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Reality check for Australian Super Rugby teams

Christian Lealiifano and David Pocock of the Brumbies. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika may need to revisit his appraisal of Australian Super Rugby progress after a mixed bag of performances in round three.

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Hopes were raised of a revitalised Australian challenge in 2019 following some positive results in week two, with Cheika echoing the thoughts of many in an upbeat interview released by Rugby Australia.

A more realistic rating may be needed after the Brumbies opened the weekend with a humbling 43-13 loss to the Hurricanes, a week after they’d pulverised the Chiefs.

The Queensland Reds were flattered by a 22-12 losing scoreline after being outplayed for much of their clash with the competition-leading Crusaders in Brisbane.

Optimism still abounds in Melbourne, though, where the Rebels held out the Highlanders 24-19 to make it two-from-two and remain the only unbeaten team along with the Crusaders.

At least one of Cheika’s early observations rang true, with Quade Cooper at the heart of some slick attack for the Rebels, in addition to his improved defensive work.

Cheika described the mercurial five-eighth as being in strong contention for a Test recall given his early season form. That view won’t have changed after Cooper set up two of the Rebels’ four tries.

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Cooper made mistakes but displayed a heady mix of game management and the ability to spark swift attacks in conjunction with Will Genia.

Unlike the Reds a week earlier, the Rebels were able to withstand a late Highlanders charge, helped when Shannon Frizell’s spilled possession on the try line in the dying moments.

The Crusaders underlined why they’re the firmest of favourites to claim a third-straight crown, dominating the forward exchanges and possession for long periods against the Reds.

Brad Thorn was heartened by his young team’s defence but warned the Reds would keep coming up short against the competition’s best if they failed to place value on holding possession.

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The Brumbies weren’t even in the contest in Palmerston North, muscled off the ball at the breakdown and bowled over by a legion of Hurricanes power runners.

Coach Dan McKellar asked supporters not to forget about the Brumbies team who had dismantled the Chiefs 54-17.

“A week’s a long time isn’t it?” he told AAP.

“We weren’t as great as what everyone was telling us seven days ago and we’re certainly not as poor as what people will be telling us after tonight.”

The Brumbies can avenge their opening-round loss to the Rebels when they travel to Melbourne on Friday.

A second Australian derby will be in Sydney the following day when the Waratahs return from a bye to face the Reds.

AAP News

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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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