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Flying ‘under the radar’: Super Rugby Pacific’s silent contenders

The team captains pose for a photograph with the trophy at the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Season Launch on February 14, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)

Wallaroo Sera Naiqama believes the Brumbies are still flying “under the radar” this season despite their impressive start which has included a drought-breaking win in Dunedin on Saturday.

It was a drought-breaking win for the men from Australia’s capital as they registered their first victory over the Highlanders in the deep south of New Zealand since 2013.

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With four rounds of Super Rugby Pacific in the books, the Brumbies sit in fifth with three wins but their successes have been somewhat outshone by high-flying Aussie rivals the Reds.

“I certainly think they had. We talk about the Reds and they’re definitely becoming the best team in Australian rugby that the Brumbies have certainly flown under the radar,” three-time Super W champion Sera Naiqama said on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven.

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“We forget to remember that they’re operating at (three) wins and only one loss. They’ve just gone about their business really quietly.

“What I really loved about this game is they came out in that second-half and they were just a different team. It almost seemed as though (coach Stephen) Larkham said something at half-time to fire them up.

“(Corey) Toole was just unstoppable.

“Looking at the Brumbies outfit, I was really impressed with what I saw of them.”

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Wing Corey Toole appeared to be running at the speed of light down the left edge for the Brumbies which led to defensive pressure and a stunning score early in the second-half.

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With the Brumbies down by four points at the break, Toole showed a clean pair of heels to score a decisive try only a few minutes into the second 40, with momentum swinging the visitors’ way.

It was still a seesawing context until replacement hooker Lachlan Lonergan scored a try inside the final five minutes, with the conversion extending the Brumbies’ lead to nine points.

The Brumbies held on for their third win of the season, joining victories over the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force in rounds one and three respectively.

“Maybe there’s so much expectation on the Brumbies,” former Wallaby Justin Harrison suggested. “I don’t know if they’re under the radar, everyone expects them to be the standout team.

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“They’re just quietly working their way into some form. The Reds have come out of the gates strong (but) the Brumbies are starting to catch them up now, that’s a great thing too.”

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S
SK 52 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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