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Phil Waugh's 'important' challenge to Australia's Super Rugby teams

(L-R) Waratahs captain Jake Gordon, Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa, Rebels captain Rob Leota, Force captain Michael Wells and Reds captain Tate McDermott 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)

Phil Waugh is challenging Australia’s under-performing Super Rugby sides to finally stand up to their New Zealand rivals for the sake of the Wallabies and the ailing code in general.

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The All Blacks have enjoyed a mortgage-like hold on the Bledisloe Cup since 2003, way back when Waugh was still playing.

Now the champion flanker turned Rugby Australia chief executive is offering advice on how the Wallabies can break the embarrassing 21-year series-winning drought.

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And it’s not exactly rocket science: start beating the Kiwis at Super Rugby and that might help when it comes to Test time.

Last year, the benchmark ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force managed just six wins from a combined 30 matches against their trans-Tasman foes in Super Rugby.

Even that 20 per cent winning strike rate was an improvement on two decades of NZ beat-downs that includes a humiliating combined low of none-from-31 return against the Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues, Hurricanes and Highlanders in 2017.

When it comes to play-off matches in New Zealand, it’s even worse.

The Kiwis have won all 15 trans-Tasman finals encounters since the competition began in 1996 and Australian victories on NZ soil have become alarmingly rare.

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But in 2015, when the Brumbies and Waratahs both made the Super Rugby semi-finals, the Wallabies reached the World Cup final in England.

“There’s a strong correlation between having a successful Wallaby team and how we perform at Super Rugby level and it’s important for our Super Rugby team to set up the season for the Wallabies,” Waugh said ahead of the competition start on Friday.

“There’s been challenges around our competitiveness in Super Rugby, and we’ve seen that go through into the late stage of the tournament.

“Ideally, you see our five Super Rugby teams consistently winning and beating New Zealand teams.”

Waugh was reticent to offer a “pass mark” for the Australian teams against Kiwi opposition in 2024.

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“All I know is that every game that you go into, we want to have our Australian sides a genuine chance to win,” he said.

“I don’t want to be too optimistic but, from early signs in the trials, it appears that we’re prepared.

“It’s going to be how we perform in the games this weekend and, ideally, we get off to a fast start for all our Super Rugby teams.”

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SK 34 minutes ago
How can Scott Robertson revive the All Blacks’ playmaking ‘triple threat’?

Who are the best Full backs in the world right now? Ramos and Keenan appear a step above and the leaders in class, Le Roux is old but still a class act. All of these players are outstanding in their own right and all of them can do multiple things very well. They peel off territory with outstanding kicking in both attacking and defensive zones. They are all excellent under the high ball. They are all playmakers who step into the line at times at first receiver or in midfield and distribute perfectly to the edge. They can all function as strike runners or link players bringing others into the game. They are also all good as last line defenders. Now look at Jordan. A class act in his own way, an epic strike and broken-field runner. He is able to burst into space with intent, pace and power. He is an elite finisher and a really good one on one defender who is a solid last line of defence. He chips into space really well and regathers very nicely. He is however not a creative link and creates primarily for himself. He sees opportunities which he can exploit individually and rarely brings others into the game. He is not a big picture player. He is decent under the high ball but by no means outstanding. He is unable to control the pace of the game all that well, he doesn't always make the best decisions especially in his third as he is so zoned in on attack and does not control territory well. His boot is not as prodigious or educated as the aforementioned 15's. Jordan is a complete winger but he is nowhere near as complete a full back. He limits Robertsons options in terms of playmaking ability and that means more responsibility for the 10. There is a general acceptance of this and as long as Jordan is at 15 the 10 will have to shoulder the playmaking responsibility with Jordan sniffing out opportunities from the back. Jordie needs to give support in this regard and Robertson needs to give him more freedom to create. With Jordan at 15 does he really need Ioane at 13? Perhaps the AB's are focusing too much on strike runners and not enough attention on playmaking.

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