However, it's a new era for Super Rugby and there's a new, longer-picture view of the now combined competition.Īfter a tough Trans-Tasman, the Waratahs' clash with the Chiefs will tell us plenty about how the Australian and Kiwi sides will match up.Ī lot has changed since the two sides concluded last year's regular season, with the Waratahs experiencing a resurgence under Darren Coleman and the returning Michael Hooper. It seemed to zap the energy out of the Australian sides, playing catch-up until the end as the New Zealand sides claimed the top five spots on the ladder. The 13-game streak doesn't give a fair reflection on how close the first round was, with the Brumbies missing a kick to draw with the Crusaders before Domingo Miotti's conversion to win it for the Force sailing to the right against the Chiefs. This started the Kiwi dominance, winning their first 13 games and 23 of the 25 between Australian and New Zealand teams. The champions Reds were thrown an almost unfair challenge, asked to back up on six days notice after wild celebrations and a historic achievement against a fresh and rejuvenated Highlanders team in Dunedin, thumped 40-19. Unfortunately, this seemed to cloud what was coming, struggling to recapture their form and match it with their Kiwi counterparts.
The Queensland Reds and Brumbies have admitted the focus barely wavered from last year's Final, a perfect storm that delivered record crowds and one of the greatest domestic games in the Super Rugby era. This leaves the four Australian teams playing in Super Round - as well as the Western Force (with their game with Moana Pasifika postponed due to COVID) - wanting to prove a point. That's all it took for the Highlanders and the New Zealand teams to deliver a 'reality check' to the high-flying Australian sides and set the tempo for last year's Trans-Tasman competition.Ĭatch every game of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport.
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