The usual suspects look like being the main threats from
across the Tasman. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the
five Australian Super 15 sides.
Rebels first five-eighth Danny Cipriani. Photo Reuters.
The Australians have undoubtedly been the big winners
from the expansion of Super rugby.
They started with just three teams in the competition and one
of them, the Brumbies, were seen as just an assembly of
has-beens, cast-offs and never will-bes.
But the Canberra based side blew that suggestion apart with
almost instant success and Australian rugby has been thinking
big ever since.
They now have the same number of teams as South Africa and
New Zealand, despite having far fewer playing numbers.
That lack of depth is starting to bite but the Australians do
not seem to mind, especially if you are from Queensland,
which won the title last season.
Everyone, it seems, wants to jump on the Reds bandwagon.
After having just 5000 season members a couple of years ago,
membership has soared to more than 25,000 this season.
But with winning comes higher expectation and it will be
interesting to see whether the Queensland players can handle
the intense pressure and spotlight.
Quade Cooper's knee injury means he will be out of action for
at least the first two months of the competition and the side
is looking to former North Harbour pivot Mike Harris to
direct it around the park.
Halfback Will Genia will obviously be a key, while its tight
five will have to front up again.
The Rebels have got out the cheque book and signed talented
backs James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale.
This pair, along with the likes of Cooper Vuna and Mark
Gerrard, will form an exciting backline. But the big question
remains on whether they will get any ball.
There are plenty of former internationals in the team and the
legs may not be what they once were.
Damien Hill takes over as coach from Rod McQueen and the side
needs to shore up its defence if it wants to get rid of the
wooden spoon it picked up last year.
Up the road, the Waratahs will again be competitive but have
had a couple of major losses from the ranks.
Veteran skipper Phil Waugh has hung up the boots and leaves a
big hole to fill, along with prop Al Baxter.
But Rocky Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper have joined from the
Brumbies, while former Cheetahs halfback Sarel Pretorius has
joined as an overseas player.
The side, which has a new coach in former Wallabies rake
Michael Foley, is always good at home and made the playoffs
last year, without being totally convincing.
The Brumbies will be looking back fondly on the great days of
when they used to contest titles.
A title looks a distant dream this year after losing a dozen
starters from last year.
New coach Jake White has lost a raft of backs and the
forwards are solid but hardly spectacular.
The side does have a quality front row, led by hooker Stephen
Moore - who has picked up an injury already - but nothing
screams out about the side.
Across in the west, the Force will be hoping to end
veteran lock Nathan Sharpe's career on a high. Sharpe is
retiring at the end of the season and will no doubt put in
another solid year.
The Force has a solid loose forward trio, a decent first
five-eighth in James Stannard, and a good fullback - when he
is not injured - in Cameron Shepherd.
But losing O'Connor and pocket rocket winger David Smith may
be too much for the Perth-based side.
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