S18 preview. Round One, Part One
While there are three new teams in the expanded version of what was already a bloated competition, there is bound to be excitement in the opening weekend of the 18-team tournament.
The excitement could come in the form of a host of new coaches – three of whom will be in action on the opening day.
It starts with the first match of the weekend, when new Blues coach Tana Umaga will face up to the defending champion Highlanders' well-established mentor Jamie Joseph.
The late game on the opening day features one of the three newcomers – Argentina's Jaguares, coached by Raúl Pérez, up against the Cheetahs, who in Franco Smith have the other new coach.
Sandwiched in between this a game between two old foes – the Brumbies against the Highlanders.
No doubt the opening day will deliver the usual dosage of drama and entertainment.
Here are the Friday, February 26, matches!
Blues v Highlanders
(Eden Park, Auckland – Kick-off. 19.35; 06.35 GMT)
The Highlanders will quickly learn that the Super Rugby title they carry with them into the season has put a massive target on their collective backs.
There is no doubt the men from Dunedin have the playing ability to retain their title – the ability to pass, kick, tackle and run better than most.
However, the pressure of expectation and the desire of the opposition to knock them off their pedestal will weigh heavily on those broad shoulders.
Coach Jamie Joseph believes the Highlanders are as prepared as they could be.
Speaking in the wake of his team's pre-season victory over the Waratahs last week, he said overall he is happy where the Highlanders are.
Umaga, in contrast, was a lot more cautious – despite his team's unbeaten run in the pre-season.
He is aware of just how dangerous this Highlanders team can be, given that they are a settled unit.
"It's exciting," Umaga told the New Zealand Herald. "We've got a lot to prove, and the defending champions for us epitomise that effort, work ethic, good culture and working for each other attitude – that's what every team wants.
"We've talked a lot about it, and we'll get to see how it goes."
But for the Blues coach it's very much about them doing things their own way.
"You can say all you want but it's how you live your life together. It's a long time together to try grow that, and the real measure comes when you have to whittle your side down to 23. How does that other group function, and are you getting the results? Those will be the real tests of our culture."
Recent results.
2015: Highlanders won 44-7, Auckland
2015: Highlanders won 30-24, Dunedin
2014: Blues won 30-12, Auckland
2014: Highlanders won 29-21, Dunedin
2013: Highlanders won 38-28, Dunedin
2013: Blues won 29-18, Auckland
Prediction: The Highlanders have won six of their last eight matches against the Blues and outscored them 74-31 on their way to two wins over them in 2015. The Blues have won 10 of the 13 matches when hosting the Highlanders in Super Rugby, though their last such fixture was a 44-7 loss and they've never lost consecutive home games to the Highlanders. The Highlanders won four straight matches on their way to victory in the 2015 Final and will be looking to start the season with a fifth straight win for the first time since they won six on the trot in 2005. The Highlanders averaged more turnovers won per game (9) than any other side in Super Rugby 2015. The Blues had the best tackle success rate (88 percent) of any team in Super Rugby 2015. It is a tough opening call to make. However, given the fact that the game is in Auckland and the Blues have looked a revitalised team under Tana Umaga, our money is on the Blues to sneak it by a converted try.
Teams.
Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Male Sa'u, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Joe Edwards, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons (captain), 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Namatahi Waa, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Rene Ranger.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Shane Christie (co-captain), 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Alex Ainley, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Matt Faddes.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Brumbies v Hurricanes
(GIO Stadium; Canberra – Kick-off. 19.45; 21-.45 NZ time; 08.45 GMT)
Brumbies No.8 Ita Vaea said the team is looking forward to beginning their Super Rugby season against the team who ended their 2015 campaign.
The Brumbies ran into a red-hot Hurricanes in last year's Super Rugby semifinal in Wellington, the New Zealand franchise running out comprehensive victors 29-9 – ending the Brumbies season.
With a number of international players in this year's squad the Brumbies will be hoping they are able to make the next step in 2016.
Vaea said the game was a good opportunity to get one back on the Hurricanes.
"It will be great to start with a rematch," Vaea said in an interview on the Brumbies' website.
"We're still very disappointed from the semifinal last year, but this year is a new year and we're all looking forward to going out there and coming away with the four points."
The Hurricanes have also been dealt a late injury blow, with new captain Dane Coles ruled of the 2016 season-opener against the Brumbies after suffering a calf strain near the end of training on Wednesday.
Having missed the Hurricanes' pre-season matches due to a hamstring string strain, Coles' latest injury setback will put some early pressure on last year's beaten finalists.
Coles' experience would have come in handy, given that the Hurricanes have lost some fine players and influential characters in the off-season – men like Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Jeremy Thrush and Ben Franks.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said it was going to be a big challenge in Canberra.
"There are still a couple of guys on the sidelines, but I'm more than happy with the squad we will run out against the Brumbies," Boyd said.
"The guys have put in some hard yards over the preseason and they've worked very hard. A lot of the guys put their hands up against the Crusaders last week in Blenheim, but we know that won't count for much if we can't carry that momentum into the season proper."
Recent results.
2015: Hurricanes won 29-9, Wellington (semifinal)
2014: Brumbies won 29-21, Wellington
2013: Brumbies won 30-23, Canberra
2012: Brumbies won 37-25, Wellington
2011: Brumbies won 17-16, Canberra
2010: Hurricanes won 23-13, Canberra
Prediction. The Brumbies have won four of their last five matches against the Hurricanes, though the New Zealand side snapped a four game losing streak with a 29-9 victory in their last encounter. The Brumbies have won 13 of their last 16 matches at home in Super Rugby, never losing consecutive such fixtures in that run, though their last home match was a 24-37 loss to the Crusaders. The Hurricanes lost only twice in the 2015 regular season. No team has lost fewer since the Crusaders lost just once in the 2006 season. The Hurricanes scored 23 tries from possessions originating in their own half of the field in 2015, the most of any team while the Brumbies scored the fewest (two). The Canes averaged more metres, carries, breaks and defenders beaten per game than any other side last year as well as maintaining the best scrum success rate (95 percent). Key personnel losses and having to travel across the Tasman Sea will ensure the Hurricanes are under pressure. The Brumbies are a settled and fancied to secure a win that could approach double digits.
Teams.
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Allan Alaalatoa.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Otere Black, 23 Willis Halaholo.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Cheetahs v Jaguares
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off. 19.00; 14.00 Argentina time; 17.00 GMT)
With a matchday 23 that includes 21 Test players, there is now doubt the Argentineans are overwhelming favourites on paper.
The Cheetahs, in stark contrast, will field a very youthful side as new coach Franco Smith continues the rebuilding phase started in last year's Currie Cup.
Despite their apparent superiority, the Jaguares are somewhat apprehensive.
"The Cheetahs are evolving as a team and it is our debut in the tournament, which brings with it some anxiety," Jaguares coach Raúl Perez said.
"We are well prepared and aware of what can happen."
He felt the Cheetahs would play with freedom, as they do not have the weight of expectation on them.
Perez said they have made some adjustments from their pre-season outings – which included a loss to the Stormers and a win over the Lions.
"We always try to evolve and from game to game we will be adjusting our system."
The key for the Cheetahs will be Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager, who is expected to be named South African Player of the Year for 2015 on Thursday.
"He's brought good attitude," Smith said about the star lock.
The coach added that he will not be adding pressure on the players by setting unrealistic goals.
"We've just got to go out there and play to our strengths and please our crowd," Smith said, adding: "I think that is going to be the most important thing."
Recent results:
These teams have never met before
Prediction: The Cheetahs have won only three of their last 17 matches against teams from outside of South Africa. After winning their final match of the 2015 season the Cheetahs will be looking to secure consecutive victories for the first time since their opening two matches last season. The Cheetahs made an average of 133 tackles per game last season, nine more than any other team in the competition (Hurricanes 124). The Cheetahs (33.2) were the only team last season to concede an average of more than 30 points per game despite being ranked right in the middle of the pack (eighth) for tackling efficiency (86 percent). The Cheetahs have won only two of their last eight matches hosting a team from outside of South Africa on home soil in the Super Rugby and not since Round 19, 2013 have they won such a fixture by more than six points. The Cheetahs will have their work cut out and the Jaguares should win by at least 15 points.
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Paul Schoeman, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Niel Marais.
Jaguares: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Rodrigo Báez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Lucas Noguera.
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Matías Orlando.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* Statistical information provided by Opta Sports
