I think it’s November 2020 before he qualifies
@Rudiger McMonihan: Keith Earls won’t be pushed out that easily.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Jesus did earl’s steal your wife or something
@Padraic Burke: Earls isn’t half the player that Lowe is.
Earl’s is much older and in a years time it is unlikely that he will still be the best winger. If he is then fair play to him. I hope I’m proven wrong!
@Baz Dunne: your right. He’s twice the player.
@Anthony:
For Leinster the qualification of Jamison Gibson-Park at the end of 2019 will mean J Lowe should become a regular because that 2 into 3 problem will be gone. But it will not be till next year that he could qualifie (if he wants to go for a place in the Ireland setup)
A fine player but Earls is the man !!
@Baz Dunne: And you’re clearly not half the expert you think you are.
@Bluepoolroad: yes Lowe can play I. Next 6nations I think … has to be in the mix as does Adam Byrne I think if he keeps progressing post the Kearney, Earls era
Is there anything to be said for Simon Zebo?
@southside: No
@southside: if he comes back then absolutely
@Rudiger McMonihan: Zebo shouldn’t have to come back to qualify. He is 1/2 French and has chosen to experience that culture. Should that restrict his eligibility?? NO
Bad example but Imagine telling Irish soccer players plying their trade in England you need to play in the league of Ireland.
Zebo record try scorer for Munster
Was on shortlist in his 1 season for Top 14 player of the year. Of course he should be considered.
@southside: yeah get lost Simon
@T Meister: yes it most certainly should restrict it. We need to protect our provincial game because at the moment it’s working. Look at how bad the French team are because they have no control over french club players
@T Meister: I can’t believe we’re STILL having the Zebo conversation.
@Anthony:
So should Sexton have been dropped too?
@The Great Unwashed:
Different times my friend and all gone over many many times .
@Anthony: FREEDOM of choice for ALL.
Best players who qualify for this country should be considered. Provinces should stand on their own merits encourage Irish players to stay but not the detriment of the National Side being able to choose The Best 15.
@Martin Quinn:
Not different times at all. The ‘rule’ applied to players before Sexton and after Sexton, so why didn’t it apply to Sexton himself?
You can’t have a policy and then choose to disregard it when it’s inconvenient – either it’s the policy or it isn’t.
@The Great Unwashed: maybe you should change your name to the great uneducated, this was enforced because of sexton.
@Chris Mc:
What does that even mean? The policy was there long before Sexton moved to Racing, so why wasn’t it applied to him as it was applied to other players who moved overseas?
@The Great Unwashed: I know the reason as you certainly do by the question you asked and for THIS reply to be published this is all I can say.
No.
His a winger.
Stick to players playing in there natural position. Instead of fannying about.
@Paddy Waggon: played u20 at full back and pretty impressive at that
@Kevin Donnelly: why was he moved to the wing so .
@Paddy Waggon: To get game time in a position which is not as challenging for a young inexperienced player. He will be Ulster’s 15 for years to come imo
Even though his defence has improved over the past 12 months, it remains the weakest part of his game. At 15 he could be exposed by all of the open ground as opposed to being able to use the touchline as an extra defender. It could improve for pro14 level but I don’t think he could manage international.
@Declan Snow: It’s his defensive positioning and reads that have let him down, rather than his tackle technique. At 15 he’ll only really be needed to shut someone down when they break the line and he has the speed to do it. Would really like to see him there.
The thoughts of a Stockdale, Lowe, Larmour back 3 going into the next world cup cycle is mouth watering!
I’d prefer to see Larmour getting some serious game time back there!
He needs to be given a few games on the run
@Aaron Tynan: In what aspect(s) of his game is Jordan better than Jacob?
@Bluepoolroad: actually grounding the ball for one
@John Keenan: savage
@John Keenan: that was harsh now in fairness.
@Stephen Foster: funny tho
@Bluepoolroad:
Knowing when to pass.
I think everyone is forgetting about Addison. I think he will have a say in that back 3 over the next 4 – 8 years.
Stockdale can’t / won’t pass.
You need a 15 that can pass.
@Bungee Aky: so Rob Lyttle got the ball by telepathy on Friday night?
@Ian Frizzell: you said it
@Bungee Aky: Rob “Straightens the line” Kearney never saw a ball he couldnt run into the first chaser with
@Bungee Aky: Kearney is knowing for his passing rather than his running into contact ;-)
@Bungee Aky: also a dodgy defender
@Kevin Donnelly: In what alternate universe is that true?
I never feel confident that he will catch a high contested ball in game.
The question is, who will be fb come world cup
Henshaw is our best natural fullback, I hope Joe sticks with him in the warm ups.
@Rochelle: showed against england he has almost no positional sense to defend the chip over the top. If he isnt playing 15 for leinster (he wont be) its a non runner for Ire
@Rochelle: He is in his hoop
@Kazoochka: bovine excrement! He covered as well as anyone would have with that defensive set up. Even with the tweaks that followed RK with all his experience was caught several times v Italy. Give players that much time to look up and pick and choose their kicks and with nobody else dropping into the backfield the best 15 in the world would have struggled. England just out gunned us tactically and broke our defence down, I wouldn’t go pointing the finger at any one player.
@Kazoochka: both Earls and Stockdale made horrible calls in the game and expecting an full back to read those is a bit much.
Larmour is prob next in line, he still has a lot of learning to do in my opinion. There are a lot of times in games where his decision making with ball in hand gets him (team) in trouble. No doubting his ability but sometimes he should just take the direct line of contact and get go forward rather than trying to jink statically around guys and then get pushed back a few meters
Well itd be interesting. Hes a tall lad so fielding wouldnt be an issue. In terms of speed hes very quick as well. But is he too tqll that hes an easier target?
Worth a try at least.
I’d much rather keep him on the wing. It’s a pity Haley has taken the fullback position at Munster as I believe Conway is our best all rounded fullback in the country. While larmour and Addison have still to add to their game, I believe Conway has all the right attributes to make a top quality fullback at international level.
@Anthony O Connell: Conway has never really claimed the Munster 15 shirt and always seems to be injured when the internationals come around. He’s no spring chicken either.
You shut up.
I’m Eoin McLove.
I can do what I lie!