Super XV 2011 Preview: Australian Conference

Australian Conference

2011 saw the rise of the Queensland Reds, who blitzed the Australian conference and carried on winning all the way to a home final. Finding enough quality players for five teams is a struggle for Australian rugby however, as the game ranks behind AFL, cricket, Rugby League and Soccer in terms of participation and fan base. As a result the teams at the bottom of the pecking order really struggle, and it could be a tough year for the Brumbies and the Force. The Reds should be strong again, and the Waratahs will be looking to buck their normal trend of impressing early before fading into a "choke".

v2's pick - Australian Conference:
1) Reds
2) Waratahs
3) Rebels
4) Force
5) Brumbies


Brumbies
Back at the start of Super Rugby in 1996 the Brumbies were written off as a collection of nobodies unwanted by the giants of New South Wales and Queensland. Those nobodies went on to win two finals, reach another three, and formed the basis of the 1999 RWC winning Wallabies team.

In 2012 Canberra fans will be hoping that history can repeat itself under Jake White, as a combination of the breaking of player power (not before the “Canberra Rugby Players’ Collective” saw off several coaches admittedly) and bigger pay packets elsewhere drew away many of the Australian Capital Territory’s big names.

Mercifully the Brumbies avoid their old rivals the Crusaders; as well as missing the Stormers in the round robin.

Key Players: Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore

Ones to watch: Stephen Moore is a class act (if you’ll excuse the pun) while Alexander and Pat McCabe will be looking to press their international claims

Gains: Siliva Siliva, Ben Mowen, Ian Prior, Fotu Auelua, Kimami Sitauti, Joseph Tomane, Jake White (coach)

Losses: Elvis Levi, Huia Edmonds, Salesi Ma'afu, Mark Chisholm, Mitchell Chapman, Julian Salvi, Rocky Elsom, Patrick Phibbs, Josh Valentine, Matt Giteau, Tyrone Smith, Ed Stubbs, Francis Fainifo, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stephen Hoiles

Main Squad:
Coach: Jake White
Props: Ben Alexander, Jono Owen, Dan Palmer, Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Hookers: Anthony Hegarty, Stephen Moore, Siliva Siliva
Locks: Sam Carter, Ben Hand, Peter Kimlin, Leon Power
Loose Forwards: Fotu Auelua, Colby Faingaa, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, Ita Vaea
Half Backs: Ian Prior, Nic White
Fly-Halfs: Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua
Centres: Robbie Coleman, Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith, Joseph Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani
Wingers: Tom Cox, Kimami Sitauti, Henry Speight
Full Backs: Cam Crawford, Zack Holmes



Force
The Force had a tough 2011 after a couple of seasons of punching above their weight. The loss of star backs James O’Connor and David Smith leaves them lacking a little star power in 2012, while they are also light at fly-half after Willy Ripia was sent back to Taranaki in disgrace when caught pilfering from his team-mates’ lockers.

The Force miss out on playing the Bulls and the Highlanders in the round robin. They have a tough tour to NZ at the end of the round robin, facing the Crusaders and the Blues.

Key Players: David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe

Ones to watch: The Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga has been a star in France for ASM Clermont, while the Pocock-lead back row should be very competitive

Gains: Toby Lynn, Salesi Ma'afu, Napolioni Nalaga, Jordan Rapana, Winston Stanley

Losses: James O’Connor, David Smith, Matt Dunning, Willy Ripia

Main Squad:
Coach: Richard Graham
Props: Salesi Ma'afu, Kieran Longbottom, Pekahou Cowan, Tetera Faulkner
Hookers: Ben Whitaker, Nathan Charles
Locks: Nathan Sharpe, Toby Lynn, Sam Wykes, Phoenix Battye
Loose Forwards: David Pocock, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Ben Seymour
Half Backs: Brett Sheehan, James Stannard, Justin Turner
Fly-Halfs: Ben Seymour
Centres: Alfie Mafi, Gene Fairbanks, Rory Sidey, Will Tupou, Winston Stanley
Wingers: Jordan Rapana, Napolioni Nalaga, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit
Full Backs: Cameron Shepherd


Rebels
The newest Super rugby franchise had a tough baptism in 2011. For this season they’ve built a pretty impressive backline, the challenge will be getting enough possession for the classy backs to work with; there are an awful lot of journeymen in the Rebels’ pack. Their main goal this season will be to finish ahead of either the Brumbies or the Force on the table, there’s a lot of work to do in terms of building a fan base in AFL-mad Melbourne (the Melbourne Storm Rugby League team still struggle for support despite being one of the top NRL clubs).

The Rebels welcome visits from the Blues, Bulls, Cheetahs and Crusaders this season, while they miss the Sharks and the Chiefs in the round robin.,

Key Players: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor

Ones to watch: Danny Cipriani managed the most kicking metres of any player in Super XV 2011, and most missed tackles (ahead of Quade Cooper). Can he find a spark and hold onto a starting berth ahead of James “Beiber” O’Connor? Gareth Delve had a pretty good season in 2011; can he grab Warren Gatland’s attention?

Gains: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, James King, Paul Alo-Emile, Lloyd Johansson, Mitch Inman

Losses: JP du Plessis, Luke Rooney, Greg Somerville

Main Squad:
Coach: Damien Hill
Props: Laurie Weeks, Rodney Blake, Nic Henderson, Paul Alo-Emile
Hookers: Adam Freier, Ged Robinson, Heath Tessman
Locks: Adam Byrnes, Hugh Pyle, Luke Jones, Alister Campbell, James King
Loose Forwards: Jarrod Saffy, Michael Lipman, Tom Chamberlain, Gareth Delve, Tim Davidson
Half Backs: Richard Kingi, Nick Phipps
Fly-Halfs: Danny Cipriani, James Hilgendorf
Centres: Stirling Mortlock, Lloyd Johansson, Mitch Inman, James O'Connor
Wingers: Lachie Mitchell, Cooper Vuna, Mark Gerrard
Full Backs: Julian Huxley, Kurtley Beale


Reds
The defending champions come into 2012 with a virtually unchanged squad, though Quade Cooper will miss the early parts of the season due to the knee injury that ended his World Cup.

Key Players: James Horwill, Will Genia, Digby Ioane

Ones to watch: Quade Cooper seemed unstoppable in 2011, right up until some tough international defences (and some hostile New Zealand crowds) rocked his confidence. Can he come back from injury at his brilliant attacking best? Digby Ioane was the best winger in the world in 2011, watch out for the “Caterpillar” in 2012.

Gains: David McDuling, Jono Lance, Chris Feauai-Sautia,

Losses: Will Chambers, Leroy Houston, Albert Anae

Main Squad:
Coach: Ewen McKenzie
Props: Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, Guy Shepherdson, James Slipper
Hookers: Saia Faingaa, James Hanson
Locks: James Horwill (c), Van Humphries, David McDuling, Radike Samo, Rob Simmons, Adam Wallace-Harrison
Loose Forwards: Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, Ed Quirk, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz
Half Backs: Will Genia (vc), Ben Lucas
Fly-Halfs: Quade Cooper, Michael Harris
Centres: Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai
Wingers: Rod Davies, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Digby Ioane, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Aidan Toua
Full Backs: Peter Hynes, Jono Lance


Waratahs
The Waratahs, like the Hurricanes, have been great underachievers in Super rugby. The nursery of the Australian game has had to sit back and watch the Brumbies and Reds win titles, while year after year the Sydney-siders start the competition well before fading to another nearly-man finish.

New South Wales have done a fairly good job of recruiting over the off season, with Ashley-Cooper, Elsom and Pretorius handy replacements for Beale, Burgess and Waugh.

The Waratahs are hosting the Bulls, Crusaders and Sharks this season, all tough home games. They will be targeting away wins at the Cheetahs, Chiefs and Highlanders, and they miss out on playing the Blues and the Lions in the round robin.

Key Players: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Berrick Barnes, Sarel Pretorius

Ones to watch: Sarel Pretorius was easily the Cheetah’s best player before moving to Australia. Adam Ashley-Cooper should get an extended run at fullback; his battle with Kurtley Beale over the Wallabies 15 jersey should be impressive. And can the change of teams help Rocky Elsom get his mojo back?

Gains: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rocky Elsom, Sarel Pretorius, Dan Vickerman

Losses: Al Baxter, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Ryan Cross, Phil Waugh

Main Squad:
Coach: Michael Foley
Props: Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse
Hookers: Damien Fitzpatrick, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sitaleki Timani, John Ulugia
Locks: Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Dan Vickerman, Greg Peterson
Loose Forwards: Chris Alcock, Rocky Elsom, Dave Dennis, Pat McCutcheon, Wycliff Palu
Half Backs: Sarel Pretorius, Brendan McKibbin
Fly-Halfs: Daniel Halangahu (c), Berrick Barnes, Bernard Foley
Centres: Tom Kingston, Tom Carter, Rob Horne, Brackin Karauria-Henry
Wingers: Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Atieli Pakalani
Full Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper