Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

WATCH: The best and worst of Super Rugby 2017

Drink up, boys

According to various Snapchat accounts, right now the Crusaders are still partying after taking out the Super Rugby title for this year. The rest of us spent our Mondays in a much less mad state – so while the champs enjoy a well-earned beer, let’s look back at the highs and lows of the season just gone.

ADVERTISEMENT

Best game

Either of the two Crusaders/Highlanders regular season matches. Both were highly anticipated, both delivered rugby of eye-popping quality, and both had stunning finishes. Unfortunately for Highlanders fans, they didn’t go the way they would’ve wanted. The two faced off a third time in the playoffs, however Christchurch’s shocking weather meant that game was a forgettable event.

Worst game

No tries, no winner. The Rebels and Sharks drew 9-9 in Durban back in round nine, in a game that would’ve been a perfect cure for anyone out there suffering from insomnia. Just to put a coat of polish on this turd, two players were sent from the field as well.

The drought breakers

2016 saw the Canes win the title for the first time in their history, but Crusaders fans probably felt like it had been a lifetime since their last Super Rugby triumph. Their win now means four out of the last five years have been won by a different NZ team.

The Horror-tahs

The only thing uglier than their on field performances were the NSW uniforms, oddly supplemented with red despite their biggest rival team literally being called ‘The Reds’.

Barrett-mania

Last year everything Beauden did seemed to turn to gold, so the Hurricanes doubles down and brought in his younger brother Jordie. The two combined for some of the best plays of the season, however it’s their other brother Scott who gets bragging rights at home – he plays for the champion Crusaders.

ADVERTISEMENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ0zCGUyXC0

The Never-Ending Story

Australian rugby is a shambles right now, but the ongoing saga around which team or teams might be cut from next year’s competition is probably the pinnacle of their problems. Especially since the South Africans resolved their situation pretty efficiently, announcing the Kings and Cheetahs would be out and then playing in the Pro 12 within a matter of weeks.

Ngani Laumape

Pity every poor midfielder tasked with marking the former rugby league player this season, with the Canes’ use of him centred mainly around having Laumape run as hard as possible at them at every given opportunity. He was deservedly rewarded with an All Black call up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-iluseQRHU&t=184s

The intermission

While the Lions tour was great, and Scotland definitely would’ve enjoyed their trip to Australia in June, the mid season Super Rugby break once again did the competition no favours at all. It seemed like a lot of fans needed to be reminded about what was going on, and for many teams the season was basically over anyway.

ADVERTISEMENT

This offload

Take a bow, Dillyn Leyds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeKx_5N19kk

The one bright spot for the Aussies

Joe Powell scored a try for the Brumbies that would be in serious contention for try of the year in any competition. Probably worth mentioning they lost 56-21 though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gw5T30s9ro

Empty seats

While the final was played in front of a packed Ellis Park, empty seats have been pretty noticeable around the stadiums in 2017. While there have been a couple of mitigating factors – Christchurch suffered flood-level rainfall in the week leading up to their playoff match – it clearly shows that the competition needs to do more to attract casual fans to the game day experience.

Angus Gardner got schooled by another cheeky halfback

Last year it was Aaron Smith, this year TJ Perenara managed to get the Australian whistleblower to reverse a decision simply by explaining the rules. While it was amusing, rumours are that it was this sort of joviality with the players that cost the Australian control of the Super Rugby final.

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video

South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Namibia vs United Arab Emirates | Asia/Africa Rugby World Cup Play-off | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Lions Share | Episode 5

Play Video

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

Play Video

The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

Play Video

KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

Play Video

New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 49 minutes ago
Lions tour Aussie takes: The Suaalii decision and the Finn Russell factor

Good reads again John. I feel some moments at still within the team to improve, and hopefully some individuals to shine through. After Super Rugby where we were shown you can’t drop your guard at kick off several times in this series have the Lions caught their opposition out with quick throws and restarts, letting the ball go out in this game was a shocker (though the kick was honesty good enough to find the touch had they been ready). Tate tried to strip the try scored just before the half, where he could easily have just dove over the line with him and that pretty much would have been them going into the half with a 10 point lead or so. And in the last play they just didn’t work hard enough, especially one player, I forget who, when back into the ruck area given the Lions too much space wide.


I feel they also didn’t seem to show the same killer instinct once they were in front, playing it safe on a couple of breaks/momentum carries.


I also don’t really understand why Donaldson on the bench. I would much rather have someone you want on the pitch like Pietsch available in a 6/2 split with Gordon or Wright more than able to cover 10 imo. Tate was wonderful on the wing though. And of course lots more positives also present.


I really enjoyed how they were running onto the ball in close in around the ruck. Wilson was playing a different role I thought, he was more the one out man design for quick ball and he presented it as good as you can get all night. That said, he’s not first choice 8 is he, who is that again? Is Wright still injured? I worry that Joe is keeping him their and its dictating too much of the plan just because he has been given the captaincy role.


Will be interesting to see who he thinks might be work a shot in the first team this week, plenty of options. I watched the first quarter of last weeks midweek game and Tupou certainly wouldn’t be one on that list, might be worth a punt though. Think they have to try and work some plays for Bell too, hes got too much class just to be down on form, give him something to work with and I’m sure he’d be a standout as well.


Also seen enough to know Hunter isn’t suddenly going to turn into a class center, I would definitely stick with Joseph but maybe theres a window to put him onto the wing, despite what I said above, now? I think you also do him a disservice in his defending (like many are), he made the player go outside him. It’s the hardest backline spot, I’d be inclined to use him like a league back row and carry it from 12 more often, if that suits Len better.

3 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clearout