Preview of the teams in advance of the start this weekend.
Super Rugby Pacific Team Guide 2022: Get to know the 12 teams from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific taking part in the new-look tournament
www.rugbyworld.com
My main interests are going to be:
- was the Crusaders being toppled just a blip?
- will a non-NZ side manage to secure a home QF?
- will any Oz side finish ahead of any NZ side?
- will Drua and Pasifika capture much support for their home games?
- will Drua and Pasifika finally improve their national sides' attacking and defensive mauls?
I think the Drua could be a big draw, but I'm less convinced by Pasifika. Still, great to see other Tier2 nations getting fully pro sides and I think I'd be surprised and disappointed if they ended up as clearly the weakest (but I don't expect either to make the QFs).
I'll be supporting the PIs primarily, with the Force and my brothers in Dunedin as my soft picks either side of the Tasman.