Super charged: Big game, Roberts v Laumape and more

David Skippers

Making its 2020 debut, 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 Chiefs

Although there are several exciting encounters set to take place over the weekend, there are few things as entertaining as a New Zealand Super Rugby derby. These sides get this year’s tournament underway at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday and don’t be surprised if there’s plenty of end-to-end action and drama in this encounter.

Despite being New Zealand’s worst team in recent years, the Blues will head into this match in a confident mood as they claimed a convincing 23-8 bonus-point victory when these teams last met – at the same venue – in a Round 14 match in 2019. Regardless of that defeat, the Chiefs are a team in transition and there’s an air of expectation and plenty of excitement in their ranks after Warren Gatland took over their coaching reins.

The British and Irish Lions and former Wales head coach is a shrewd operator whose experience and tactical acumen should not be underestimated and he should improve the Chiefs, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals last year. In Leon MacDonald, the Blues have an innovative coach, who will be keen to test himself against one of the world’s best in Gatland. It should be an exciting and thrilling affair.

Player to watch – Henry Speight (Reds)

The Wallabies wing will be back on his old stomping ground when he makes his debut for the Reds against his former team, the Brumbies, at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Friday. The 31-year-old was a crowd favourite during his time with the Brumbies and admitted earlier this week that it will be an emotional return when he runs out for this game.

Although the emotions will be running high, Speight will be up for the challenge and he will be hoping to help his new side to their first triumph in Canberra since 2014. Speight is a brilliant attacker, who possesses plenty of pace, quick feet and a powerful fend which makes him a handful for most defences. If he finds himself in space and builds up a head of steam, it will be a tough day at the office for the Brumbies.

One-v-one battle to watch – Jamie Roberts (Stormers) v Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes)

As two of the best ball carriers in the business, this duo are on a collision course and their duel should be a fine spectacle which will entertain the Newlands faithful in Cape Town on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if it is characterised by several brutal hit-ups as both will look to get their respective sides much needed momentum on attack.

Roberts will be determined to kick off on a high as he makes his debut for the Stormers while Laumape will also be motivated to do well after missing out on selection to the All Blacks squad for their Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan last year. Apart from their outstanding attacking abilities, both are also courageous defenders, who are renowned for putting in big tackles. Roberts, in particular, will be keen to shine in that department as the Hurricanes are an excellent attacking side.

Subplot to watch – Crusaders out for revenge against Waratahs

As the defending champions, every team in the competition will be eager to get the better of the Crusaders, although they too will not lack motivation for this clash as the Waratahs were the team which brought their 19-game winning streak to an end courtesy of a 20-12 defeat in Sydney in their Round Six clash last year. The ‘Tahs were deserved winners in that match as they outscored the Crusaders by three tries to two and that defeat was one of only two losses suffered by the 10-time champions during that campaign.

This weekend’s clash – at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Saturday – presents Scott Robertson’s men with an opportunity to turn the tables as well as a chance to extend their unbeaten home run to 32 matches. Although Robertson has not included All Blacks like Joe Moody and George Bridge in his matchday squad, and named experienced campaigners like Codie Taylor, Luke Romano, Sevu Reece and Bryn Hall on his replacements bench, the Crusaders have proven over the years that they have tremendous depth in their ranks. They will be keen to show that last year’s loss in this fixture was a mere blip and to replicate the below performance from 2018 against the Waratahs in Christchurch.

Best of the rest

There are three other fixtures scheduled for the opening round with the Sharks, Sunwolves and Jaguares hosting the Bulls, Melbourne Rebels and Lions in their respective fixtures.

Like most South African derbies, the Sharks v Bulls clash should be tightly contested affair characterised by lots of physicality. There will be some desperation in the Sharks ranks as they last beat the Bulls in 2014, with the men from Pretoria victorious in eight out of nine (one draw) of the matches between the sides during that time.

Elsewhere, last year’s beaten finalists, the Jaguares, will be hoping to continue with their superb form from 2019 but they face a tricky assignment against the Lions in Buenos Aires. These teams also met in Round One during 2019 and the Lions left Argentina with a 25-16 win.

In other action, the Sunwolves’ last Super Rugby campaign starts in Fukuoka where they will host the Rebels. Despite playing at home, the Japanese outfit will start this match as the underdogs as they have lost all five of their previous matches against the Rebels and suffered a humiliating 52-7 defeat in last year’s Round 15 clash between these sides in Tokyo.

Blues