Where the Super sides will finish and why
By Paul Cully
The Australian Super Rugby teams enter this British and Irish Lions year with a little bit of momentum.
The Wallabies’ win against England last November provided a jolt of belief throughout the entire system as Rugby Australia chases the virtuous circle of the Wallabies lifting the Super sides, and Super success then flowing back into the Wallabies season.
That’s a hard thing to achieve, but once it’s in place it can sustain both tiers of rugby for years.
So, where do all the Super Rugby sides sit as the season kicks off on Friday? This is how the ladder could look by the end of the season, and why just making the top six would be an achievement worth celebrating for the Waratahs.
The top two
Blues, Chiefs: The top two, although not necessarily in that order. The Blues are very well coached by Vern Cotter and know their own game inside out. Critics will say it’s simple, but when Auckland tried to replicate it in the NPC they fell into a hole pretty quickly.
The Blues defeated the Chiefs in last year’s grand final – and the same teams are set to fill the top two positions this year.Credit: Getty Images
Expect midfielder AJ Lam to have a huge season after years of compound growth. As for the Chiefs, they’re quite simply stacked in lots of areas and have a future All Blacks No.10 in Josh Jacomb.
Pushing for finals
Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds: Again, this is a bracket – not a position-by-position prediction. The Brumbies had two genuine World XV players by the end of last year – Tom Wright and Len Ikitau – and another bloke (Rob Valetini) in the broader conversation. Throw in Noah Lolesio, and the expectations this year should really be on the Brumbies and Stephen Larkham, not the Waratahs.
The Reds should be another year older and wiser – and more consistent. Tim Ryan’s progress on the wing is definitely worth following through a Wallabies lens, and the Reds look really well-placed at halfback and at lock in particular. A fit Hunter Paisami is critical to their hopes of going deep in the competition: he gives them something different in midfield.
The Hurricanes have been blasted by a series of early-season injuries, which could make for a tricky start, but they will gather a head of steam when it comes to the business end.
Close, but no cigar
Crusaders, Waratahs, Highlanders, Drua: Super Rugby Pacific is a tough competition. It’s certainly tougher than the United Rugby Championship: a 16-track album with two genuine hits and an awful lot of fillers. Any of the Waratahs, Crusaders, Highlanders, Drua could land a finals spot with a decent run on the injury front – or miss the playoffs altogether.
The Waratahs have so many talented players, but they’ll get nothing for free with a big target on their backs and will have to learn the art of winning when not playing well to be title contenders. That takes time, and I’ll be banging this drum all year: if new coach Dan McKellar makes the finals, it will represent a good coaching achievement. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will obviously be the main attraction, but Tane Edmed is their key man on the back of a stellar NPC campaign in New Zealand.
The Crusaders have a lot to prove this year, but if Ethan Blackadder and/or Scott Barrett get injured, we will see whether suspicions of a soft underbelly in Christchurch are well-founded.
New Drua coach Glen Jackson needs to find the password for reversing their appalling away form, but returning No.10 Caleb Muntz, who missed last year due to injury, is a massive boost for them.
As for the Highlanders, Jamie Joseph has got them fitter during the pre-season, and they have some underappreciated weapons: don’t rule them out.
Cellar dwellers
Western Force, Moana Pasifika: On their day, both of these teams could knock over anyone outside the big two of the Chiefs and Blues – that’s how even the competition is becoming. But somebody has to bring up the rear and in the case of the Force and Moana, it’s simply a depth issue.
The men from the west have already been whacked by season-ending injuries to props Harry Johnson-Holmes and Harry Hoopert, while Bayley Kuenzle – a standout last year – is also unavailable at present. Simon Cron will be keeping his fingers crossed that crucial figures such as Carlo Tizzano and Darcy Swain stay healthy.
Moana Pasifika will unleash some genuine physicality with the totemic Ardie Savea at No.8, and they have a potential superstar in outside back Kyren Taumoefolau, but finding consistency will be their challenge.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match ad-free, live and on demand.