A Glimmer of Hope for Australian Super Rugby Pacific Teams
Despite a series of heavy losses to their New Zealand rivals, Les Kiss and Stephen Larkham remain optimistic about the future of Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific teams. The recent Super Round saw the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies suffer significant defeats at the hands of the Crusaders and Hurricanes, while the Blues managed to secure an extra-time victory over the Reds at the packed One NZ Stadium.
With only four rounds left in the season, the top four positions on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder are currently occupied by New Zealand-based teams. This has raised concerns among Australian supporters, particularly regarding the line-out dominance displayed by their opponents. The Waratahs, Brumbies, and Reds all struggled with line-out efficiency, with success rates of 64%, 69%, and 71% respectively.
However, both Kiss and Larkham have dismissed the notion that the season is already lost. “You don’t like getting locked into checking the ladder all the time, but it’s impossible—it’s always in your mind,” Kiss said after his side’s valiant effort ended in a heartbreaking loss. “It’s one result that could have been very important, but I don’t think it means anything’s over.”
Kiss acknowledged that New Zealand teams are currently performing better, but he remains confident that the tide can turn. “There’s some significant movements in games that will turn the table around,” he added.
One encouraging factor is the historical trans-Tasman record, which was previously 8-7 in favor of New Zealand before the recent Super Round sweep. This suggests that the gap is not insurmountable. Additionally, the Brumbies’ losses to the Reds, Waratahs, and Fijian Drua, as well as the Reds’ setbacks against the Waratahs and Force, highlight areas where Australian teams can improve.
Opportunities to close the gap still exist. The Hurricanes and Blues do not face any Australian opponents in the final month of the regular season, and the Chiefs’ only trans-Tasman match is against the Reds in two weeks. This gives Australian teams a chance to make up ground in the standings.
“Our form line’s going like this (up), and we just have to stick at it,” Kiss said, pointing to the upcoming home game against the Brumbies as a crucial match. “We have to keep pushing forward.”
Larkham echoed similar sentiments, stating that the current table is “fairly accurate” but emphasized the need for his Brumbies to rediscover their best form. After a poor performance against the Hurricanes and a shock loss to the Drua, the team must refocus. “Every team’s getting better, and the results would indicate the last two weeks we’ve gone backwards,” he said. “But we’ll drown out the external noise and focus on what’s ahead.”
Blues coach Vern Cotter, who will take over from Kiss at the Reds next season, believes the current momentum is not solely in New Zealand’s favor. “There were a lot of people from Australian rugby over here to watch players play, and there’s key selections to be made going into the World Cup,” he said. “It’s ramped up, it certainly has.”
As the season approaches its conclusion, the Australian teams continue to fight for their place in the competition. While the challenges are significant, the determination and resilience of the players and coaches offer a glimmer of hope for the remainder of the campaign.
