Kiwi clubs approve as Australian franchises improve in Super Rugby Pacific
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Australian teams are “flying” in Super Rugby Pacific this season. That headline in a major newspaper reflects the buoyancy of many fans after two Australian franchises began the season with wins over top New Zealand sides.
There is good cause for optimism.
The New South Wales Waratahs beat the defending champion Crusaders in the second round, the Queensland Reds beat last year’s runners-up the Chiefs in Round 3, and the Waratahs missed a late penalty which might have given them a third-round win over the Highlanders.
Australian clubs won only six matches against New Zealand teams in all of the 2023 season. In 2021, they won two out of 25 matches against Kiwi opposition.
Having started well, the Australians are on course to significantly improve on those returns this season. The fourth round of matches this weekend may test how much more competitive the Australian provinces are.
The ACT Brumbies will play the Dunedin-based Highlanders and the Waratahs will play the Auckland-based Blues on Saturday.
The Brumbies have been the standard-bearer for Australia in recent Super Rugby seasons but were beaten 46-12 by the Hamilton-based Chiefs in their only match so far this season against New Zealand opposition.
The Waratahs may find the Blues a tougher nut to crack than the Highlanders. If they can win it would provide evidence the Australian and New Zealand participants are on a closer footing this year.
New Zealand teams already have noted an improvement. Blues assistant coach Paul Tito welcomed signs the Australianns will provide much tougher opposition this season.
“They’re playing much better rugby and it’s good for the competition,” Tito said. “They’re having a real crack at the Kiwi teams where in the past maybe they’ve been a bit hesitant and not backing themselves.
“It’s good to see. It’s putting Kiwi teams on notice that we’re going to need to be at our best to go there and get some wins.”
Tito perceives an overall improvement in the Australian teams, not only against New Zealand teams but in competition against each other. Matches between Australian teams mostly have been close.
Tito believes Australia’s poor form at last year’s World Cup and the subsequent departure of Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones might be playing a role.
“They’ve started pretty low, to be fair, after the World Cup,” he said. With new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt “sitting in the stands everyone is keen to impress. They’re coming together and we’ve seen an increased performance.
“It’s good for the mindset you can’t loosen off. We’ve got to be better than last weekend, otherwise you go to Sydney and come back with nothing.”
The Blues’ All Blacks scrumhalf Finlay Christie said the Australian lineups are “looking a lot more physical, and a bit more drilled” this season.
“The Tahs specifically have got a good pack and they’re going to come at our breakdown pretty hard,” he said. “We know they’re not going to roll over and we’re expecting a big tussle.
“We all know what Joe (Schmidt) is like here. He’ll be great for them. The Aussie teams are looking a step ahead of where they were a couple of years ago and it’s going to be a challenge.”
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby