Australian Super 15 progress in 2013 - discussion

[admartian]

If you don't think NZ teams have been playing poor then - . The Blues were doing well until rotation. The Chiefs were doing well until, rotation. Every one else has been just underwhelming. Mainly due to knock ons and penalties.

 

[Dizzy]

If you can't see the future at the moment then be in for a rude awakening...
Hurricanes to win the competition..... Heard it here first second and third...

Lol, On the topic of NZ sides playing poorly, I agree and disagree... So far I have seen the Highlanders tap from their own 5 metres and try to run their way out within the first 10-20mins and then decide to kick it down field in the final mins, their problem is, they don't have the loose forward trio to compete highly at ruck time. The Crusaders have brought in a very lateral running game with no real penetrators until Marshall entered the frey but he cant do it alone. The Hurricanes have switched Tusi Pisi because of Barrett's defensive lapses, but Pisi doesn't have the same creation factor as Barrett so the Canes havent really had the opportunities to show their attacking brilliance.

Now, The Crusaders used to play in the opposition territory and win by applying pressure. Now they're trying to play like the Hurricanes and run without the star running backs.
The Highlanders don't have a clue what they're doing, last year they dominated breakdowns and Ben Smith was Mr.Fix it. They need him in the Centres to have more input in their game because he rarely makes bad decisions. And they're trying to run from their own territory without the ability to retain their own ball. Very desperate style of play from the Highlanders so far.
And the Canes have gone from being all about running to finding territory with Barretts and Perenaras kicking. But seem to have sacrificed their style of running rugby.

These teams have changed their style of play and it hasn't had a good effect on them.

 

[austingtir]

The NZ teams are certainly playing far to expansively against the Aussie teams and imo looking at them a bit softly in the forwards and they are actually getting what they deserve atm.

I still think other than the brumbies the rest of the aussie teams are quite soft in the forwards.... they are simply maning up though which the NZ teams arent.

They have all basically tried to take what was successful for the AB's last year and use to to much in super rugby. Its like I have been saying since last year if we continue down this path the international season is going to be a disaster for NZ imo.

The Aussie teams are doing pretty well and its great signs for a good lions series coming up if youd asked me last year id of thought theyd loose the series 2-1.... now i dont think so. More likely the other way round.

 

[The big Kangaroo]

I think the huge injury toll of last year has forced allot of development of players and with a new season the injured players have come back into the fold making the teams stronger.

I think its funny that the highlanders are on the bottom when there coach was the one who called Aussie rugby "schoolboy stuff"