Game breakers and match makers
14 Feb 2013
There has been plenty cross-franchise movement in all three countries. Who will make the biggest impact in this season’s Super Rugby tournament?
The SMH’s rugby experts identified their top 20 transfers of players they believe will influence the fortunates of their new respective teams.
Here’s the list (in no ranking order)
1. Butch James (Lions to Sharks)
2. Gareth Anscombe (Blues to Chiefs)
3. Fumiaki Tanuaka (Otago to Highlanders)
4. Peter Betham (Sydney University to Tahs)
5. Clyde Rathbone (retirement to Brumbies)
6. Jason Woodward (Wellington to Rebels)
7. Hugh McMeniman (Reds to Force)
8. Elton Jantjies (Lions to Stormers)
9. Ben Franks (Saders to Canes)
10. Tony Woodcock (Blues to Landers)
11. Alby Mathewson (Blues to Force)
12. Scott Higginbotham (Reds to Rebels)
13. Ma’a Nonu (Blues to Landers)
14. Jaco Taute (Lions to Stormers)
15. Israel Folau (Aus Rules to Tahs)
16. Brad Thorn (Japan to Landers)
17. Michael Hooper (Brumbies to Tahs)
18. David Pocock (Force to Brumbies)
19. Sarel Pretorius (Tahs to Cheetahs)
20 Graham Henry (All Blacks to Blues as technical advisor)
Of the list I rate Henry as the individual who will have the most impact. The man who guided the Blues to two titles in three finals, also experienced the winning feeling when technical advisor for the Blues prior to his appointment as All Blacks coach. This was on his return from Wales.
Hooper and Pocock will be huge, Jantjies if played will make a difference to the Stormers ability to score tries, Israel Folau is the kind of player the game needs and will prove an inspiring cross-code switch.
Fumiaki Tanuaka is a Japanese scrumhalf who plays the game very differently and at a pace that will make him effective in the last quarter to half an hour of a game. His energy against tired legs, especially those lazy pillars of defence at the breakdown will add a dimension to the Highlanders.
Brad Thorn will give the Highlanders leadership and gravitas but when looking at the list of 20 I would say that the fortunes of the campaign influence is limited to just five names in Henry, Pocock, Jantjies, Hooper and Folau. Henry as the tactician and the others as players are all individually good enough to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Your thoughts?
By Mark Keohane
63 Comments
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14 Feb 2013, 12:48 pm
Agree on Henry.
Also Jantjies and I’ll go for Nonu
14 Feb 2013, 12:49 pm
1-taute
2-folua
3-nonu
4-jantjies
5-thorn
14 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
Keo, any picks for the weekend?
14 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
@xtremebull-2: Taute natuurlik
14 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
I will do my picks first thing in the am
14 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
Gut feel is Reds and Rebels but I have to first see finalised run on XV of Reds
14 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
Butch James? I’ll wait and see
14 Feb 2013, 12:54 pm
@keo-6: Thanks. I have Brumbies and Rebels
14 Feb 2013, 13:01 pm
butch? they are drunk.
14 Feb 2013, 13:03 pm
Tweets from the Oscar Pistoleros Police Press
Conference…:
EWN Reporter @ewnreporter
#OscarPistorius SAPS Beukes: “We were very
surprised to hear over the radio that
allegations were made that he mistook her
for a burglar.”
EWN Reporter @ewnreporter
#OscarPistorius SAPS Beukes: “The person
who has been arrested is co-operating with
the police.”
6m EWN Reporter @ewnreporter
#OscarPistorius SAPS Beukes: “I can confirm
that there have previously been allegations
of a domestic nature at Mr Pistorius’s home.”
14 Feb 2013, 13:06 pm
How about Sias Ebersohn? Maybe he will get back to his best at the force. They been needing a proper flyhalf.
14 Feb 2013, 13:06 pm
@Transformation-10:
jealousy drove him temporarily insane.
14 Feb 2013, 13:07 pm
@Transformation-10:
Poeps is going to love this.
14 Feb 2013, 13:24 pm
Oscar has always had a few issues. It’s just that SA and most of the world, chose to ignore them and focus on the ‘amazing’.
Anyone ‘shocked’ by this has simply refused to read between the ‘fame and wow factor’ that is Oscar P.
Tragic from A-Z.
14 Feb 2013, 13:53 pm
@gunther-13:
So is Captain Fckadily.
All this movement bewtween franchises is going to be the death of him.
14 Feb 2013, 13:55 pm
@John Galt-15: i count two moves to the stormers there.
both mercs no doubt.
unlike butch who is coming home
in other news, its less than a week til paindaine so now i am getting excited.
14 Feb 2013, 14:03 pm
@gunther-13:
yip
anything to take some heat off Sonny Boy.
14 Feb 2013, 14:03 pm
@John Galt-15:
Indeed.
According to him every time somebody changes franchises a fairy dies.
14 Feb 2013, 14:06 pm
Ok first of all, the Blues are going to be terrible this year. Kirwan isn’t the right coach, and he definitely doesn’t have the right players to do anything this season.
Graham Henry won’t do anything to change that.
The biggest moves are in the Australian conference:
Michael Hooper to Waratahs – Will make a huge impact and Waratahs could well end top of the Australian table for the first time in a long time.
David Pocock to Brumbies – Lost Hooper, but got a guy who is more refined, has more experience and comes to play in big games. The Brumbies got the worlds best openside… how is that not bigger then Graham Henry being a consultant?
Israel Folau to Waratahs – He’s going to be something special. Will pick up the game with ease and should be making everyone’s Team of the Year. Another great pick-up.
14 Feb 2013, 14:07 pm
@The Rangerman-16:
Excellent. Very jealous pal.
My folks are currently up in Mozam. Staying at a friends place next to Machangulo Lodge. Right on ***** Gate.
Apparently catching plenty.
Returning all GT’s but keeping some couta and Dorry’s. Obviously.
14 Feb 2013, 14:14 pm
@gunther-18:
bwahaaha
14 Feb 2013, 14:19 pm
RT @keocoza: Game breakers and match makers: There has been plenty cross-franchise movement in all three countries. Who wi… http://t.c …
14 Feb 2013, 14:45 pm
Sadie to Cheetahs. Hopefully he will be at his best in the Cheetahs jersey. Will see plenty of ball – his defence will be tested though.
14 Feb 2013, 14:47 pm
@John Galt-20: where is machangulo lodge bud?
so you say the fish are on?
awesome news!
14 Feb 2013, 14:48 pm
@Cheetahs01-22:
Much as I love the Cheetahs & wish they’d do something special – and then manage to hold onto their players… I just can’t see their depth holding up.
Also their midfield is going to leak tries left-right-and-centre. Neither Ebersohn or Sadie are good defenders.
14 Feb 2013, 14:58 pm
@hendrikp-25: Defensively those two are going to be targeted. Very lightweight midfield. In all departments depth will be tested as it is every year.
Just think that Sadie will get ample opportunity with ball in hand to show us what he is capable of. I live in hope at least.
14 Feb 2013, 15:54 pm
@Cheetahs01-26:
Add Rhule, Willie and Goosen… the smallest backline in the competition…
14 Feb 2013, 16:04 pm
Can’t really say anything about either move the stormers made in this list until the season really gets going and how the players will be utilised becomes completely apparent.
The Aussie conference has the most interesting moves for me, with a few teams noticeably getting (potentially) stronger while the others either weaken or stay put. Should be a tighter conference there this year, and could be any one of 3 finishing top instead of just the Reds. Brumbies shouldn’t be surprising anyone this year, and Rathbone actually might be just as astute a pick-up as Pocock – get an older, experienced head in there to keep things calmer at crunch time. Pocock is going to change games for sure, but in the end, mentality can win matches.
Blues’ll be interesting. As much as Henry may help there, I don’t think they’ve the depth in personnel to be serious contenders. Their starting backline is going to be fireworks though.
14 Feb 2013, 18:09 pm
@bryce_in_oz-27: Yeah backline is small but they’ll have to hold their own. Ebersohn is not a bad defender, just doesn’t take opposition back in the tackle. Willie le Roux on the other hand is a terrible defender going on a few errors from last season. Hope it has improved.
14 Feb 2013, 18:42 pm
Guys if you looking for an alternative Fantasy League. I have found a new one guruleagues.com. It looks like its a new site, but seems pretty cool. Give it a go
14 Feb 2013, 19:35 pm
Hi Mark
I agree, with the top 5 with exception Folau who has yet to prove himself in Union but he could prove me very wrong. I would replace him with Ben Franks. The Hurricanes have a devastating backline and if he can sure up the tight 5 they could make the playoffs.
14 Feb 2013, 21:01 pm
Just saw that atrocious blue bulls singing k@k on Boots. Eish my ears and eyes are bleeding. What were they thinking, they look and sound like a bunch of hill billys on moonshine.
14 Feb 2013, 21:58 pm
Gunther @13
I actually think it’s a tragedy, domestic violence is never funny
unless of course you are referring to kiwis after losing a test match, then it’s given quite a bit of gravitas on this site.
I’m just thankful it wasn’t a kiwi sportsman, otherwise we would have had Bakkies posting 50 different articles on the incident.
On the subject of this article, I disagree about GH, only so much you can do with limited talent, and The Blues forward pack is imo very much in this category.
Folau, depending where he is played could have a bigger impact than SBWs, he is a superb athlete.
I also think the Landers and the Rebels acquisitions are probably going to be the other astute signings.
14 Feb 2013, 23:07 pm
@the curse-33: “I actually think it’s a tragedy, domestic violence is never funny”
**
That’s true, & very gracious of you
15 Feb 2013, 04:13 am
Oscar , Oscar , Oscar!!!
With all the initial evidence it does look like that Oscar does not have a leg to stand on!!!
15 Feb 2013, 05:05 am
@hendrikp-19:
Henry and the Argies were seconds away from beating your Bokke, I wouldn’t be so quick to discount Henry he’s done it all before and some. He was also the technical director for the Blues in 03′ when they won the title.
15 Feb 2013, 05:14 am
@the curse-33:
Well said Pops I could never understand why people on this site talk about wife beaters etc and casually throw it around as if its a joke, clearly it’s a big problem back home and here in China clipping your wife after a night on the sauce seems to be quite common. What a terrible tragedy for that young woman and her family.
15 Feb 2013, 05:36 am
@NZINCHINA-36:
Don’t have to wait much longer to find out what they can do… I’d be very surprised if they don’t finish dead last in the NZ conference, and near the bottom of the SR table.
Anyway… Sasuke, if you’re reading this – my fantasy line-up for Round 1 (might make a couple of tweaks before kick off tonight though, go with gut feel):
Props: Ben Alexander & James Slipper
Hooker: Ged Robinson
Locks: Hugh Pyle & Toby Lynn
Loosies: Scott Fuglistaller, Liam Gill & David Pocock
Scrumhalf: Richard Kingi (who will actually be on the wing)
Flyhalf: Christian Lealiifano (who will actually be at inside-centre)
Centres: Ben Tapuai & James O’Connor (who’ll be at fullback)
Outside-Backs: Chris Feauai-Sautia, Digby Iaone & Henry Speight.
15 Feb 2013, 05:43 am
@hendrikp-38:
Look you could be right but lets not forget only two seasons ago they were beaten semi finalists, they don’t have the experienced forwards to win it this year but they’ll take a few decent teams at the garden of Eden this season.
15 Feb 2013, 07:02 am
@NZINCHINA-39: Of course they will. I honestly don’t get all this ‘Blues are wooden spoon contenders’ sh yte.
Yes: there are tight forward issues to contend with, but if they manage to hold their own,even without taking a clear advantage, the backs are going to be a handful…….
Folk seem to be focusing purely on the negative season of 2012. 90% of the Blues issues last year were of a mental nature. The entire camp had an air of negativity from start to finish: coaching, injuries, player attitude, discipline etc. This is where their problems lay,with carry over onto the field IMHO.
That negativity is gone……and youngsters (of which there are quite a few) energise and feed off whatever the coaches are dishing out – look at Jake’s Brumbies last year.
Nah, the won’t win the tournie, but they are not going to be the joke many hope them to be. And I will have my camera ready for those ‘scrambled egg on faces’ snapshots.
(There are folk on here who don’t beieve they will win one game – seriously??????????????)
15 Feb 2013, 07:07 am
@hendrikp-38: howdy hendrikp,
who are the 4 designated first choice kickers for today for the 4 Aus franchises playing today?
Do you know?
15 Feb 2013, 07:18 am
@Angostura-41:
Don’t know for sure, but almost surely:
Rebels – James O’Connor
Western Force – Sam Christie
Brumbies – Christian Lealiifano
Reds – Mike Harris (if he starts which he surely will)
15 Feb 2013, 07:20 am
@hendrikp-42:
Look for tonights game being a high-scoring affair, possibly both teams getting into the high-20′s with the winners scoring somewhere in the 30′s.
Tomorrow nights game will be closer.
Thinking about that alone makes me want to get rid of those Reds players in my back line.
15 Feb 2013, 07:25 am
@hendrikp-42: Thx, I wasn’t sure whether it’ll be O’connor or Beale, so I opted for Harris.
15 Feb 2013, 07:29 am
@Angostura-44:
Beale is alright long distance, but his accuracy is terrible. They’d be crazy to give him the job.
I’m very surprised that they’ve got O’Connor at the back with Beale at 10. If anything it should be the other way around. Why you would want erratic at 10 over a more level-headed consistency from O’Connor I can’t understand… though if Jason Woodward were fit then they’d look even better with:
10 Kurtley Beale
12 James O’Connor
15 Jason Woodward
They still won’t win many games lol.
15 Feb 2013, 07:35 am
@hendrikp-45: Why Beale & not O’Connor at 10?
probably coz Beale surprised on the upside (imo) at 10 for the Wallabies
But agreed I’d also rather swap them around.
15 Feb 2013, 07:42 am
@hendrikp-38: I thought you could have no more than three players from each team.
15 Feb 2013, 07:49 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-40:
all will be revealed, Pedigree… all will be revealed…
15 Feb 2013, 07:55 am
@the curse-33:
Ja whatever Poep.
You’ve sunk lower than that here day in day out.
So nobody really buys your tragedy vibe buddy.
Good luck for the Blues though.
Lets hope the Bulls take them down to funkytown.
15 Feb 2013, 07:59 am
@gunther-49: you can cast all the aspersions you like, but if you think I take delight in a woman being shot four times then you are sadly mistaken..
as you were..
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