PREDICTING WHERE EACH TEAM WILL FINISH IN SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC 2022
0Predicting where each team will finish in Super Rugby Pacific 2022
The inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific 2022 is just about upon us. with the opening match of the season between the Waratahs and Fijian Drua now just hours away from kick off. With that in mind. here is a pre season prediction of what the final table will look like come the end of the regular season. as well as which team will go the distance in the knockout stages. Champions: Blues Perhaps this is the boldest prediction of the entire competition. but there is plenty of anticipation surrounding the Blues this season. and for good reason. A year after breaking their title winning drought by securing the Super Rugby Trans Tasman trophy. the Blues have recruited strongly and look to be the only team with enough talent and quality to challenge the Crusaders for silverware in 2022. The acquisition of former NRL star Roger Tuivasa Sheck. the return of Beauden Barrett from Japanese club rugby and the presence of All Blacks internationals Rieko Ioane. Caleb Clarke and Finlay Christie gives the backline a star studded look. Up front. Akira Ioane. Dalton Papalii and Hoskins Sotutu will combine to give the Blues a powerful loose forward trio. while there are four All Blacks props – Ofa Tuungafasi. Nepo Laulala. Karl Tu’inukuafe and Alex Hodgman – in their front row. Head coach Leon MacDonald’s decision to sign World Cup winning ex All Blacks lock Luke Romano may also prove to be a masterstroke move with last year’s captain Patrick Tuipulotu on sabbatical in Japan. Factor in the retention of highly touted young fullback Zarn Sullivan. and the Blues have themselves a well balanced and dangerous full strength lineup that has the ability to propel them into a top two finish at the minimum. A final against the Crusaders seems the likeliest of conclusions to the campaign. and it would take a gigantic effort to topple the serial champions. especially if the final is in Christchurch. but if there is any team to do it this year. it’s the Blues. Runners up: Crusaders With five titles in the last five years. it’s easy to understand why the Crusaders are once again listed as favourites to take out the first ever iteration of Super Rugby Pacific. Head coach Scott Robertson is back at the helm for what will probably be his penultimate season with the franchise. and he has the luxury of having 16 current or former All Blacks in his ranks. The addition of Los Pumas star Pablo Matera further bolsters the depth and experienced that the Crusaders are laden with. while there are numerous potential All Blacks – such as Quinten Strange. Tom Christie and Tamaiti Williams – present in the squad. That. combined with their undoubted title winning pedigree. will have the Crusaders as champions in the pre season predictions of many other pundits. and that is entirely understandable. However. in the (possibly misguided) hope that there is some kind of variation in Super Rugby’s recent list of championship winners. a runner up finish could be on the cards if the Blues live up to expectation and manage to go all the way in 2022. The early season absence of star playmaker Richie Mo’unga might also count against the Crusaders in the opening few rounds. but his expected return in round four will only strengthen the Christchurch based outfit. Semi finalists: Chiefs. Highlanders Outside of the Blues and Crusaders. the Chiefs stand as the best placed New Zealand team to succeed in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific. Head coach Clayton McMillan has retained his role after guiding the side to a runner up placing in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year. forcing the returning Warren Gatland into a newly created director of rugby position. The arrival of one test All Blacks first five Josh Ioane also gives the squad a standout playmaking option. which is exactly what they needed with Damian McKenzie in Japan on a season long sabbatical. Furthermore. their pre season wins over the Blues. Highlanders and Moana Pasifika – matches in which Ioane. wing Jonah...
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