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

LIVE

{{item.title}}

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 Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 30 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.

41 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland
Search