Ten talking points
Ten things that are beginning to get people excited and talking around the water coolers as the 2014 season goes into Round Seven, and already the events unfolding are providing some high drama.
1. The ultimate nightmare for tippers: If you are heading your office tipping charts, you are a genius.
Few would have predicted the early state of the season would have panned out this way – the only loose script being played out seems to be from New Zealand, even if the Highlanders are mocking this.
2. Australia the mighty: On early showings the Australian teams are setting the pace, could you imagine Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie’s glee if the Bledisloe Cup started this weekend.
3. We’re watching some special players: It was summed up when Conrad Smith and Jean de Villiers reached a century of matches, two of the great centres for their countries bringing up such milestones, but amidst the cream of the Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks (even if they are slow starters) we are seeing some very skilled specimans early.
4. Always a fairy tale: Early in the season take your pick, whether you frequent nib Stadium or Ellis Park, already we have two teams that are threatening something special.
5. It doesn’t take long to be found out: All across the table there are examples, from teams that rollick to thundering wins and get brought down to earth with a thump (think the Rebels and Canes), through to sides that recover from a shudder start to mount their charge (think the Brumbies and Bulls).
The bottom half of the table could see their challenge to the title end within the second month.
6. Not for the faint hearted: Already we have witnessed some marquee players ruled out in the extreme contest that is Super Rugby.
David Pocock is out for the season, while it took only a couple of matches for the All Blacks captain to be ruled out for a couple of months, nearly 70 players have suffered from some form of ailment this campaign.
7. This is a tactical breeding ground: The Waratahs ability to constantly bring Israel Folau into the line, the expression of width in attack many teams employ, through to some defence that has seen players wobble to their feet, there are some intriguing game plans in effect that we shall see blossom later in the year.
8. Too heavy a focus for the All Blacks: Coach Steve Hansen might not be worried, and certainly there is enough time to ‘come right’ but the cycle of sport indicates that athletes that start a season slowly will eventually pay the price for the remainder of the year, even if the World Champions have debunked this in recent years – with the notable exception of 2007.
Even the biggest optimists cannot deny however that Wallaby and Springbok counterparts hit their straps faster.
9. Rise of the North hasn’t gone unnoticed: The collective and overall success of the big SANZAR three since the game went professional is currently reflected in the IRB standings.
Yet while the elite players of the Southern Hemisphere begin their season proper, the recently concluded Six Nations shows an obvious increasing standard, but the talent on display in Super Rugby shows again those underneath the equator will again be up for the fight.
10. Try to pick your 2014 Super Rugby champion: The Chiefs perfect record this year was broken in Perth over a weekend where the only two undefeated teams, along with the pace setting Sharks, lost in contrasting circumstances.
The Force were too much against a title holding side that usually has all the answers, while the Bulls played their part in what was the most kick heavy contest so far to reveal the Sharks Achilles Fin.
Source: SANZAR media unit
