Opinion: Hurricanes would ‘stack up’ against Bordeaux-Begles and the ‘concern’ for Wallabies ahead of Nations Championship
The Hurricanes will end the season atop the Super Rugby Pacific table.
Super Rugby has suffered immeasurably because of the decisions of countless administrators over the past decade or two, but there’s little doubt that the quality on the field, on New Zealand soil at least, still stacks up against the best clubs in the world.
In fact, if the Hurricanes were to play Bordeaux this weekend, you’d be naïve to write them off. And that’s not just because the French heavyweights will be nursing a severe hangover from some of Bordeaux’s best grapes after their Investec Champions Cup victory over Leinster.
With Warner Dearns spending the year in Wellington, the Hurricanes, with Asafo Aumua at hooker, have a pack that stands up against anyone. Their loose trio is deep and strong, while their halves, with Cam Roigard and Ruben Love driving the show, rival any in the world. Then there is their incredibly powerful backline, with former Leinster back Jordie Barrett at the epicentre of it all. It’s balanced personified.
Bordeaux’s side, of course, is littered with quality, and their backline is electric, especially with the best winger in the world in Louis Bielle-Biarrey commanding the No.11 jersey.
The point is that even though Super Rugby has suffered many knocks, it’s still a quality competition with dangerous sides everywhere.
After all, just look at Friday’s New Zealand derby between the Crusaders and Chiefs. The two Kiwi heavyweights put on another ding-dong battle under the roof in Christchurch – and both sides will throw some shots over the next month.
Even Australia‘s sides would compete on the global stage, but the issue across the board remains in the tight-five and inside channels.
Super Rugby officials did, however, look at last weekend’s Champions Cup in Bilbao with envy – and even want their own version.
It’s likely to occur in time.
Issue facing Wallabies ahead of Nations Championship
Even though Australia’s Super Rugby sides have historically been found wanting, there’s been a commonly held view that a strong Wallabies team can be found from it.
But that view is increasingly being tested (just look at the Wallabies’ winning percentage), and one metric you could use is to see how many Australians would make a Super Rugby team of the year.
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With one week remaining, it’s hard to see a single Australian making the team.
Ryan Lonergan has been brilliant for the Brumbies, but he might not even make the 23 under Joe Schmidt – and has Roigard or Xavier Roe been just as good?
Max Jorgensen is perhaps the only Aussie who would make the side, but there’s no doubt he’s not been as effective since being moved to full-back early in the year.
Incumbent Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has, at least, returned to form over the past month. His Test back-row teammate Rob Valetini has also been relatively consistent.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has returned to his bruising best in general play, but the Reds’ lineout has been abysmal in 2026.
However, the concern is that most of the Wallabies’ big name players like Nick Frost, Tom Wright and Jake Gordon have yet to hit their straps.
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Schmidt and Les Kiss would have been pleased to see Allan Alaalatoa take another step forward last weekend, but they also would have expected to see more dominance from the Brumbies’ front-row, especially against an inexperienced Waratahs front three.
The Wallabies will at least benefit from the returns of Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau – but their absence in Super Rugby has been telling.
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby Team of the Week
15 Jock Campbell, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan (player of the round), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachie Shaw, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper
Don’t write off the Reds, yet
It will take a miracle for an Australian team to break the country’s drought in Super Rugby.
With New Zealand’s sides set to command the top four spots in Super Rugby, the Brumbies or Reds will likely have to create history to make the semi-finals, let alone win the competition.
That’s because no Australian side has ever won a play-off match on New Zealand shores.
But you wouldn’t write off the Brumbies or the Reds from firing a shot and winning one match abroad.
The Brumbies, after all, are regular semi-finalists.
And despite being pushed all the way by cellar dwellers, Moana Pasifika, the Reds too have the capacity to land a shot, and the fact they’re pretty much at full strength will help.
Their lineout has been a serious issue, but Josh Canham’s return over the weekend showed how dearly he has been missed.
Rising prop Massimo De Lutiis has also returned to help give the Reds some muscle in the front-row.
While Tate McDermott’s return from an eight-month absence over the weekend, and the spark he showed from the outset, offer the Reds another threat too – and Kiss could yet head to the Wallabies with some momentum behind him.
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“Alignment” will be put to the test next year when Angus Crichton arrives at the Waratahs.
While Crichton is being viewed as inside centre by the Waratahs and incoming Wallabies boss Kiss, the men in blue looked their best when Lawson Creighton was playing the role of second playmaker in the No.12 jersey.
Jack Bowen played a fine role when he finally returned at fly-half, but Creighton was just as integral in the Waratahs’ backline being ignited – and they would have made the last six had they finished all the tries they created.
The issue for Dan McKellar now is how to integrate Crichton, who hasn’t come over on the cheap, and not take a step backward at the same time.
It’s a challenging prospect, especially in a World Cup year – and it’s why clarity is vital.
It’s also why the idea of playing the NRL star in the loose forwards and midfield should be knocked on its head quickly (just ask Stuart Lancaster following England’s pool exit in 2015).
Regardless, Crichton could do with having someone vastly experienced inside him, like Bernard Foley, to show him the ropes.
The Waratahs remain in conversations with Foley about bringing the former Wallabies linchpin back to the club he led to their one – and only – title in 2014, and they should do everything they can to ensure it happens.
Even if he doesn’t start, he would help Crichton immensely given his vast experience and strong communication skills.
And if his form in Japan is anything to go by, Foley would rocket into the mix for the Wallabies in the World Cup year.
The unexpected game changer
Super Round in Christchurch breathed some serious life back into Super Rugby.
Success wasn’t something that was missing in the city, but enjoyment was – and the fans are voting with their feet.
They’re not just warm and dry, but they’ve discovered that going to the rugby is fun again, and it’s the hottest ticket in town.
For the third straight round, the Crusaders sold out the match – and fans were treated to a classic Kiwi derby.
But what it has also done is allow social media influencers, including Super Rugby, an opportunity to sell the product again.
That had previously proved difficult in the grounds in Australia, where the capacity of Allianz Stadium (42,000), Suncorp Stadium (52,500) and Eden Park (50,000) dwarfs most of the stadia used in the French Top 14 and English Prem.
It’s also given the ACT Government the perfect case study of why cities, including Canberra, need modern stadiums to draw in crowds, especially in cold climates.
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