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This huge change will put the Wallabies in front of millions – especially when they play England at Twickenham in November – in a way that previously hasn’t happened outside Rugby World Cups. Rugby has many issues – and the rugby media takes its obligation to point them out, both real and imagined, very seriously – but this Nations Championship will reach a far greater audience than previously.
Waratahs are fighting for just one play-off spot
That might seem like a negative spin on things after the opening rounds, but the logic is as follows. Before the season started it already looked like five of the six play-off spots would go to the Brumbies, Reds, Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes.
Nothing in the first three rounds suggests this will change, meaning the Waratahs are effectively competing with the Blues – and possibly the Force – for a spot inside the top six. They’ll understand the importance of the game against the Hurricanes in Sydney on Friday, and were probably not too unhappy that the Brumbies took points off the Blues in Canberra on Saturday, courtesy of Charlie Cale’s last-gasp try.
Stone-cold Steve Larkham
The former Wallabies No.10’s half-time interviews are a rarity for that genre because he quite often actually says something interesting. And they can be unintentionally amusing too, because more often than not he delivers stone-cold rugby pragmatism far removed from what the entertainment-focused broadcasters are looking for.
Brumbies players celebrate a winning try by Charlie Cale against the Blues.Credit: Getty Images
During the break against the Blues on Saturday, Larkham revealed the Brumbies’ game plan was to force a yellow card from the New Zealanders by provoking multiple infringements inside their own 22m. And this is exactly how the game unfolded: No. 10 Stephen Perofeta was sent to the sin bin, giving the Brumbies the numerical advantage to complete their comeback win. Larkham would be a terrible salesman, but he certainly understands what it takes to win.
Australian sides are 5-0 against the potential All Blacks coach
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The Reds were too slick for the Highlanders on Friday as their attacking shape and late plays on the line complemented some excellent, pressure-building kicks. Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is now 0-5 against Australian teams since he returned to the head coach role for the southerners at the start of last year. Joseph is in a tight race with Dave Rennie for the All Blacks job; an announcement is expected within the next two weeks.
Too much can be read into Super Rugby results – look at Scott Robertson’s success with the Crusaders and his struggles with the All Blacks – but if every piece of information is valued that 0-5 record might count in Rennie’s favour.
Cully’s team of the week
Super Rugby Team of the Week
1 James Slipper (Brumbies)
2 Josh Nasser (Reds)
3 Rhys van Nek (Brumbies): Player of the week
4 Darcy Swain (Force)
5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds)
6 Joe Brial (Reds)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi (Force)
9 Louis Werchon (Reds)
10 Carter Gordon (Reds)
11 Tim Ryan (Reds)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Josh Flook (Reds)
14 Ollie Sapsford (Brumbies)
15 Andy Muirhead (Brumbies)