SYDNEY (Reuters) – Team-by-team preview of the new season of Super RugbyPacific, which kicks off on Friday. (Listed in order of last season’s finish on regular season standings):
WELLINGTON HURRICANES
Best finish: Champions – 2016
Last year: Semi-finals (13-3)
Coach: Clark Laidlaw
Co-captains: Brad Shields, Asafo Aumua, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Billy Proctor
A young Hurricanes side cast aside the loss of Ardie Savea to sabbatical last year to top the regular season standings on the back of some brilliant rugby. The departures of TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett will further test the squad this year, however, and exciting young back Ruben Love will miss the start of the season after having surgery on his ankle.
AUCKLAND BLUES
Best finish: Champions (5) – 1996, 1997, 2003, 2021 (Trans-Tasman), 2024
Last year: Champions (15-2)
Coach: Vern Cotter
Captain: Patrick Tuipulotu
Beauden Barrett returns from sabbatical to add a little more class to a team packed with All Blacks that were clearly the best in the competition last season. With a high-octane attack and steely defence, the only question is whether the Blues can deal with the psychological burden of having a target on their back.
ACT BRUMBIES
Best finish: Champions – 2001, 2004
Last year: Semi-finals (13-3)
Coach: Stephen Larkham
Captains: Allan Alaalatoa
The standard bearers for Australian rugby since the start of Super Rugby Pacific, the Canberra-based outfit have lost in the semi-finals for the last three years. Trips to Fiji, Hamilton and Auckland over the first four rounds of the season will test them, but there is enough quality in the squad to go deep in the playoffs again.
WAIKATO CHIEFS
Best finish: Champions – 2012, 2013
Last year: Final (11-6)
Coach: Clayton McMillan
Captain: Luke Jacobson
Losing finalists for the last two seasons, the Hamilton-based outfit should again be among the contenders even if young All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi is likely to miss most of the campaign after knee surgery. Damian McKenzie will again feature in a backline that scores for fun, while hooker Brodie McAlister is a good addition to an already strong pack.
QUEENSLAND REDS
Best finish: Champions – 2011
Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7)
Coach: Les Kiss
Co-captains: Tate McDermott, Liam Wright
There are high expectations for Kiss’s second year in charge and if a largely settled Reds squad can get into the habit of winning close matches, they will compete at least for pre-eminence among the Australian teams.
OTAGO HIGHLANDERS
Best finish: Champions – 2015
Last year: Quarter-finals (6-9)
Coach: Jamie Joseph
Co-captains: Timoci Tavatavanawai, Hugh Renton
Joseph, who led the Dunedin-based outfit to their only title in 2015, has reassumed the coaching reins but admitted he is still in the process of rebuilding his young squad, which has the fewest All Blacks of the five New Zealand franchises.
FIJIAN DRUA
Best finish: Seventh – 2023
Last year: Quarter-finals (6-9)
Coach: Glen Jackson
Co-captains: Tevita Ikanivere, Frank Lomani
The Drua have been all but unbeatable in Fiji and could go further than their quarter-final exits of the last two years if new coach Jackson can get his settled squad to produce just a bit of their home form on the road.
CANTERBURY CRUSADERS
Best finish: Champions (14) – 1998-2000, 2002, 2005-6, 2008, 2017-2019, 2020-21 (Aotearoa), 2022, 2023
Last year: Ninth (4-10)
Coach: Rob Penney
Captain: David Havili
The Christchurch-based Crusaders endured a miserable 2024 season after years as a dominant force. They kept faith with coach Penney, however, and have added the experienced James O’Connor to a backline that will again feature All Blacks flier Will Jordan, who missed last season through injury.
WESTERN FORCE
Best finish: 3rd (AU) – 2021
Last year: 10th (4-10)
Coach: Simon Cron
Captain: Jeremy Williams
The Perth-based outfit have a tough travel schedule and struggled with depth when injuries hit last year. They do have the talent to produce an upset or two, although perhaps not enough for a run to the playoffs.
MOANA PASIFIKA
Best finish: 11th – 2024
Last year: 11th (4-10)
Coach: Tana Umaga
Captain: Ardie Savea
Even former World Player of the Year and All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea might struggle to turn Moana into a competitive force overnight, but he might ensure a few more fans come through the gates at their poorly-attended home matches.
NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS
Best finish: Champions – 2014
Last year: 12th (2-12)
Coach: Dan McKellar
Captain: Jake Gordon
With Joseph Suaalii in a squad packed full of Wallabies, some optimistic local fans are talking about the possibility of the Waratahs going from wooden spoon to title challengers. McKellar would probably settle for a good start and a low injury count in his first season.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian Radnedge)
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