Pro2,549 posts
18 Feb 2018, 13:47
#1
18 Feb 2018, 13:47#1
after having watched yesterday the saffa "supporting artists" making the competition's intro, next week begins the real deal, the NZ conference,... here a review of it:
BLUES (Marc Hinton)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
Not too much personnel wise. Charlie Faumuina and Steven Luatua have departed, and there has been a partial changing of the guard at No 10. But the big improvements need to come in areas such as temperament, ability to execute under pressure, decision-making and that all-important clutch gene. That, really, is the difference between this underachieving franchise remaining mired in the basement of the stacked New Zealand conference, and actually making it to finals football, which is something they've achieved only once in the last decade.
The talent is there, no doubt, but these guys have to close out games better and jump on the big moments more efficiently if they're to turn those honourable defeats to notable victories. Especially with the rise in Kiwi derbies back to eight. Making Augustine Pulu skipper has been a big call. Let's see if was an inspired one.
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
A little cruel. The Blues open with a brutal first month, visiting the Highlanders in Dunedin, hosting the Chiefs at Eden Park and then heading to South Africa for a testing road double of the Lions and Stormers. They would not need to be a million miles off the pace to find themselves 0-4, and in a world of hurt, after the first four rounds. A 2-2 split would represent a pretty fair start.
Exacerbating the difficulty of the opening month for the Blues are their issues at No 10, and to a lesser extent No 7. They will be down to their third-choice first five for those opening four weeks and a lot is going to sit on how well Bryn Gatland copes in his first sustained stint at this level. They also need some spark at openside until Blake Gibson returns from injury.
3. The player to look out for this year?
The easy answer is Rieko Ioane. If the best wing in the world can be served up a diet of quality possession, you have to think he feasts on tries this campaign. It should be fun to watch him, Sonny Bill Williams, George Moala, Matt Duffie and Melani Nanai express themselves in 2018.
But look no further than his older brother Akira Ioane as the potential big mover for the Blues. This has been a young man promising more than he has been able to deliver for a few years now, and it is time for the gifted loose forward to come of age and start carving up. Especially with veteran loosie Jerome Kaino on his farewell tour of duty. Akira has seen his brother's career skyrocket; now it's his chance to launch himself on a similar trajectory.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
I've got the Hurricanes, in another tight, compelling and captivating dogfight between five decidedly even franchises.
The Crusaders, of course, will be tough to dislodge, and if the Highlanders can keep their top XV on the park they will be a difficult out. And watching Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie going in fast-forward for the Chiefs will be all kinds of fun.
But there is so much to like about the Canes, it's not difficult to see them getting the job done in 2018. They have a nice mix of explosive young talent and hard-nosed tougness in their pack, the best halves combination in the competition and all sorts of options and talent in their backline. Above all, though, they have a depth that will enable them to absorb the injuries, and rest their All Blacks, and just keep on keeping on.
CHIEFS (Aaron Goile)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
Probably more accurately, what hasn't changed. They are the Kiwi team that has undergone the biggest off-season makeover in terms of key personnel. Along with a new CEO, there's a new coach in Colin Cooper and a new assistant in Tabai Matson, after Dave Rennie and Kieran Keane both opted to head overseas; while other high-profile players like Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, James Lowe, Michael Leitch and Hika Elliot also chose to go abroad. It means there's going to be a particularly new look about the team, most notably in that crucial 9-10 decision-making axis.
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
They've struck it reasonably well - getting their turn to avoid the Lions, the beaten finalists the last two years. That is somewhat offset, though, by not having a shot at the Rebels - who won just once last year - however the rest of the Aussie conference shouldn't exactly be daunting anyway. Having opted against a third successive year hosting a game in Fiji, the Chiefs will have home ground advantage restored against the Crusaders, and instead will play the Highlanders in an away fixture in Suva. There's a tough start, with the Crusaders and Blues away, before an early bye, but if they can come through the tough road double of Stormers-Sharks there's the potential to launch, with four of their last five games in Hamilton.
3. The player to look out for this year?
There will be two words on everyone's lips - Damian McKenzie. The man with the twinkle toes, electric pace and x-factor has been outstanding at fullback in recent seasons, growing into that role at international level too. But now it's a shift to first five-eighth which will have all and sundry intrigued, to see if he has the game management to lead a side around. Some may have forgotten how much No 10 the 22-year-old has actually played, during his school days and for Waikato, having also popped into first receiver at times in Super Rugby games. If McKenzie can make a good fist of the task then the Chiefs could be lethal, and he, too, could prove to the national selectors that he is the man for the All Blacks' bench utility role.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
Crusaders. They've had the least turnover of any of the Kiwi squads - and why wouldn't you when you're defending champs? - and theirs looks the most balanced. None of the tight five have changed from last season, and their pack should only continue to roll teams around. There are some youngsters introduced out wide and the Ryan Crotty-Jack Goodhue midfield is one to enthuse about. Will be without injured All Blacks Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Kieran Read and Israel Dagg for around the first half of the season, but if they can get through that period (three of eight local derbies there) that quartet could give them a fresh bounce to push on.
CRUSADERS (Richard Knowler)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
Former Ireland No 10 Ronan O'Gara has been enlisted as an assistant backs coach, replacing Leon MacDonald. Although he played 128 tests for his country as a first five-eighth, O'Gara's will allow another assistant backs coach, Brad Mooar, to mentor the playmakers. O'Gara has been instructed to take over MacDonald's portfolio: that means working with the outside backs, from the centres to the fullbacks, organising the counterattack and kicking plans, and assisting head coach Scott Robertson with the defensive strategies. Mooar, as he did last year, will continue to work with the inside backs, shaping the attack and formulating game plans.
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
It's fair. The task of travelling to Johannesburg for a re-run of the final, against the Lions in the eighth round, followed by the encounter against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, must be carefully managed. The bye in round 17 allows their All Blacks an extra week to recuperate following the tests against France, prior to hosting the Highlanders and Blues in the final rounds of the regular season. The wonky draw cooked-up by Sanzaar means they won't play the Reds or Sharks during the round robin.
3. The player to look out for this year?
Braydon Ennor. The Canterbury wing has got some serious speed in his wheels, but competition for starts will be intense. That's a reality when Seta Tamanivalu, George Bridge, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele and Israel Dagg, who is expected to return from the knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the Rugby Championship and the All Blacks' northern tour, can all operate on the end of the backline chain.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
Last year's form indicates it should be the Crusaders. A team that claims the title deserves top billing, and their depth is better this time around. None of the players released from the 2017 championship-winning team were regular starters throughout the campaign. The acquisition of one-test All Black Mike Delany provides insurance in case Richie Mo'unga or Mitch Hunt break down. Delany replaces Marty McKenzie who has returned to the Chiefs.
HIGHLANDERS (Robert van Royen)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
A hell of a lot, starting with the vastly different coaching group to the one which guided the Dunedin-based side to the quarterfinals last year. Aaron Mauger will be the third head coach to lead the team in as many years, while assistant forwards coach Mark Hammett and scrum guru Clarke Dermody are the only survivors from last year. They're joined by new defence coach Glenn Delaney and high performance coach Cory Brown, with the pair replacing new All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod and Jon Preston respectively. Centre Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon) might no longer be All Black quality, but he'll be missed at the Highlanders, as will pivot Marty Banks (Treviso) and underrated loose forward Gareth Evans (Hurricanes).
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
To be fair, every Kiwi team would be justified in glancing at the draw and shuddering at the thought of the two extra NZ derbies the return to a 15-team competition brings with it. If the Highlanders have any further complaints, it might be the fact they'll play just five games before burning both byes, including the one immediately after their season opener against the Blues. It's that early-season bye which prompted, and allowed, coach Mauger to give his All Blacks ample playing time - Ben Smith played the full 80 against the Crusaders - in their final pre-season fixture. Fair enough, too. After all, four of the Highlanders' first five games are against Kiwi opposition.
3. The player to look out for this year?
It's almost time to find out if tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax is the real deal. Since the Highlanders signed the son of former Kiwi league prop John Lomax in September, there's been talk of the former Melbourne Rebel being the next Carl Hayman. There were glimpses of his potential during Tasman's Mitre 10 Cup campaign, but it's fair to say he didn't jump out of the television screen. Highlanders boss Roger Clark wouldn't have signed him to a three-year deal if he didn't believe in the 21-year-old.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
It'd be easy to say the defending champions and All Black-rich Crusaders. But let's go out on a limb and say the words "All Blacks training camps" will be mud to coach Scott Robertson come the playoffs, and he probably won't be the only one. Just don't expect them to come out and say it if they have further ambitions in New Zealand. The Hurricanes won't just top the NZ conference, they'll nab the top seed.
HURRICANES (Hamish Bidwell)
1. What has changed at the franchise since 2017?
Next to nothing. The Hurricanes possessed a title-winning team then and they still have one now. There just isn't the burden of being defending champs this time.
2. Has the draw been cruel or kind?
Looks like they've got 16 games, same as everybody else. You play who they put in front of you and, in the New Zealand conference, that means some fairly tough assignments. I'm just happy to see the Lions end up with three New Zealand teams on their schedule. Their saloon passage to the 2017 final was a stain on the competition.
3. The player to look out for this year?
Lock Sam Lousi. Most rugby players are huge these days, but Lousi's always one that causes you to double-take. Immensely strong and sometimes explosive, he's come on in leaps and bounds at the Canes. Loosehead prop Toby Smith is another worth keeping an eye on.
4. A fearless prediction: Who tops the NZ conference?
Hurricanes. That's obligatory, isn't it? Otherwise the Crusaders. I'm not that sold on the others.
