Five Aussie Super takes: Force pack pummelled, Reds' lack of respect

Round four of Super Rugby Pacific provided just as much drama and excitement as the previous rounds but this time, because it was the round of the upsets. 

Moana Pasifika and Fiji Drua both claimed fantastic victories at their respective home grounds, giving the round some really wholesome and exciting highlights. 

In New Zealand, the mood is much more mellow, considering three out of their four sides that played lost, while the fifth, the Highlanders, were on a bye-week. 

Across the Tasman, the mood is one of ponderings, and slight confusion, while there is lots to celebrate, there’s a few key aspects from the weekend to be concerned about. 

Stephen Larkham’s ACT Brumbies correct course 

The smile on head coach Stephen Larkham’s face after the fulltime whistle was enough to make anyone’s eyes go as teary as his. 

That win meant a lot to the Wallaby great, and why shouldn’t it?  

It was the clubs’ first win at Eden Park since 2013, breaking the hoodoo, and it must be said Larkham’s side really stood up when the chips were down. 

Points Flow Chart

Brumbies win +1

Time in lead

53

Mins in lead

2

66%

% Of Game In Lead

3%

16%

Possession Last 10 min

84%

0

Points Last 10 min

3

Last week it was observed that they were missing bulk and punch across the field, players like Tom Hooper and David Feliuai provided that missing impetus, along with smart bench allocations by the coach. 

The Brumbies ground out a win at the Eden Park Fortress in the most Brumby way possible, cool, calm, methodical, for the most part. 

It wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch but there’s enough there to know that with the return of some key Wallabies like of Noah Lolesio and Rob Valetini, they have another gear or two in them. 

Knowing that they have performances like that in them away from home, means this weekend could be the launchpad for a finals berth. 

Dan McKellar’s forward dominant blueprint prevails for the Tahs 

The Waratahs were dominant, and for once, the scoreboard almost showed the entire story. 

Upfront, Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell were back to their destructive best at scrum time, and that’s the way the Tahs wont this match, and that’s how McKellar wants his men to play. 

Hard, direct, no frills, that is his game style in a nutshell. 

The forwards looked like they had a mandate to annihilate anything that moved that was in a yellow Force jersey. 

Players like Ben Grant, Rob Leota and debuting replacement Leafi Talataina, who replaced injured Langi Gleeson, really brought the fight to the Force’s pack. 

Player Carries

1

Angus Bell

13

2

Leafi Talataina

13

3

Hamish Stewart

11

The win felt a little muted in the media box, it may have due to the low home crowd of 11k, or perhaps it was because despite being a convincing win, it still looked a little clunky. 

Nevertheless, a win is a win, and the Waratahs’ young wingers Max Jorgensen and Darby Lancaster were electric, easily shading their Western Force counterparts.  

However, the Waratahs still relied heavily on just straight up crash and bash, despite looking better and flowing smoother with Reds recruit Lawson Creight at the helm, but the Tahs’ phase attack was still far from convincing. 

What does Simon Cron do when the Force’s pack is pummelled

Perhaps the Force losing was an upset, despite the betting markets having the Tahs as favourites. The sides’ form leading into the game suggested the Force were definitely not 20-points worse than the Tahs. 

McKellar’s dominance through his forwards meant Cron’s Perth boys were beaten handedly through the middle and that caused all kinds of troubles for his backline. 

There was nothing wrong with the intent or energy from the Force, it came down to the fact that the Tahs were just bigger in the pack and that extra bulk won the gainline, which in turn won them the game. 

They missed a player like Vaiolini Ekuasi but in his stead new recruit Josh Thompson showed great carry and gainline success off the pine. 

The Force actually looked like the more fluid and structured side; they even played a better territory game than the Tahs. 

For Cron and his men, it’s not back to the drawing board, some unfortunate turnovers/intercepts coupled with some poor discipline cost them dearly on the scoreboard, it also meant they never sustained momentum. 

They are very much still in the hunt for a spot in the top four early doors. 

Les Kiss required to reign in the Reds’ running rugby 

The round of upsets continued with many people on either side of the ditch and across the pacific, probably thinking the Queenslanders were in with a red-hot chance to secure a second consecutive win in Christchurch against the Crusaders. 

Despite the exhilarating and fast-paced start to the game, it became apparent after the first quarter that the Reds were not approaching this game with the respect the Crusaders should be afforded at home. 

Limited kicking was often compounded by poor kicking, which meant they were consistently at a territorial deficit whilst boasting 57 per cent possession. 

Their ‘run it from anywhere, at all costs’ mentality, meant that by the time they actually made their way into the Crusaders 22m they were out on their feet, dropping balls and throwing wayward passes. 

It wasn’t all bad from Kiss’ men, with forwards regularly breaching the line with their short tipping game, but rarely did their finish off their chances. 

Fraser McReight was not at his supporting best, something which mean they often couldn’t finish their linebreaks, he is that crucial for the Queenslanders. 

It was a very young Reds roster that went across the ditch, but that makes the type of game that Kiss deployed all the more confusing. 

Youngsters Harry McLaughlin-Phillip, Josh Canham, and Dre Pakeho all played solidly whilst just lacking some guidance from the experienced members in the side. 

Wallabies coaching successor was not made any clearer 

While the Wallabies coach to succeed Joe Schmidt will not be decided on Super Rugby Pacific form, it was intriguing to see the coach’s respective strengths shine through throughout the weekend. 

It is particularly interesting, considering the Wallabies’ top job candidate is expected to be filled within the next two weeks, according to some reports. 

Kiss deployed an all-out attacking barrage, complete with flick passes, offloads, tight passes, all coming from a baller mindset. 

McKellar asked his men to roll up their sleeves and go at the force, face-to face, in attritional warfare.

While Larkham, displayed the best balance of the two, in typical Brumby fashion; they bested their opponents with structured play, manipulating the Blues’ defence through their systems. 

The Brumbies started the season slowly, and without key personnel but SRP is not won in the first few weeks, but then again it can almost be lost in the same period due to the condensed finals format. 

The Reds and Tahs started well in terms of wins, but it can’t be suggested they’re looking like outright competition leaders either. 

So who is winning the race for the Wallabies top job: is it Kiss, McKellar or Larkham?