How will the Australian sides fair in the Super 14?
26 Jan 2007 by Rollo Manning
Ozzie rugby fans will find out how good the depth of strength for quality players is for the Wallabies when the Super 14 competition kicks off on 2nd February, 2007.
All four Super 14 teams have their interest and intrigue.
For Queensland it is whether Eddie Jones can be a successful coach and turn around the fortunes of the lowly ranked Reds team. The Waratahs will launch the combination at half/five eighth of Josh Holmes and Kurtley Beale, “veterans” of Wallaby under 19 and under 21 teams for the past three years. For Laurie Fisher at the Brumbies it will be whether he can bring the youngsters along that seem destined to take over this year from the veterans of the past – Gregan, Larkham, Paul and Mortlock.
The Western Force under Coach John Mitchell in their second year will be out to show the good form towards the end of the 2006 competition was no fluke and with the good recruiting during the off season will make a bigger impact in 2007.
The backline for the Force reads like a who’s who of upcoming stars. Established professionals Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd are joined by rugby league convert Ryan Cross and young speedster Digby Ione. This will form one of the best lineups in the tournament. For the Force, as with the other three Ozzie teams the forwards will be the key to success. Mitchell will be particularly keen to see youngsters like David Pocock (Flanker) and Pekahou Cowan (Prop) deliver so the backs can take charge.
The time may have come when some hookers should consider a future career in a prop forward position. Wallaby hookers Jeremy Paul, Brendan Cannon, Adam Frier and Stephen Moore are joined by Saia Faingaa (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Sean Hardman (Reds) and Tai McIsaac (Force).
Tough talking Ewan McKenzie at Waratahs has the brightest hopes in Beale and Holmes – the likely replacements for Gregan/Larkham combination. McKenzie has been having strong words to the Australian Rugby Union and its policy towards “restricted training activity”. McKenzie has told the ARU to stay out of the management of the Super 14 players and leave it to the provinces to manage their own players.
Laurie Fisher, coach of the Brumbies, has a solid stable of promising youngsters and given the opportunities he will certainly look forward to a good rebuilding year. In 2006 early rounds when the stars were out with injury the younger Brumbies players really stepped up but then Fisher seemed to think he had to go back to the tried and true and that is when they started to slip away on the ladder. It is to be hoped that this year more will be seen of these younger players.
The concern being expressed at the ability of Stephen Larkham to be fit for the World Cup in September loses some its importance when the bunch of up and coming pivots is considered. Lead by Kurtley Beale, whose performances for that great Australian nursery for rugby players, St Josephs College in Sydney, have been outstanding; is joined by Quade Cooper (Reds) and last years find Berrick Barnes (Reds). Also interest for the Reds will be how former rugby league Canberra Raiders captain and full back Clinton Schifcofske adapts to the 15 a side game.
The team most likely to be in the final four again must be the Waratahs. Coach McKenzie, now in his fourth year in the position, has shown an astute mind in analyzing the opposition game plan and strategically counters opposition strengths. This translates into a winning style through versatility in tactics. The Reds have been struggling and it is hard to see how the failed Wallaby coach in Eddie Jones can turn that around. The Brumbies still have some building to do and so long as Fisher plays his young stars in they will have a solid year.
The Western Force could be the surprise packet of the competition just as the Cheetahs did in 2006. With talent across the park and Mitchell as the coach expect a winning run and a possible final four position for the boys from the West.
Waratahs on top followed by the Force.
