Super Rugby season 2015: Ex-Wallabies coach Eddie Jones predicts top six spot for Reds
I AM tipping a Reds revival to take them back to the top six in a season when Super Rugby’s greatest query is the split personality of Australia’s top coach, writes Eddie Jones.
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I AM tipping a Reds revival to take them back to the top six in a season when Super Rugby’s greatest query is the split personality of Australia’s top coach.
My gut feeling is that Michael Cheika will handle well his twin responsibilities as NSW Waratahs boss and Wallabies coach.
He has a tough skin, which he will need. After his first loss with the Waratahs it is a certainty that he will be grilled on whether he is handling his Waratahs duties and his Wallabies responsibilities.
The immediate reaction from across the country about Cheika’s dual role was some imagined bias flowing to NSW players.
I can’t see it. Cheika’s only ambition is for the Waratahs to win and to build the best Wallabies side so the strongest performers from everywhere will be picked for sure.
Time management will be key, as well as his ability to delegate to staff he trusts.
He has made a strong selection already by hiring influential strength and conditioning consultant Dean Benton, who is a man made for a short-term project. He is well organised and has attention to detail to get potential Wallabies in nick for a World Cup kick-off in September.
Benton sniped at Cheika from across the Brumbies-Waratahs divide last year. Now, he has been employed, so that is a fair example of Cheika signing the best regardless of Super Rugby allegiances.
As Brumbies coach in 2001, I pretty much knew in late February that year that I was going to take over the Wallabies five months later as coach. It is just a matter of priorities to get things right.
Super Rugby teams traditionally go on championship runs. The Chiefs (2012-13), Bulls (2007 and 2009-10) and Crusaders (2005-6 and 2008) have all dominated for more than a single season over the past decade, while only the Reds have been one-off winners.
History shows experienced teams can keep winning and I expect the Waratahs to be No. 1 again this season.
I expect the top six to read Waratahs, Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs, Highlanders and Reds. I only include a South African side because they are guaranteed a Conference-winning spot. It would otherwise be the Brumbies on merit.
The Reds badly under-performed last season. They still have a very experienced squad full of Wallabies, so expect a rebound.
The major question mark is their ability to cover the injured Quade Cooper’s absence well.
James O’Connor and Karmichael Hunt are very good players but they are runners not bus drivers.
Both can have short-term success at flyhalf but good teams will sort them out.a
Hunt is going to be a terrific fullback, brave, with good game sense and great communication skills.
O’Connor is a brilliant runner. I can imagine him being like Andrew Walker was for the champion Brumbies teams when he was free to roam and so hard to defend against.
Former All Blacks backrower Adam Thomson will be like Viv Richards ... a duck or a brilliant century.
He is another gifted player, tall, athletic, skilful and with the pedigree of 29 Tests for the world’s greatest team.
He is not entirely consistent and a bit of a black sheep who likes to do his own thing. If the coaches manage him well he will be Viv 100 not out.
The Reds have a lot of aspiring younger players but the one who really needs to take charge of this season is Liam Gill.
Openside flankers in Super Rugby are so important with their ability to smuggle possession against opposition attack.
Across the five provinces, I feel Will Genia can be the dominant Aussie player again.
Without Quade for 10 weeks, we may see the old Will resurface with his running, kicking and probing being dynamic and decisive from halfback.
A Gill and Genia-led Reds should start on the right foot by beating the Brumbies in Canberra tomorrow night.
The Brumbies seem to have lost that physical dominance they had during the Jake White era.
Originally published as Super Rugby season 2015: Ex-Wallabies coach Eddie Jones predicts top six spot for Reds
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