Aussies Better Than Kiwis - The Ugly Truth

Something is brewing over the Ditch.

There is rancour from some of the Australian Super Rugby coaches towards Wallabies boss Michael Cheika for the injuries suffered by some of their players at a recent training camp, with David Pocock, Adam Coleman, Dane Haylett-Petty and Nick Phipps all crocked, but there must be positivity too about their competitiveness so far this season, especially at the Brumbies, Rebels and Reds.

The Brumbies' 54-17 victory over the Chiefs in Canberra came via an 80-minute performance that no Kiwi team has managed in two rounds of the competition.

Everything the home side did turned to gold – and much of that was orchestrated by No10 Christian Lealiifano who, incredibly, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016 but is now in remission and playing the rugby of his life. Conversely, the Brumbies had an answer to almost everything the Chiefs tried, and with first-five Damian McKenzie back pulling the strings, they tried quite a bit.

It was Brodie Retallick's 100th match for the Chiefs. The only way it could have been worse was if Retallick picked up an injury and the team bus a puncture on the way to the airport.

"We're all in shock, really, and surprised with that result," head coach Colin Cooper said.

In May last year Australia's incredible losing streak against New Zealand Super Rugby sides was halted at 40 when the Waratahs beat the Highlanders in Sydney. Now, you could make a case for them having a better start to the competition than Kiwi sides. They are playing without fear, but, even more importantly, skill and composure.

Retallick said at GIO Stadium: "I'm not sure what goes on in the Australian teams' camp but with their results from last year, they would've been pretty disappointed.

"But [results this season] show they've been working hard and they've come a long way."

In round one, the Rebels, with the old firm of Quade Cooper and Will Genia back at the helm, beat the Brumbies in Canberra 34-27, and are likely to test the Highlanders in Melbourne all over the park this weekend.

Aaron Mauger's team have sneaked home in both their matches against the Waratahs and Reds and are fully aware of the task ahead against what has previously been an inconsistent outfit known as a bit of a soft touch.

"They are well coached side … a well drilled side and they've got a lot of innovation and changes to their attack," Highlanders assistant Mark Hammett said this week. "We're very respectful of them."

Last year the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders all made the top eight, with the Waratahs the only Australian team. This year there is a hint that balance of power is shifting.

The Blues have got off to a 0-2 start to the season and while many would suggest there's no surprise in that, the Chiefs have the same record and they have traditionally been known as a hard-nosed outfit who don't know when they are beaten. Already they've limply surrendered a lead to lose to a 14-man Highlanders team and were humiliated in Canberra.

Cooper's men should get their first win of the season when they host the Sunwolves in Hamilton this weekend, but the Hurricanes, who dodged a bullet in Sydney against the Waratahs and were outclassed by the Crusaders in Christchurch, have a big challenge against the Brumbies in Palmerston North.

Even the Crusaders have yet to put in an 80-minute performance. They probably should have lost to the Blues at Eden Park and they let their normally high standards slip in the last quarter against the Hurricanes when they let in two tries to lose a winning bonus point.

The Reds' performance in narrowly losing in Dunedin after a bye in round one will have, in the words of Steve Hansen, shifted the Crusaders players' backsides to the front of their seats as they consider a trip to Brisbane.

"They can play – you can see a difference already in a year… Brad has taken a while to shape them but he's shaped them pretty well," Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson said.

"They showed a bit of heart and courage and were only a moment away from what you would probably call an upset."

Early Days, early days.  Crusaders have looked good, and they usually get better as the season goes on. 

The amount of New Zealand players leaving overseas may finally have caught up with them, and they do not have the depth for 5 teams anymore

Agreed, the Crusaders will get better as the competition progresses. 

Thus far, one South African team occupies the bottom 7 . 

I did an analysis as to what happened in the first 2 Rounds of the season, but is SB said it is way too early to come up with real conclusions.

In the first instance there are signs that:-

*   The Blues did well against the Crusaders in Round 1 -  but the team is known to be poor travelers and the have a handicap as 12 in their team.   The have another away game against the  Jaguares in Round 3 and based on their away performances and the fact that the Jaguares beat them in Auckland last year - they are likely to lose the game in Round 3.   In a way they ar lucky o have their away games early and at home they may still be a serious problem at home to a lot of other teams.

*    The Chiefs lost narrowly against the Highlanders in Round 1 and was then disgraced by the Brumbies and indications are they are not going anywhere in the series in the series this year,  The Brumbies was beaten by the Rebels in Round 1 - but if Retallick and MacKenzie can recover some of their lost form the Chiefs may be lucky  beating the Sunwolves in Round 3.

*    Although the Highlanders manage to beat narrowly two sides at home - I think they would be unable to beat the Rebels in Melbourne

*    If the Brumbies does not beat the Hurr icanes in Round 4 I will have to go and buy a hat to eat.

*    Despite the positives showed by the Reds in Round 2 I think the Crusaders would be a river too wide for the, to get across over.

The story in the article above is questionable.   The drop in performances by key AB players is more to blame for their teams poor performances against the Aussie teams and the Sharks  has a lot to do with player losses as SB indicated than whatever happens  in Australia.     

Silly Billy writes about something which has no meaning in the series - what always count is who is in the top 8 on the log.  That is what all teams are trying to be in so as to be in the play-offs.  

I didn't write the article... Silly Billy. 

Silly Bilie - you made the hilarious and nonsensical  comments about the bottom 7.

Mozart

With respect - the AB's have some weak spots and a problem their top players have thus far not fired as expected,   Retallick was poor and Whitelock is no what he used to be - he already went sour last year,   In Frizell they have one of the best loosies playing at present,   There scrummies are in fact not as good as they used to be and both Barrett and Mo'unga is this year below par.   

The have an excellent center in Goodhue and a youngster by the name of Ennor - who is a real center of the future.   There full back situation is not all that good and their best wing Ioane has not fired as yet.  

So your evaluation of their team is not entirely accurate.   Watch a bit more of NZ rugby and it may help i n identifying their real problems this year.       

Who gives a damn about the Super 15 this year?

The players haven't even focused yet.

The brumbies will end up being pissed off because they had all their annual luck in 1 game.

There is only one focus this year.

But the Crusaders will still win the Super 15.  

RL

Rather wait nd see what happens before making predictions.   There are too many AB players who are off the boil and some holes to fill before bragging.

Lol lets see by round 5, when all the kiwi sides find their feet and are no longer effected by the All Blacks Mandatory Rest Protocol. And see if the Aussie sides can sustain this. They always start well. I Can see the Canes being one of the biggest improovers once their all blacks return as Beaudan has. 

Luke

I do not know what really is going on in the NZ franchises - but something is wrong.   The AB players who did play are with rare exceptions under-performing.   Retallick for instance was not up to any real performance requirements,   

I was seriously disappointed by especially the Hurricanes players - most have had really poor games thus far, eg Laumape and Coles.   I can name quite a few more.   They were bloody lucky to beat the Waratahs - who nearly managed to lose against the Sunwolves.   

The Brumbies lost against the Rebels and th en humiliated the Chiefs,   The Canes must be careful - they can suffer the same fate as the Chiefs did..          

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the All Blacks were stopped from playing in the warm up games and as such are off the pace a little as training doesn't make up for actually playing.

You will see an improvement as we get deeper into the rounds and they get a few games under the belt .

Cloudy

I am not all that convinced that the return of Reid and Sam Whitelock will make a real difference - they were off the boil last year and is not getting younger.  Fact is I was disappointed in their test performances last year,   

CF

What comments on my new favourite Ennor playing for the Crusaders,   Fact is I would think that wit the injury to  Mataele they should use Ennor to replace him..

I am not sure and am waiting for the team announcements - but my forecast iro NZ teams in Round 3 is as follows:-

*    Brumbies -  Hurricanes game is a toss-up 

*    Rebels to beat Highlanders

*    Chiefs to beat Sunwolves

*    Crusaders to beat Reds

*    Jaguares to beat Blues     

Ennor is highly rated here and a versitile player as well and he can definitly play on the wing. Wont be long before you see him in black (but doubt it will be this year barring injuries).

Canes to lose unless they have a major turn around, though they looked much better when their experienced players came off the bench ( which coincided with us emptying our bench and we lost our stucture so not sure which way to read that)

Highlanders can take this, but I understand Ben from accounts and A Smith are not playing so it will take a miracle. Rebels by 10

Didn't see the Chiefs game but from all accounts they were complete rubbish so Sunwolves have a chance. Chiefs by 1 ( if we are lucky)

Crusaders by 20 normally but  with these mandatory limited minutes or cant play at all I will happily take a win by 1. Razor has used his front line ABs heavily in the first 2 games and suspect he always planned to rest his AB's in this game but their preformance last week against the Highlanders has probably given him something to think about. Should be a close game but think we have enough depth to take it out. 

Oops forgot the Blues, be happy if they get within 14 points in Argentina  

CF

This does not look good - as you know I really admire NZ rugby - and what you wrote above gave me the jitters.   OK  -   you give  the Crusaders and Chiefs to win by 1 point and stated that the Chiefs will be lucky to win.

For me it will be a disaster if all five NZ teams lose and just slightly less so if four of them lose,  I was optimistic about the Crusaders and the Chiefs winning and regarded the Hurricanes game as a toss-up.  I would be upset if what you wrote above happened.