Prospects of change at the top in Super Rugby Pacific
Rugby
The crisis at the Melbourne Rebels has cast a shadow over the third season of Super Rugby Pacific but there is still plenty of excitement at the possibility of a refreshing change at the top of Australasian provincial rugby.
The Crusaders have won seven straight iterations of Super Rugby in its various forms but will be without the coach, Scott Robertson, and flyhalf, Richie Mo’unga, who played a major role in landing those titles.
The schedulers have served up a decent early test of the famed Christchurch production line with a rematch of last year’s final against the Chiefs in Hamilton in the first clash of the season on Friday.
The Chiefs, who dominated the regular season last year, have lost talent too – Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick will leave big holes – but Damian McKenzie remains in a talented backline that will bring a plenty of flair and fire.
North Island powerhouse the Blues are being tipped by many as title contenders this year under new coach Vern Cotter and kick off their campaign in Whangarei against the Fijian Drua on Saturday.
The Drua have been the biggest success of Super Rugby’s expansion into the Pacific, reaching the playoffs at the second attempt last year and proving all but unbeatable playing at home in the island nation.
They will play seven matches in Lautoka and Suva this year, while Moana Pasifika will extend the competition to Tonga with a home match against the Highlanders in Nuku’alofa in May.
The Pasifika, who won just one match last year, also face the Highlanders, the New Zealand side who again start the season with the lowest expectations of success, in their opener in Dunedin on Saturday.
– SuperSport.com/rugby
The Crusaders have won seven straight iterations of Super Rugby in its various forms but will be without the coach, Scott Robertson, and flyhalf, Richie Mo’unga, who played a major role in landing those titles.
The schedulers have served up a decent early test of the famed Christchurch production line with a rematch of last year’s final against the Chiefs in Hamilton in the first clash of the season on Friday.
The Chiefs, who dominated the regular season last year, have lost talent too – Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick will leave big holes – but Damian McKenzie remains in a talented backline that will bring a plenty of flair and fire.
North Island powerhouse the Blues are being tipped by many as title contenders this year under new coach Vern Cotter and kick off their campaign in Whangarei against the Fijian Drua on Saturday.
The Drua have been the biggest success of Super Rugby’s expansion into the Pacific, reaching the playoffs at the second attempt last year and proving all but unbeatable playing at home in the island nation.
They will play seven matches in Lautoka and Suva this year, while Moana Pasifika will extend the competition to Tonga with a home match against the Highlanders in Nuku’alofa in May.
The Pasifika, who won just one match last year, also face the Highlanders, the New Zealand side who again start the season with the lowest expectations of success, in their opener in Dunedin on Saturday.
– SuperSport.com/rugby
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