Final treat as Super 12 wizards flex their muscles
Meanwhile, 12,000 miles away in Auckland, the showpiece of Southern Hemisphere provincial rugby, the Super 12 final, takes place. It is fitting that the two best teams in the league format, the Auckland Blues and the Canterbury Crusaders, meet in the final. If you are not travelling to Dublin, I suggest you tune to Sky Sports at 8.30 on Saturday morning.
In keeping with its history, the quality of rugby in this year’s competition has been outstanding. Given that it is now World Cup season in the southern hemisphere, competition for places in the national squads of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has added even more bite to this year’s event.
New Zealand, with five teams, have the highest representation in the competition followed by South Africa’s four and Australia’s three.
Entering the final phase of games, it looked likely that the semi-final places would be the exclusive preserve of Kiwi sides.
However, the Otago Highlanders’ defeat by Queensland in Ballymore, allowed Australia’s ACT Brumbies spoil the New Zealand dominance.
From its inception, Super 12 rugby was different to anything previously seen on this side of the world. Entertainment was paramount in putting ‘bums on seats’ and from the outset the emphasis was on scoring tries.
As a result the game was refereed differently in order to favour the attacking sides. Teams were able to hold onto possession until such time as they scored a try. Once in possession of the ball, a sort of “finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers” ethos prevailed.
While this proved highly entertaining, it had a severe impact on the way the game was evolving. Nowhere was this more obvious than in New Zealand. Their provincial sides selected props and second-row forwards who could run, pass, sidestep, tackle and kick. The only downside was that they couldn’t scrummage or win lineout ball. International rugby is totally different to Super 12 and without a scrum and lineout, you are nowhere. This enabled Australia to dominate Southern Hemisphere international rugby for a number of seasons.
This is something that new All Blacks coach, John Mitchell, recognised quickly, and is frantically trying to address prior to the World Cup. The emergence of Chris Jacks in the second-row has been a major plus for the New Zealand lineout. His Canterbury partner, Norm Maxwell, has suffered a number of injuries this year, which leaves the second-row cupboard decidedly bare.
The recent good form of both Keese Meeuws and Greg Somerville in the front-row is also a plus. However, their scrummaging is still questionable. If the All Blacks manage to produce a competitive front five, then everybody else can stay at home in October.
The back play from all the New Zealand provincial sides this season has been breathtaking. The Wellington Hurricanes have been backboned for a number of years by Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu and Tana Umaga. Lomu’s recurring kidney illness has resulted in his enforced absence from the game at present. However, Wellington have discovered a new centre in Ma’a Nonu, who has set the Super 12 tournament alight. His centre partnership with Umaga has been the best in the competition. Nonu possesses both Lomu’s strength and pace, but has intimately more footwork, creativity and is a better defender.
Six months ago he was unknown in New Zealand. Now he is on the verge of greatness and it will be interesting to see if Mitchell will bring him straight into the All Blacks side for their upcoming games.
While the Hurricanes’ elevation to semi-final status was a notable achievement, the comeback of the Auckland Blues in this year’s competition has been outstanding. The dominant force in the early years of the competition, they had faded badly in recent seasons. With Graham Henry now part of their coaching set-up, their back play has been spectacular.
For a number of seasons outhalf Carlos Spencer has been the unfulfilled talent of New Zealand rugby. When he and Andrew Merthens first came on the scene there was little to choose between them for the All Blacks number 10 jersey. In fact, I remember seeing the New Zealand Barbarians playing England in Twickenham a few years ago and on that occasion the NZ selectors opted for Spencer over Merthens. When I enquired what the selection criteria was, I was told it was on the basis that they were equally adept at all aspects of play except restarts where Spencer had a slight edge. What a luxury!
Subsequently, Spencer lost his way and Merthens has dominated the outhalf position over the past four years. On the evidence of the last few weeks, this is surely about to change.
Spencer has been truly inspirational in his performances for the Blues. The range of skills he has shown has been phenomenal. He has been responsible for the emergence of another special talent at outside centre for the Blues, Mils Muliaina. When it comes to creative backs, Mitchell has an embarrassment of riches.
Given that the final takes place in Auckland, the Blues will start as slight favourites. However Canterbury, the holders and playing in their fourth final in five years, held the nucleus of the All Blacks side last year. When Mitchell decided to rest all the Canterbury players for their tour of England and Wales last November, new stars emerged. As a result Canterbury lost their way in the early rounds of Super 12 but over the last few weeks shot back to their devastating best.
The final pits together two sides with very contrasting style. The Blues have run the ball from everywhere all season while the Crusaders would be much more structured in their approach. On the basis of their free running spirit and the quality of tries they have scored all season, I hope the Auckland Blues win. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Canterbury may just about succeed.
Either way I can’t think of a better way to start next Saturday morning.
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