Canterbury Crusaders proved themselves emphatically as world rugby’s champion provincial team with their unbeaten sweep through last year’s Super 12 rugby series.
The question begs: who is going to stop the New Zealanders from carrying off their fifth southern hemisphere title in six years when the gruelling tournament kicks off on Friday.
The All Black-studded Crusaders completed a historic unconquered 13-game season in whipping Australia’s ACT Brumbies 31-13 in last May’s final in Christchurch.
The Crusaders will field almost the same lineup in the eighth edition of a Super 12 tournament given added spice as the southern hemisphere’s top players seek to sparkle ahead of October’s World Cup.
Canterbury skipper Reuben Thorne, who missed the All Blacks’ tour of Europe last year through injury, said he expected this year’s tournament to be fiercer than ever with the World Cup looming.
”The World Cup is going to be in the back of everyone’s mind and individuals are going to be more desperate than ever to put their hands up and perform well,” said the marauding back-row player.
”Players are going to be competing within provinces and within countries so it’s going to be a huge test,” Thorne added. The only significant addition to Crusaders ranks comes in the imposing shape of former rugby league hardman Brad Thorn, in his second union stint.
Andrew Mehrtens promises another harvest of points behind a formidable forward pack that pulverised everything in its path last year.
New Zealanders are talking of the likely re-emergence of former competition powerhouses, the Auckland Blues, following Auckland’s win in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) last year.
Hopes have risen with the return of former All Black Ron Cribb to a big-name pack, while playmaker Carlos Spencer has several attacking options outside him at flyhalf.
The Otago Highlanders, beaten semi-finalists last term, have their chance, particularly at home to challenge for a top-four spot again.
The Wellington Hurricanes have an impressive team on paper but it has been proven often that it means little if the forwards can’t get parity. However, last season it was big-name All Blacks, Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen, who mis-fired. Having lost a core of experience, including Deon Muir, Royce Willis, Deacon Manu, Danny Lee and Bruce Reihana, the Waikato Chiefs seem set for another year among the also-rans.
The ACT Brumbies, Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs have all featured in semi-finals in the last two seasons and the three Australian teams have built up their squads to challenge again this year.
The Brumbies, with Wallaby halves, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, remain the most favoured of Australian teams after playing in the last three finals.
Wallaby Joe Roff, who spent last season with French champions Biarritz after quitting Australian rugby for a year-long break, says he has rediscovered his passion for the game in World Cup year.
Roff, a veteran of 72 Tests, is heading into his seventh season with ACT.
The Waratahs, under former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer, have stocked their squad with eight former rugby league players, headed by prize signing, big winger Lote Tuqiri.
League convert Mat Rogers was an outstanding success in his debut season last year going on to play for the Wallabies and Dwyer is looking to the ex-league players’ defensive and attacking techniques to make NSW a stronger contender this time.
NSW had a bright start to the season last year but were a spent force once the Crusaders humiliated them 96-19 in the last round. New Queensland coach Andrew Slack believes the lure of a Super 12 trophy, and not just the chance of sealing a berth in the home World Cup in October-November, will drive his Wallaby players through another season with the Reds. The Reds kick off their season against the ACT Brumbies at Ballymore on Saturday and then have consecutive away matches against the Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues and NSW, as they chase a trophy which has eluded them despite twice finishing as minor premiers.
The four South African teams have struggled to compete against the New Zealand and Australian teams in recent seasons, particularly on the demanding away legs.
The Golden Cats, under Australian coach Tim Lane, will look to prized capture number eight Bobby Skinstad to improve their fortunes this campaign.
The Coastal Sharks will be without veteran Springbok lock Mark Andrews, who is playing club rugby in England, but will be prepared by New Zealand coach Kevin Putt.
After leading Western Province to two Currie Cup triumphs in the last three years, Gert Smal replaces Alan Solomons (now Ulster) as coach of the Western Stormers.
The Northern Bulls, who have been at the bottom of the standings in recent years, expect much from teenage flyhalf Derick Hougaard, hero of Blue Bulls’ shock victory in Currie Cup last year. The Bulls also have new coach in South African Rudy Joubert. – Sapa-AFP