Super charged: Big game, teenage star, Barrett starts

David Skippers
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Making its return to 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 – Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders

After starting their campaign with an impressive away win against the Brumbies, the Rebels had a bye last weekend but they will be eager to continue where they left off in Canberra when they host the high-riding Highlanders on Saturday.

After that triumph over the Brumbies, there’s plenty of excitement in the Rebels’ ranks and if their Wallaby half-backs, Quade Cooper and Will Genia, can get good front-foot ball from their forwards, they could cause an upset by beating the Highlanders for the first time since 2013 and only the second time ever.

The men from Dunedin have done well and are also unbeaten, after registering victories against the Chiefs in Hamilton and at home against the Reds last weekend. They have a well-balanced team with experienced heads like stalwarts like Waisake Naholo, Elliot Dixon and Ash Dixon leading the way alongside younger stars like  Shannon Frizell and Bryn Gatland.

If last year’s clash between these sides is anything to go by, then this weekend’s game should be an entertaining affair.

Player to watch – Jordan Petaia

He’s just 18 years old but Petaia played like a seasoned professional in the Reds’ opener against the Highlanders in Dunedin last week. Despite finishing on the losing side in that match, the youngster earned himself rave reviews thanks to an excellent attacking display.

Petaia gained a team-high 103 metres with ball in hand after 10 runs which included two clean breaks, seven defenders beaten and two offloads.

He also showed his prowess on defence with several crucial tackles and will be determined to continue where he left off in that game when he takes on the 2017 and 2018 champions, the Crusaders, in Brisbane on Saturday.

One-v-One battle to watch – Elton Jantjies v Handre Pollard

Although it’s still early in the season, Jantjies and Pollard will be determined get the better of the other – in a bid to stake their claim for the Springboks‘ number 10 jersey later in the year – when the Lions host the Bulls at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Pollard is the man in possession of that green and gold jumper and was one of the Boks’ better players in the international arena last season but knows that he cannot afford to be shown up by Jantjies, who usually shines on his home turf.

Both these players are brilliant tacticians, who are important to their respective teams’ causes, and they will be determined to hit the ground running in this fixture after average performances in their teams’ defeats to the Stormers and Jaguares in Round Two.

Subplot to watch: Beauden Barrett’s first Hurricanes appearance of 2019

After registering a narrow one-point victory over the Waratahs in their season opener and a poor performance in a big defeat to the Crusaders, the Hurricanes will welcome the return of the All Blacks fly-half to their run-on side for their clash with the Brumbies in Palmerston North.

The 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year will be champing at the bit after missing those two fixtures due to the enforced All Black rest protocol.

Although Fletcher Smith did not disgrace himself as the Hurricanes’ pivot in those encounters against Waratahs and Crusaders, the Wellington-based outfit will be boosted by Barrett’s return as he is arguably the best fly-half in the world when on song.

Barrett’s distribution skills and playmaking ability will have to be at its best against the men from Canberra, who will be brimming with confidence after an impressive win over the Chiefs last weekend.

Best of the rest

Apart from Barrett’s first appearance of the season for the Hurricanes, their opponents in that game, the Brumbies, have also received a shot in the arm after Wallabies back-row David Pocock was named in their run-on side.

Pocock missed his team’s 54-17 triumph over the Chiefs in Canberra last weekend due to concussion and his duel with with Hurricanes and All Blacks tearaway Ardie Savea should be one of the highlights of that game.

Elsewhere, an unchanged Sharks squad will be chasing their third victory in as many matches when they host the Stormers in what promises to be a bruising South African derby in Durban while the Chiefs and Blues will be aiming to notch their first wins of the season when they take on the Sunwolves and Jaguares in Hamilton and Buenos Aires respectively.

by David Skippers

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