By Michael John Oliver
It’s been barely four months since the All Blacks hoisted the Rugby World Cup. But Super Rugby is back, and ready for its longest season ever.
Round one has a number of mouth-watering contests to set the competition alight, kicking off with the very first game at the home of New Zealand’s World Cup triumph.
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Friday February 24
Blues vs Crusaders (Kick-off 7:35pm NZT; Live VIDEO updates on 3News.co.nz)
These two teams almost produced the match of the year when they clashed in round one. And this year’s sequel promises to be just as electric.
Blues coach Pat Lam’s decision to set All Black blindside Jerome Kaino at Number 8 has had many scratching their heads. There’s no sterner test than arguably the best Number 8 in the world, the Crusaders Kieran Read.
The Crusaders themselves will be missing Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, still both recovering from their World Cup injuries. But theirs is a side brimming with quality.
Ryan Crotty will be keen to transfer his ITM Cup form to the next level, out of the shadow of a certain SBW, and many are picking Sean Maitland will be wearing black sometime this year.
Prediction: A fast and furious match awaits, and the Crusaders should just prevail
Brumbies vs Force (Kick-off 9:35pm)
The Brumbies are sporting one of their youngest-looking sides in the history of the franchise. Six debutantes will feature in the starting 15, making them a true unknown quantity. They may take time to settle into their game – or to even figure out what their game is.
The Western Force have endured a messy pre-season, with off-field disruptions marring preparations, and two trial losses to the Brumbies and the Reds. Coach Richard Graham knows he has a side with some true quality, with openside David Pocock at the top of the list.
Prediction: A messy Force should find its footing now that the season has begun, and should do enough to overcome the new Brumbies.
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Saturday February 25
Bulls vs Sharks (Kick-off 6:00am NZT)
The Sharks have found Loftus Versfeld a happy feeding ground in the past, winning four out of their last six matches there against the Bulls. And there are signs it could be five from seven if the new-look Bulls don’t front up.
The side from Pretoria no longer has the services of Guthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, and Jaco Pretorious. Add that up, and that’s 715 Super Rugby caps gone from this year’s Bulls.
The lads from Durban are in better nick. Under the watch of Kiwi coach John Plumtree, the Sharks have had a strong pre-season, putting aside would-be Super Rugby side the Southern Kings.
The Kings pushed the Sharks around the field, and they can expect the same sort of treatment from the Bulls this weekend. But even so, the Sharks should have too much for the young Bulls side.
Prediction: Loftus will be friendly to John Plumtree’s boys. Sharks for the win.
Chiefs vs Highlanders (Kick-off 7:35pm NZT; Live VIDEO updates on 3News.co.nz)
The Chiefs know they’ve got a superstar backline, but attention has been duly placed on their forward pack. Inflamed by comments they don’t have the toughness up front to unleash their talented backs, the Chiefs will be looking to assert themselves early.
It’s as cliché as clichés come, but the Chiefs have always been a confidence side. Dave Rennie’s side need to win this match to start the ball rolling on what could be a golden season for them.
For the Highlanders, they have nothing to lose. Their forward pack is similarly inexperienced, but led bravely from the front by Andrew Hore, whose gritty style of play will suit the Clan’s style of play well.
And with the likes of Ben Smith and Hosea Gear waiting in the wings, they have the class to bamboozle even the slickest of the Chiefs backs.
Prediction: The Chiefs should take this one, but the Highlanders will make enough of a statement to keep eyebrows raised.
Waratahs vs Reds (Kick-off 9:35pm NZT)
The Waratahs think they have more than an a sniff of causing a big upset over the defending champions.
The Reds are missing the mercurial Quade Cooper for the first part of the season, and pressure will fall down hard upon the shoulders of halfback Will Genia.
And Genia will without the aid of a number of Reds forward powerhouses, with no Saia Faingaa in the side, Samo on the bench, and Higgers only just returning from injury.
For the Waratahs, all eyes have been on plucky South African recruit Sarel Pretorious. The South African halfback has been turning heads during the Waratahs trial matches, and hasn’t lost any of the zip which saw him named South African Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2011.
Without Berrick Barnes, the pressure too will be on Pretorious to make something out of the breakdown.
Prediction: The Reds will just sneak this one.
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Sunday February 26
Stormers vs Hurricanes (Kick off 4:00am NZT)
Talk about a baptism by fire. There’s no greater challenge for a team packed with rookies than playing the Stormers in Cape Town, and that’s exactly what awaits the Hurricanes in the first game of the season.
It’s a year of new beginnings, and the word “growing” will be used time and time again with the Hurricanes. But this is a side with potential, and not without class in the likes of Conrad Smith and Victor Vito, rightly picked as captain and vice-captain respectively.
But the Hurricanes haven’t beaten the Stormers in Cape Town in six years, and it’s doubtful this will change come this weekend. Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says his side need to hit the ground running in order to replicate the heroics of the past two seasons.
The Stormers will miss Jacque Fourie, Johan Sadie, and JJ Engelbrecht. But the presence of Bryan Habana, and Jean de Villiers in the midfield should be enough to combat any threat from the Hurricanes.
Prediction: An easy first-up win for the Stormers.
Lions vs Cheetahs (Kick off 6:00am NZT)
The Lions will be keen to avenge the 53-19 drubbing they got at the hands of the Cheetahs the last time they met. Coach John Mitchell says his side is sporting a new “innovative” style of play which, he hopes, sparks things for them this year after a disappointing 2011.
The Cheetahs say they’ve confined last year’s big win to history, and are wary of the Lions Currie Cup success. But a win will be ideal, given that they face the Bulls next weekend.
Prediction: The Lions should open their campaign with a hard-fought win.
Rebels – Bye
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