Year 2019 is not an usual year in rugby union because it is a World Cup year. It is time to make a first assessment about the Southern Hemisphere season. The Super Rugby regular season is now over so this is an opportunity to analyse what happened this year.
Besides, the Southern Hemisphere nations will shortly begin their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. It is already a good moment of the year to assess the four southern powerhouses’ form. The respective coaches have several months to build the gameplan.
Moreover, while the South will be in World Cup mode, the provincial competitions will also take place. That is disappointed to have those played during the World Cup as it deserved the best players. However, it still is the evidence of the south’s bright future.
PART I : SUPER RUGBY – WHAT WE LEARNT THIS SEASON
1) New Zealand : Business as usual or a bit of a slip ?
The Super Rugby play-offs shows, like the previous seasons, four New Zealand franchises qualified : the Crusaders, the Hurricanes, the Chiefs and the Highlanders. You could think, introduced that way, that the Kiwi franchises remain dominant in Super Rugby.
Actually, it is more complicated than that. First of all, the Crusaders, compared to last season, were defeated. They lost away to the Waratahs and the Chiefs while they had to settle for a home draw against the Sharks. Their form has not been flash all season.
About the Hurricanes, they won more games than the Crusaders. Though, it must be noted that their home defeat to the Jaguares was their first home loss to a franchise which is based outside of New Zealand since 2015. This was not just a game in that point.
Finally, the Chiefs and the Highlanders qualified in the last Round. The Chiefs started the season without a single win in 5 games, including a home defeat against the Sunwolves. The Highlanders only won 6 games, drew 3 times and lost their 2 games in South Africa.
All of that means that it would be wrong to say that New Zealand does not remain a force in Super Rugby. However, it would be also wrong to say that New Zealand franchises are as dominating as the previous seasons. Clearly, there is no gap anymore in Super Rugby.
2) South Africa : Rising again
South Africa showed that they are rising again in Super Rugby. That is definitely good news for the competition. The Springboks franchises have always been famous for entertaining the crowds all around the world. All their franchises have performed well.
The most obvious point in Super Rugby 2019 is how the Bulls re-discovered their gameplan which brought them 3 Super Rugby crowns in 4 years between 2007 and 2010. They made a few statements including two away draws in Auckland and in Dunedin.
They showed some composure at every stage. Their defence has improved with turnovers made and discipline on the park. On attack, they spread the ball wide with a lot of width. Their forwards carried very well and their backline unleashed the combos.
The Stormers and the Lions were definitely unlucky not to be part of the play-offs. The Stormers had injuries to deal with as they probably lacked accuracy at some times. The Lions were a bit inconsistent. They got the home form but they did not find consistency.
On top of that, the Sharks were able to qualify like the last year, showing how unpredictable they are. The franchises in South Africa have performed well this season with a decent record against the New Zealand franchises. Their pool’s player is strong.
3) Australia and Argentina : Trying to build franchises
To finish with, Australia and Argentina have known various fortunes during the Super Rugby 2019. The Brumbies and the Jaguares have qualified to respectively represent Australia and Argentina in the play-offs. The sides have been linked with controversies.
First, the Brumbies have relied on their traditional gameplan with strong forwards and almost every try scored from set-piece mauls. It prompted one of the Brumbies coaching staff member to take on people suggesting their gameplan’s limits by insulting them.
This attitude cannot really lauded as the values of rugby union are bigger than that. About the Jaguares, the controversy came from Australia, suggesting that the Pumas franchise fooled the Sanzar as it is a national team on the field and not really a franchise.
On that point, it is tough to blame the Jaguares as they do not have enough players to build another team. It might change soon as the Jaguares qualified for the play-offs for a second time. It will be a home game as their rugby brand must be highly praised as well.
About the other Wallabies franchises, the Rebels developped an ambitious brand as well but could not win the defining fixtures. The Waratahs were disrupted off the field with the Israel Folau saga while the Reds showed improvements but they need to do more.
PART 2 : THE PROVINCIAL COMPETITIONS – OFF-FIELD NEWS
1) New Zealand : Steve Tew is leaving
As the Super Rugby is nearing towards its end for 2019, many things are happening at the same time. Provincial competitions will take place even if it is a World Cup season. Also, the nations had many off-field news to deal with. Let’s start with New Zealand.
It is already known that Steve Hansen, the All Blacks coach, will leave his role after the 2019 World Cup. His successor is still unknown but a few names have been thrown in the media : Warren Gatland, current Wales coach, and Scott Robertson, the Crusaders coach.
It has also been confirmed that the current NZRU (New Zealand Rugby Union) boss Steve Tew will leave. He helped New Zealand maintain his rank over the years. Steve Tew managed to keep the worldwide success while maintaining the players’ eligibility rules.
Rugby is starting to change and New Zealand have got a big challenge ahead of them. Many All Blacks players are taking up lucrative contracts in Japan. The NZRU have to create new deals, allowing players to go, while making sure that they remain with them.
It will be tough for the New Zealand board to balance the two. Despite these changes, New Zealand can rely on a strong academy system. The Mitre 10 Cup, starting in August, is the evidence of the talent coming through in the Land Of The Long White Cloud.
2) South Africa : New contracting system
The current South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus will be leaving his role after the 2019 World Cup as well but he will leave a strong legacy despite only the two years in charge. In June 2018, he appointed the first ever Black Springbok Captain : Siyamthanda Kolisi.
Since his arrival, Rassie Erasmus always worked on the best way to retain the best players at home. He pushed for the 30-cap rule as the Springboks players outside the Republic cannot play Test Rugby unless they reach that mark. It was an achievement.
Then, a few days ago, the SARU (South Africa Rugby Union) boss Jurie Roux announced that South Africa would put in place a new contracting system. From now, the players will not be contracted with the federation anymore but with their respective franchise.
This system should be more efficient to develop the desire for the players to remain in the country. Jurie Roux also specified that there would be special and significant advantages for the players staying home. It must be financial wages and recognition.
South Africa have also its provincial competition : the Currie Cup. The SARU pushed for the inclusion of provinces from Zimbabwe and Namibia. The first Tier will remain unchanged for the Currie Cup (Sharks, Western Province, Bulls, Lions, Cheetahs, Pumas).
3) Australia and Argentina : The Israel Folau saga and Delivering
In Australia, the year has been really difficult, off-field wise. It all started in May, while Super Rugby was entering its second part of the season. Israel Folau had just become the Super Rugby’s all-time try scorer with his 60th try that he scored against the Blues.
Just after that fixture, with the Waratahs having the bye weekend, Israel Folau posted a message on social media. The Wallaby fullback had immediately his contract removed by the ARU (Australia Rugby Union) claiming a high breach in the Code Of Conduct.
Amid the tension that the controversy created in the society, let’s have a cool and objective approach to get everybody agreed on that. First of all, everybody is entitled to an opinion but everybody must also act according to an universal value : Respect.
Israel Folau has got the right to think what he wants. We cannot prevent people from thinking what they want. Nevertheless, Israel Folau did not have to share this in a public way. It is obviously disappointed not to have him on the field but rugby is about respect.
About Argentina, the players really wants to deliver. There was a huge noise in 2017 when the national side was not performing. The players really want to achieve something great and the coaching staff does not want to know the same story twice.
PART 3 – THE WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS
1) New Zealand : Huge task for Steve Hansen
The All Blacks have got the ambition to win a third consecutive World Cup, which would be their fourth crown. If they want to achieve that feat, they are facing a huge task. Steve Hansen and his coaching staff will have to face a few challenges and not easy ones.
First of all, New Zealand have got a big competition from many sides all around the world. Since the 2015 World Cup success, the All Blacks have witnessed many nations showing how competitive they were. There are so many threats for New Zealand.
New Zealand have suffered a few losses against their Southern Hemisphere rivals : South Africa (2018) and Australia (2017). Also, the All Blacks have struggled against the Northern Hemisphere. They lost twice against Ireland (2016, 2018) among titanic tussles.
England and Scotland were also not far from winning and there also was the drawn British & Irish Lions series in 2017. Their aura is not as strong as what it was. Besides, there are questions about the gameplan that Steve Hansen wants to change quickly.
Finally, New Zealand had several key players injured such as Brodie Retallick, Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams and Ben Smith. They should come back in time but will have to deliver. There are also some doubts about the front-row and the back-row stocks quality.
2) South Africa : From outsiders to winners ?
The Springboks are considered as outsiders for the World Cup but they could well surprise the rugby world and win it. Seeded in the same pool as New Zealand, their first fixture against the defending Champions could be crucial if they are to win the Cup.
The Rugby Championship in 2019 showed that South Africa had the ability to win against New Zealand. They won in Wellington and almost did the same in Pretoria a few weeks later. Rassie Erasmus has been smart in the way that he has managed his squad so far.
He has led the racial transformation in the country, something that Allister Coetzee was unable to do. He gave time to Black players with calls based on merit and not favouritism (Siya Kolisi, Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, S’busiso Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi).
The training camps will be an opportunity for Rassie Erasmus to work on his gameplan. He wants to add some width to the Springboks’ game. Second-rower RG Snyman was brought in the squad for his offload magic and the back-row options are outstanding.
In the backline, Handré Pollard has been instrumental on the pitch. If Jesse Kriel can get back to fitness, it would be good news. In the back-three, there is world-class talent : Cheslin Kolbe, Cornal Hendricks, Warrick Gelant, Curwin Bosch and Damian Willemse.
3) Australia and Argentina : Unity, a big factor
The biggest challenge for Australia and Argentina during the World Cup will be the unity. In the past, some rifts have appeared in the respective squads. It could completely disrupt their campaign so the boards will have to be very clear as what they expect.
To start with, the Pumas had an outstanding World Cup in 2015. They qualified for the semi-finals and huge credit was deservedly given to the coach Daniel Hourcade. Though, Argentina could not carry that form and Daniel Hourcade had to step down in 2017.
The Pumas’ poor form after the World Cup raised a few eyebrows considering how well the Jaguares were performing in Super Rugby. Mario Ledesma is now the coach but Gonzalo Quesada, the Jaguares manager, will not be part of the good coaching set-up.
As for Australia, the Israel Folau saga has shown a rift in the Wallabies training camp. The polynesian players playing for Australia expressed their support for Israel Folau, feeling their religion is in danger. It was the case for Taniela Tupou and Samu Kerevi.
Scott Johnson, the newly appointed Australia Director Of Rugby, spoke to these players. He tried to be objective to them and he will have the task to unify the squad. There also was a rivalry in the past between David Pocock and Israel Folau so that is a challenge.
Conclusion
The Super Rugby 2019 showed that New Zealand remain a force but their franchises are not so dominant as they were a few seasons ago. South Africa are rising again while Argentina have made improvements. It has really been a mixed season for Australia.
The All Blacks are in transition. They are trying to find their gameplan for the World Cup while their coach and the NZRU boss will leave soon. In South Africa, Rassie Erasmus is preparing well his squad while the new contracting system will help retain the players.
Australia have been disrupted by the Israel Folau saga and the federation will have to unify the squad. Finally, Argentina have performed well in Super Rugby and will have to replicate that at Test level. Southern Hemisphere remain strong and powerful as ever.
Max.
Rugby, Only Rugby ! 