With the Super Rugby season just around the corner I thought I would give a preview in to the season of two of the Australian franchises and run the rule over them and offer my thoughts and predictions for both teams seasons.
Reds:
Key player: Take you pick but probably rookie number 10 Hamish Stewart, since new coach Brad Thorn told fan favourite and long-time Wallaby Quade Cooper that he was surplus to requirements and sent him packing to club footy on over 500k a year the 19 year old Stewart has become a crucial member of the team. He is likely to get some help at 10 by new recruits Johno Lance and Ben Lucas but figures to start the season from the run on team outside another rookie at halfback, the jury is still out on this move from Thorn.
Under pressure: Its very rough to say a rookie coach is already under pressure before the season has even started but that’s the nature of the business of Rugby and is where new coach Brad Thorn finds himself. His illustrious playing career in Australia and New Zealand has built him a bank of credit points but that will soon be out the window if the Reds get off to a slow start in the completion. As above mentioned the sacking of Cooper has put him under enormous pressure already and the fans will be lining up to sink the boot in if doesn’t work out.
Player to Watch: Outside back Izaia Perese is looking for a bumper season to build on his rookie campaign, strong with great speed and footwork look for some highlights from this pocket dynamo on the wing or even fullback this year.
Prediction: With a rookie halves pairing, rookie head coach and already off-field issues surfacing and the possible loss of Karmaichel Hunt im not predicting a great season for the reds with another bottom half of the ladder finish looking likely.
14th.
Brumbies:
Key player: David Pocock returning from his sabbatical figures to be a huge returning piece to the Brumbies with his leadership and unrivalled on the ball play offering the Brumbies a new dimension in attack and defence.
Most under pressure: Halfback Joe Powell is coming up to somewhat of a make or break season, a recently capped wallaby he needs to take charge of this team and lead them around the park in order for them take the step from finalists to genuine contenders.
Player to watch: Making the switch from the now defunct Western Force Issy Naisarani could prove to be a master stroke signing from Brumbies coach Dan Mckellor. Naisarani offers something that has been sadly lacking in Australian Rugby for a number of years now, a big athletic, ball running and offloading number 6, great in lineouts and equal at home running out wide or in tight pick and driving this could be the year that he really break outs and becomes one of the best forwards in the world, Michael Cheika is counting down the days until the big Fijian is eligible for the Wallabies.
Prediction: The brumbies were finalists last year but never looked likely to go any further then that, with the addition of Pocock and return of Christian Lealifano I see the Brumbies again winning the Australian conference and going deeper in the completion.
3rd.
I will be back tomorrow to preview the Warratahs and Force.