A couple of years ago the depth in Australian rugby was at an all-time low.
Not only were Super Rugby rookies being thrown in the deep end, it was the fact that Dave Rennie and other Wallabies coaches had few other alternatives.
Now, with the Reds years further along in their development and every Australian Super Rugby side benefiting from the Rebels’ sorry demise, there’s options and competition building across the country.
Take the hooker position for instance: Schmidt has a handful of genuine Test options, with Matt Faessler and Brandon Paenga-Amosa coming off the bench on the weekend behind Richie Asiata and Nic Dolly.
Billy Pollard took his contact work to new and greater heights against the Force, while Lachie Lonergan, who came off the bench against Wales at the end of 2022 to snatch a win for the Wallabies, hasn’t been sighted on the international stage since that dramatic afternoon in Cardiff.
And what about Dave Porecki, the former Wallabies captain who is just one game into his comeback. While Mahe Vailanu has more than a bit of Peato Mauvaka about him.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa came off the bench for the Force in a sign of Australian rugby’s depth. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
At flyhalf, Tom Lynagh was superb in the Reds’ 56-36 win over Moana Pasifika, with the 21-year-old ‘s poise and skill set coming to the fore while his defence stood up well, too.
In the nation’s capital, Ben Donaldson once again took a step forward and completely outplayed Declan Meredith in the absence of Noah Lolesio – and that should be the expectation.
The list could go on and on except for one spot: inside centre.
Hunter Paisami had a whirlwind ride against Moana Pasifika and could be suspended following a brutal shot in the first half moments after returning from the naughty corner, the Waratahs’ midfield doesn’t look right, Len Ikitau, who predominantly wore the No.12 jersey on the end of season spring tour, is still being used at outside centre by Stephen Larkham, and Hamish Stewart is a reliable if not spectacular option in the role.
Len Ikitau starred for the Wallabies at outside centre but continues to be used at inside centre by Stephen Larkham. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
It’s why Schmidt and his coaching team will be keeping a close eye on Samu Kerevi in Japan.
Outside of the versatile and competent Ikitau, he’s the only one who will measure up to Bundee Aki and the midfield threat coming from the north
Super Rugby season shapes as best since 2015
After a decade-long slumber, Super Rugby is delivering in spades.
Indeed, the 2025 season threatens to be the most exciting since the Highlanders went on a giant-killing streak to come from nowhere to beat the Waratahs and Hurricanes away from home in consecutive weeks to take out their maiden Super Rugby title.
After the highs of the opening weekend, round two was just as compelling with Saturday’s action producing two upsets and a third match that was equally exciting.
One night earlier, the Reds and Chiefs pulled away despite being pushed early in the second half.
The decision by Super Rugby officials to clamp down on dead time, insisting play go on where possible, move to off-field red card reviews, and continue World Rugby’s push to enforce the law of blockers impeding the aerial battle has seen more ball-in-play time and led to more compelling action and tries.
The Northern Hemisphere might still be debating the merits of several initiatives from the south, but there’s no doubt the innovative tweaks are making Super Rugby a more attractive product.
Once again, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and his New Zealand Rugby counterpart Mark Robinson will be chuffed by the action on the field.
But it’s a shame the inroads have come a year late to really help supercharge their broadcast deals.
Even so, it’s better late than never.
The Force’s game-changer
Jeremy Williams might well be the most important player in Western Force history.
Although the Force has had a litany of Australian greats wear the colours from Nathan Sharpe to Matt Giteau, James O’Connor to David Pocock, none of those men managed to lead the Force to sustained success on the field.
Williams, who joined the franchise ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby edition, could be the man who changes the Force’s fortunes at long last.
The Force couldn’t buy a win without him during the early stages last year, but that quickly changed once he returned from injury.
Jeremy Williams continues to turn heads since his move to the Western Force. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
This season Williams has been on the field from the outset and the talented lock was at the heart of the Force’s 5060-day drought-breaking win over the Brumbies in Canberra.
The 45-43 victory in the nation’s capital saw the Force climb to second on the competition standings and they will host the Reds in Perth next weekend knowing they took down Les Kiss’ side in the corresponding fixture last year.
Why the Brumbies’ defeat will hurt so much
Stephen Larkham will have woken up a frustrated man on Sunday.
The narrow defeat to the Force will have naturally hurt, but the ramifications are much more significant than just one loss.
Having set up their season with an important win in Fiji against the Drua, the Brumbies stumbled against a growing Force side.
Although Larkham’s ballsy decision to rest his big men against the Drua paid off initially, the rust was on show in Canberra as several of his Test stars were slow out of the blocks.
Where the Force were clinical in the early stages, Tom Wright was hunted by Force outside centre Sio Tomkinson had the Wallabies fullback in his sights and he didn’t miss.
The Brumbies now have a crucial two-week tour of New Zealand’s north island to get their campaign back on track as they take on the Chiefs and Blues in successive weeks.
The Force’s win over the Brumbies in Canberra is a giant blow in Stephen Larkham’s hopes of snapping their 21-year Super Rugby drought. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Larkham’s men need to snag one of the matches otherwise they can kiss any hopes of finishing in the top two away.
And we know how significant that is, with the Brumbies exiting the competition in the past four Super Rugby semi-finals dating back to 2019.
The forgotten All Black set to blow up Scott Robertson’s midfield
For years it seems the All Blacks’ midfield hasn’t quite clicked. In the post Ma’a Nonu era, the All Blacks have been caught between playing a second playmaker and having a bigger gain-line carrier in the role.
But the way Quinn Tapaea has started the year, don’t be surprised to see if All Blacks coach Scott Robertson return to the Chiefs centre.
Despite Clayton McMillan regularly bringing Tupaea off the bench over the past 24 months, the inside centre once again reminded selectors of his damaging ways against the Crusaders.
Coming on early for the injured Rameka Poihipi, Tupaea was one of the catalysts behind the Chiefs’ second half surge as he scored a double in his 50th match.
A wrecking ball in contact, few carry like Tupaea in the game with his physicality a genuine point of difference.
Expect Tupaea’s stocks to rise with each passing game – and the calls for an All Blacks midfield shake-up to continue
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby team of the week
Marley Pearce, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Ryan Smith, Nick Champion de Crespigany, Fraser McReight, Charlie Cale, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Filipo Daugunu, Harry Potter
Christy Doranhttps://https://ift.tt/wXeZYKq things: Battle to take on the Lions is heating up – but there’s one position that will have Wallabies nervy
إرسال تعليق