If Quade Cooper fires, the Reds will be a dangerous
proposition in this year's Super Rugby competition. Photo
Getty
The Australians start the Super 15 this weekend,
a week earlier than other sides, due to the Lions tour. Rugby
writer Steve Hepburn assesses the chances of the five sides
across the Ditch.
The only way is up for the Australians.
Of the five teams from Australia, probably only the Brumbies
could look back at last season with any deal of satisfaction.
The Reds failed to back up their title-winning deeds of 2011,
the Waratahs won just four games and the Rebels and the Force
were both in the bottom three.
The Brumbies played above themselves for most of the season
and looked certain to make the playoffs before losing a
couple of games in the end and just missing out.
The Reds somehow made it into the playoffs after a season in
which they misfired.
The Queenslanders still have plenty of talent throughout
their side. They have an ominous-looking backline and if -
this is a big if - Quade Cooper fires, the side will be
dangerous.
They have lost Scott Higginbotham to the Rebels but skipper
James Horwill is back from injury and if he can stay on the
field for the majority of the season, the Reds should be in
the mix.
They did not quite click in many of their matches but if
passes go to hand and Will Genia comes back early enough from
a knee injury, they will be dangerous.
Richard Graham takes over as coach from Ewen McKenzie, who
moves upstairs to be the director of coaching as the
Wallabies job awaits.
The Waratahs had their worst season last year and coach
Michael Foley was shown the door.
In comes new coach Michael Cheika, who has an impressive
overseas resume. Daryl Gibson has moved across from the
Crusaders to be in charge of the backs and he has the talent
of Israel Folau to harness. There is plenty of hype about the
code-swapper and he is an sensational athlete.
Berrick Barnes will start in the pivot position and needs to
get an injury-free run.
The Waratahs lost a few close ones last season and must be
more resolved to climb back up this season.
In Canberra, coach Jake White got his Brumbies side
performing well straight away last year.
This is the difficult second season for White but he has the
advantage of having David Pocock in the side. The Brumbies
have plenty of hard workers who play well for each other.
Clyde Rathbone makes a return from injury but at 31, his best
may be behind him.
The Force, weakened by the loss of Pocock and retired lock
Nathan Sharpe, does not look particularly threatening.
It has picked up former Highlander Jayden Hayward and former
All Black halfback Alby Mathewson, as well as axed Waratahs
coach Foley.
The Force can be plagued by making basic mistakes and must
fix this quickly.
The Rebels have plenty of star power, with the likes of
Higginbotham, Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor in the side,
but it is defence which let them down last year.
They lacked that killer attitude and leaked tries all year.
The Melbourne lot need to fix that and keep their best
players on the field.
Motivation for Australian players should not be lacking. The
British and Irish Lions are arriving for their first tour in
12 years and every Australian player will want to be involved
in that series.
How they look
Reds
Coach: Richard Graham (first year).
Captain: James Horwill.
Key forward: Lock Horwill.
Key back: First five-eighth Quade Cooper.
Last year: Third.
Prediction: Third.
Waratahs
Coach: Michael Cheika (replaces Michael Foley).
Captain: Dave Dennis.
Key forward: No 8 Wycliff Palu.
Key back: Inside back Berrick Barnes.
Last year: 11th.
Prediction: 11th.
Brumbies
Coach: Jake White (second year).
Captain: Ben Mowen.
Key forward: Hooker Stephan Moore.
Key back: Inside back Christian Lealiifano.
Last year: Seventh.
Prediction: Sixth
Force
Coach: Michael Foley (replaces Richard Graham).
Captain: Matt Hodgson.
Key forward: Lock Hugh McMeniman.
Key back: Halfback Alby Mathewson.
Last year: 14th.
Prediction: 13th.
Rebels
Coach: Damien Hill (third year).
Captain: Gareth Delve.
Key forward: Lock Cadeyrn Neville.
Key back: First five Kurtley Beale.
Last year: 13th.
Prediction: 12th.
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