A World Cup year will always throw up more puzzles and the Super Rugby Pacific lift-off has been true to form. Here is a quickfire roll call of head-scratchers for Round Four.
HAVE THE WARATAHS FOUND A FULLBACK?
The warts on the NSW Waratahs in the opening weeks have been many but one area of persistent under-performance has been fullback.
It’s not Ben Donaldson’s fault. He’s a flyhalf, pure and simple. He was refashioned as a fullback to squeeze both he and Tane Edmed into the side.
It’s not the first time a team has tried to manufacture a fine positional player into something else and failed.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has finally made the call. Donaldson is starting at No.10 against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night, Edmed is on the bench and the attacking punch of teen Max Jorgensen is at fullback.
Jorgensen will enter the line and explode in unexpected places which was never in Donaldson’s make-up.
It’s a good call to get more out of a premium attacking position. Let’s see how it clicks because the Waratahs need it to.
The NSW Waratahs Women take on Force and the Tahs men battle the Chiefs in an enthralling double-header on Friday, 24 March at Allianz Stadium.
Get your tickets here.
CAN THE AUSSIES WIN ON KIWI SOIL?
This is a perennial question. Only the Brumbies and Waratahs were good enough to win on Kiwi soil last year.
We’ll get a read this round with the Waratahs facing an in-form Hurricanes team in Wellington, the Western Force at the end of the rugby world in Invercargill to face the Highlanders and the Melbourne Rebels in Chiefs’ country in Hamilton.
Carter Gordon’s impressive night against the Waratahs in Melbourne was a fine show of his improvement.
In a seven-minute snapshot, he drilled a torpedo punt for a 50-22, he stepped through the line and dished a lovely one-handed pass to Josh Kemeny and he dummied his way over for a key try.
Consistency is the hallmark of top No.10s and the Melbourne Rebels prospect now has to be the calm, controlling head when the Chiefs are running and running.
This will be a true test of where he is at. Shine, even in a losing effort, and judges will be looking at him more and more.
OLD BULL vs NOAH LOLESIO
The homecoming of Christian Lealiifano to Canberra with Moana Pasifika on Saturday night makes for a perfect measuring stick.
The veteran flyhalf is there to give cool-headed direction to the ad-libbing of his team.
Brumbies No.10 Noah Lolesio will have chaos running at him when Moana Pasifika go on attack.
He has to enact a pragmatic game plan that limits those chances a la kicking the ball directly into touch not upfield.
These games can be difficult for a No.10 to take charge of but that’s what Lolesio has to show to be a contender as Wallabies flyhalf.
THE KIDS ROUND THEME
A nobrainer this. It’s a fantastic idea that was hatched when the media-marketing types from the Super Rugby clubs got together during the off-season to dream up themed rounds.
It should get bigger and better in the years to come.
How good is the kids-friendly 3pm kick-off for the Queensland Reds-Fijian Drua game at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Sunday arvo kick-offs at 3pm were once a staple for Queensland teams playing at Ballymore in the 1980s and ‘90s.
You’d enjoy dry-ball rugby, meet your future wife in the Bundy Bar and the night was still young.
Sunday’s game is a potential 60-point match-up of high appeal.
Why the Reds are offering only 1000 free tickets to fans aged 15 and under (when accompanied by a paying adult) is baffling.
Offer 15,000! It’s fine to have Kids Round but clubs need to bang the drum more and get players handing out tickets at every school First XV pre-season training and junior club in the lead-up.
All kids under 12 (accompanied by a paying adult) can get into GIO Stadium for Saturday night’s ACT Brumbies-Moana Pasifika game.
All adults dressed up in silly copycat Brumby Jack costumes should get in free as well.
MO’UNGA v BARRETT
It’s not just Kiwi rugby fans who should savour Saturday’s head-to-head between Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) and Beauden Barrett (Blues).
Time is ticking on this peak duel of No.10s. They only have two or three duels left at Super Rugby level before both disappear to Japan.
The range of skills they both embrace is why you watch Super Rugby Pacific. The stage will be a poorer place without them in 2024 so enjoy while you can.
Mo’unga has a big task. He has to spark up the underperforming Crusaders. The Crusaders-Blues final in 2022 was a clear clash of the best teams in Super Rugby Pacific.
Are the Crusaders just showing a little wobble at 1-2 and with some key injuries affecting them?
The answer will be an even bigger “YES” if the Blues win this big clash on Saturday night at Eden Park.
