Super charged: Big game, Brits bow and new 10s

David Skippers
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Making its debut on Planet Rugby, we bring you Super charged, in which we preview the main talking points ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby action.

Game to watch – Blues v Crusaders

There’s plenty of hype around this duel between the traditional heavyweights of the New Zealand game and both sides will be keen to hit the ground running, albeit for different reasons.

The Blues are at the dawn of a new era under the guidance of new head coach Leon MacDonald, who will be highly motivated to make a winning start in his new job against his former side, with whom he won the competition as a player and assistant coach.

After finishing at the bottom of the New Zealand Conference for the past five seasons, the only way is up for the Blues, who will be boosted by the return of veteran centre Ma’a Nonu while Otere Black will be under the spotlight in the number 10 jersey.

Meanwhile, as the defending champions, the Crusaders will once again be the side everyone wants to beat. Although seasoned All Blacks like Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Codie Taylor are being rested for the tournament’s opening rounds, there’s still plenty of quality in their ranks and with eight internationals and exciting players like Braydon Ennor – who lines up in midfield alongside Ryan Crotty – in their run-on side, they will be difficult to beat despite playing away from home.

Player to watch – Schalk Brits

Much has been said about the veteran hooker’s move to the Bulls and he will be highly motivated when he makes his competitive debut for his new team against his old one, the Stormers, at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. At 37 years of age, his critics are quick to point out that his best days are behind him but Brits is the type of character who will be determined to prove those doubters wrong.

Despite his advancing years, the Saracens legend still has plenty of pace and his brilliant ball skills and ability to create try-scoring opportunities for his team-mates, mean his overall performance should have a huge bearing on this game’s outcome.

One-v-One battle to watch – Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies) v Quade Cooper (Rebels)

These two are amongst the most experienced playmakers in the tournament and will be crucial for their respective teams throughout the season. Their duel at the GIO Stadium in Canberra will be one of the fixture’s highlights as both will be out to show that they still have what it takes to shine at this level and, in doing so, put up their hands early on for selection to the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad.

Both have brilliant skill-sets and will be expected to bring out the best in those around them but also keep the scoreboard ticking with their goal-kicking. Lealiifano is the less flashier of the two and more direct in his approach which means he will target Cooper’s channel as the former Reds pivot’s defence is one of the weaknesses in his game. But Cooper – who is making his debut for the Rebels – will be out to prove a point after he failed to get game-time at the Reds last year.

Subplot to watch – Waratahs centre combination

The Waratahs kick off their campaign against the Hurricanes at Brookvale Oval in Sydney and while both teams have several outstanding attacking players, there will be plenty of interest in the performances of Wallabies duo Adam-Ashley Cooper and Karmichael Hunt, who will start at outside and inside centre respectively for the home side.

Both are veterans with Ashley-Cooper back with the team after spending time overseas at Top 14 outfit Bordeaux Bègles and in Japan with Kobelco Steelers. Hunt meanwhile will be keen to show that he still has a role to play at this level, in his debut for the Sydneysiders, after last playing in the competition for the Reds in 2017.

The Wallaby duo have shown in the past that they are top class players and there is plenty of excitement amongst Waratahs supporters to see how they operate in tandem as Ashley-Cooper runs superb lines and he could benefit from Hunt’s direct approach.

Best of the rest

Apart from that battle between Lealiifano and Cooper in Canberra, the opening round of this year’s tournament will see several teams playing with young and inexperienced fly-halves.

There are interesting match-ups, none more so than the opening fixture of the year between the Chiefs and Highlanders at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton where Orbyn Leger will lead the home side’s attack against Josh Ioane. Leger, who came to the fore as an outside centre at the Blues last year, replaces the injured Damian McKenzie in the Chiefs‘ number 10 jersey while Ioane takes over from Lima Sopoaga, who joined Wasps from the Highlanders at the end of last season.

Elsewhere, Otere Black gets a chance to prove his worth for the Blues when he fronts up against All Black Richie Mo’unga of the Crusaders. Black will be raring to go after missing the entire 2018 season due to a serious knee injury.

And finally, former Highlanders fly-half Fletcher Smith has moved to the Hurricanes and will call the shots for the men from Wellington when they do battle with the Waratahs in Sydney. Smith fills in for All Blacks star and two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, who has been one of Super Rugby’s best players in recent years. Needless to say, Smith has big boots to fill.

by David Skippers

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