With the Highlanders having a bye this weekend, ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire looks at how the New Zealand teams are faring in the Super 15 so far.
Highlanders
It is hard to know what to make of the Highlanders thus far. On the one hand they have been outstanding. Their forward pack is the gutsiest in the competition, battling against much bigger opponents and wearing them down with their tenacity and fearlessness. In the backs they have flair in abundance and are using it better than ever. On the other hand they have only played away from home once and that was still in New Zealand.
Their great start is no doubt great, but it really needs to be. Their tactic of wearing down opponents via a fast-paced game and using their devastating runners is yet to be a proven one outside of Forsyth Barr Stadium, a ground which favours this approach. You have to love their fight and ability to create something from nothing though. Those two characteristics mean that they are capable of beating anyone on any given day.
Crusaders
The annual "what is happening to the Crusaders?" articles were all the rage a couple of weeks ago. There is no doubt they were looking pretty average. But they were lacking some key players for a lot of that time too. The return of Nemani Nadolo is huge as he gives them a back capable of coming into the line and playing the direct game effectively, something they otherwise lack. Without that you tend to be forced into using forward runners and playing a fairly lateral game in the backs, which is what they were doing.
With Dan Carter back they now have a five-eighths combination capable of creating holes, while Ryan Crotty is adept at running into these well. The return of Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock adds physicality and mobility to the forward pack, as well as some spark which has been missing. It may seem pretty cliché, but don't write the Crusaders team off just yet. It would not be a surprise to see them start playing so much better.
Hurricanes
It is nothing new for the Hurricanes to have a strong team on paper. It is however, something new for them to deliver on that promise in such an emphatic way. While their backline, much like the Highlanders, has firepower in abundance, it has been their steely defence across the park that has been their best feature. Their best showing was against the Highlanders where they tackled and tackled en-route to a gutsy win, keeping the attacking threats in check and preventing the Highlanders forwards gaining too much momentum.
They have a physical looseforward trio and possess depth in that area, giving them plenty of go-forward, while their tight five is full of hard-working mobility. The backs, as lethal as they are, have excelled in how they have kept other attacks in check, particularly Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, both of whom have been outstanding.
Of their wins, only those against the Bulls and Highlanders were really against quality opponents. It is true they have been to South Africa, while playing just two of their six games at home. But they are unproven against top opposition. Once they have played against more New Zealand opponents, we will get a better idea of where they are truly at.
Chiefs
The Chiefs seem to have fallen off the radar in recent weeks. Make no mistake; they are legitimate contenders. Much like the Hurricanes they have firepower out wide that can strike from anywhere, while also possessing a physical forward pack who are steely on defence. They have been to South Africa and won a brutal game against the Stormers and lost by just one point to the Sharks. That is not a bad road trip.
They cut the Crusaders to pieces by exploiting their defensive weaknesses out wide and racked up handy wins over the Cheetahs and Blues. Against the Highlanders the strength of their scrum was evident, although it also exposed their vulnerability defending down wider channels along with their ability to dominate a game and still being unable to win. Covering their weaknesses and making the most of their strengths will be key, but they are good enough to do it and are more than capable of a top six finish.
Blues
There is not much to say about the Blues, other than that they have been terrible. It is not that they are awful in everything they do. They can defend well, they can put phases together and on occasion they can even look threatening. But there are too many mistakes mixed in. So often they will string together six or seven phases, having gone relatively nowhere, and then drop the ball. Or they will defend well for five minutes and then have a momentary lapse. They have even missed touch off penalties multiple times. You just cannot go making those sorts of mistakes and expect to win games at this level.
You get the feeling there is something going on behind the scenes. This is a team with plenty of names and firepower, but their inability to execute consistently is a tell-tale sign that their mindset is not quite right. Their losses have been against tough opposition and they have been to South Africa. But it really does not get much worse than going down to the Lions at home and with the talent they have, they should be capable of competing with anyone.
Don't worry though, they are playing the Highlanders in three weeks - no doubt they will find their form, play a one-off blinder and get their first win of the season.
