PREVIEW: Super Rugby, Round 10 - Part Two
SPOTLIGHT ON SIDESHOW: For the second week running the headlines were dominated not by on-field issues, but by the Israel Folau sideshow.
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson admitted the Folau saga was a significant distraction in the past week – as they head into a crucial all-Australian derby with the Rebels.
However, he believed his players were mature enough to put that aside and perform well.
“On-field is a real sanctuary for the players,” Gibson said, adding: “What I have seen from Monday and Tuesday [training sessions] is a release of a lot of energy that has been built up and some really good quality stuff.”
The contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground is sandwiched between two equally important matches – the Highlanders hosting the Blues in Dunedin and the Stormers at home to the Brumbies.
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We look at Saturday’s matches!
Saturday, April 20:
Highlanders v Blues
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 19.35; 07.35 GMT)
For the Highlanders it is all about getting their campaign back on track and staying in the play-off hunt.
The Dunedin-based team has not registered a win since week two of the competition.
Highlanders assistant coach Glenn Delaney said they need start to “converting” the opportunities they create and the victories will come.
”The camp is fine,” Delaney told the Otago Daily Times, responded when asked about the winless streak.
”When you boil everything down into context, we’ve not been far off at all – barring last weekend obviously [a 17-43 loss to the Crusaders], but up until that point they’ve been one-score games.
”You don’t change everything you’re doing because 99 percent of what you are doing is working well.
”We’ve got to make sure we turn that little last percent. That’s either an offload going to hand or a tackle being made or a turnover ball being won.
”Those are the margins we are playing in and frankly, that is what this competition is about, particularly against the New Zealand teams.
”We just need to turn one of those moments positively for us and that will help move us towards where we want to be.”
The Blues will be hoping to put last week’s loss to the Chiefs behind them and not lose any more ground to the second-placed Hurricanes in the New Zealand conference race.
However, there is also the focus on young flyhalf Otere Black – a former New Zealand Under-20 star who is yet to realise his potential and earn a first All Black cap.
This weekend presents itself with a golden opportunity.
The pressure is on New Zealand’s second-tier flyhalves to improve with the massive incentive of a World Cup place at stake.
Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga will be on the plane to Japan if they stay injury-free, but there is no obvious back-up after fullback Damian McKenzie, who can also play at No.10, was ruled out.
New Zealand legend John Kirwan suggested bringing back Aaron Cruden from France where the 50-Test All Black is out of favour at Montpellier.
Former great Dan Carter was put forward in an online poll and by at least one columnist, even though the 37-year-old who is now based in Japan is recovering from neck surgery.
Otere Black of the Blues was the only current player to poll in the top three while another name floated was Stephen Donald, 35, who kicked the winning penalty in the 2011 World Cup Final as the fourth choice – after Carter, Colin Slade and Cruden were all crocked.
Black can climb closer to the top of that totem pole.
Recent results:
2019: Blues won 33-26, Auckland
2018: Highlanders won 34-16, Auckland
2018: Highlanders won 41-34, Dunedin
2017: Highlanders won 26-20, Dunedin
2017: Highlanders won 16-12, Auckland
Prediction: The Highlanders have won 10 of their last 14 matches against the Blues in Super Rugby, succumbing to defeat in their most recent encounter, however (33-26). The Highlanders are on a five-game losing streak (excluding draw v Crusaders in Round 5), they haven’t lost more than five in a row since an 11-game slump between Round 15 2012-Round 10 2013. The Blues haven’t visited another New Zealand Super Rugby club and come away with the victory since Round Two 2013, they haven’t beaten the Highlanders on their own track since Round 11 2011 (losing six since that occasion). The Highlanders have produced three straight Super Rugby games of 100 percent goal-kicking (13/13), since 2011 the only other time they have achieved this was Rounds 9-12 2014 (they had a bye in Round 10). Blues’ Rieko Ioane has made 18 clean breaks in Super Rugby 2019 so far, more than any other player, the All Blacks star scored a brace against the Highlanders back in Round 6 earlier this season.
Prediction: Highlanders
Margin: Seven
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Blues: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 Thomas Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Jed Brown, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt Duffie.
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Waratahs v Rebels
(Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.45; 09.45 GMT)
Another game where World Cup selections are high on the agenda.
Kurtley Beale can stake a claim to the Wallabies’ fullback spot at the World Cup, after being handed the Waratahs No.15 jersey vacated by Israel Folau.
With the rugby future of incumbent Test fullback Folau in doubt, as he awaits his code of conduct hearing, utility Beale has been challenged to showcase his skills at the back for the rest of the Super Rugby season.
He will start there in the Waratahs’ crucial clash with Australian conference leaders Melbourne Rebels at the SCG on Saturday.
It’s a familiar job for Beale, who made his name in international rugby as a fullback, earning a nomination for World Player of the Year in 2010 and playing the 2011 World Cup there before becoming the regular inside centre.
“It’s a real opportunity [for Beale] to step up, in a position as we know he can, and really try and own that position for the next nine games,” Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said.
While Folau’s strengths were aerial skills and try-scoring instinct, Gibson relished unleashing sharp counter-attacker Beale’s attributes at fullback.
“He has a strong kicking game and a really nice tactical appreciation,” Gibson said.
“So we will be looking to see what he can bring that position and allow him that freedom to play the way he wants to play.”
If Beale excels consistently at fullback he will likely vie with Rebels star Dane Haylett-Petty for the Wallabies No.15 jersey, with Brumbies speedster Tom Bank another contender.
The Rebels coach, David Wessels, is hoping his side would bounce back from a disappointing showing against the Stormers last week.
“I think we weren’t ourselves last week at all, I could tell in the warm-up, but certainly the first passage of play,” Wessels said.
“The nice thing about our group is we were prepared to admit that.
“We’ve got be the best version of what we want to be and the disappointing thing about our performance is it just wasn’t us.”
Wessels has stated that the Melbournians will look to be more physical against the Waratahs.
“We’re certainly not going to be underwhelming in the contact area that’s for sure,” Wessels said.
“I’m ok to play well and be beaten by a better team if that happens, but I get very frustrated when we don’t play well ourselves.
“I don’t think we’re going to be perfect, I don’t expect us to be perfect, but I expect us to do the things we want to do really well and with intensity.”
Recent results:
2018: Waratahs won 31-26, Melbourne
2018: Waratahs won 51-27, Sydney
2017: Waratahs won 50-23, Sydney
2017: Waratahs won 32-25, Melbourne
2016: Rebels won 21-17, Sydney
Prediction: The NSW Waratahs have won 13 of their 15 Super Rugby meetings with the Rebels, with the NSW squad picking up four wins on the bounce against the Melbourne side most recently. The Rebels are searching for a third consecutive victory on the road against fellow Australian teams, only once before have they won three such games on the bounce (February-July 2016). The Waratahs have averaged 39 points scored against Australian sides from their last five home games in Super Rugby, including scores of 50 and 51 against the Rebels. The Rebels completed just 64 percent of their tackles in the last round against the Stormers, their lowest ever rate in a Super Rugby match. Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs, 102) and Luke Jones (Rebels, 94) have made more tackles than anyone else in Super Rugby 2019 so far.
Prediction: Waratahs
Margin: Eight
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Miller, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Curtis Rona.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English (captain), 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Luke Jones, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Matt Gibbon.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
Stormers v Brumbies
(Newlands, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.05; 13.05 GMT; 23.05 Canberra time)
The Stormers are back in Cape Town, following their month-long trip through Australasia.
Their match against the Brumbies is the start of an eight-match stretch that sees them play six games at home.
The ‘away’ games are in Buenos Aires and Johannesburg.
Robbie Fleck has made no secret of the fact that he fancies his team’s chances of climbing further up the standings and to the top of the South African conference, now that they are over the toughest part of their campaign.
They also come off a morale-boosting victory over the Rebels in Melbourne and they will be confident of bagging another Aussie scalp in this Round 10 fixture.
The Brumbies are third in the Australian conference, just one point behind second-placed Waratahs – although they’ve played one game more than their rivals.
If they can beat the Stormers, they will jump above the South African team on the overall ladder and bolster their play-off hopes.
That makes the Newlands encounter a very crucial encounter for both teams.
https://soundcloud.com/user-645352503/stormers-coach-robbie-fleck-ahead-of-brumbies-showdown
“It is great for us to be in front of our supporters at Newlands again, which is something we want to make the most of,” Fleck said.
“It will be crucial for us to build some momentum in the second half of the season and that starts on Saturday against the Brumbies.”
Fleck announced three changes and a positional switch to his starting line-up.
The most significant is the return of impressive Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit, who returns to take his place at blindside flank.
The other important adjustment is at flyhalf, where Josh Stander finally gets a start.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar made only one change to his starting side – flank Jahrome Brown get his first start for the Canberra side, while Wallabies stalwart David Pocock remains sidelined for the encounter with a calf injury.
Recent results:
2016: Stormers won 31-11, Cape Town
2015: Brumbies won 39-19, Cape Town (quarterfinal)
2015: Stormers won 25-24, Cape Town
2014: Brumbies won 25-15, Canberra
2013: Stormers won 35-22, Cape Town
Prediction: The Stormers have won four of their last five at home against the Brumbies in the Super Rugby regular season. The Brumbies have won five of their last seven games in Super Rugby in South Africa, scoring 25 points or more in four of those wins. The Stormers have won eight of their last 10 at home in Super Rugby, a run dating back to the start of the 2018 campaign. In their last Super Rugby match (v Lions), the Brumbies beat 41 defenders as a collective, their highest tally recorded since 2011, their previous best was 35 at home to the Chiefs in Round 20 2014. Damian de Allende (Stormers) has scored a try in each of his last two matches, he has achieved this once before in Super Rugby (Round 15-16 2015) but never posted three tries in as many matches.
Prediction: Stormers
Margin: Five
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 JJ Engelbrecht, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Tom Wright, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Andy Muirhead.
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Compiled by Jan de Koning, additional reporting by AAP & AFP
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* Statistics provided by Opta Sports
