Aaaand we’re back! The NZ summer has barely even kicked into gear and already the banter has been flying back and forth internationally between the lads here at Fly Half. So, to ease into the massively exciting and only once every 12 years season ahead, we’ve put together a little overview and prediction for the New Zealand conference Super Rugby Squads for 2017.

As always, share and enjoy!



BLUES



“This is the Blues year!” How many seasons have we heard that now? Ashamedly though, I can actually buy into it somewhat for once. If the Blues can’t make a decent run at the playoffs with this squad and Tana Umaga now bedded in as established head coach, then some serious questions must be asked of the inner workings of the franchise.

The Good:

Their strength lies in the backline: Pulu, SBW, Ranger, Ioane, Moala. X-factor overload but the question is can they all play nicely together and share the ball? The return of SBW from sevens/injury is the major talking point here. If he can find form early he may be the catalyst this team needs to start firing on all cylinders. The power and pace of brothers Reiko and Akira Ioane are real assets to the Blues and they’ll both have a real impact on just how successful the season will be. Augustine Pulu is a superb addition from the Chiefs and will likely thrive under Umaga’s game plans like he did with Counties Manukau.

The Bad:

The number 10 jersey still appears to be a slight weakness with Ihaia West and Piers Francis battling it out for starting honours. Neither really looks the goods at Super Rugby level yet, but with this electric backline they may just be along for the ride to kick conversions anyway. The Blues were the only New Zealand team to finish with a negative points difference in 2016. Can they go from worst to first? No, but they’ll get close.

Predicted NZ conference finish: 3rd

Forwards: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Epalahame Faiva, Charlie Faumuina, Blake Gibson, Josh Goodhue, Alex Hodgman, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Sione Mafileo, Pauliasi Manu, Matt Moulds, Brandon Nansen, James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Kara Pryor, Scott Scrafton , Murphy Taramai, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Backs: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, TJ Faiane, Billy Guyton, Rieko Ioane, Matt Vaega, George Moala, Melani Nanai, Sam Nock, Declan O'Donnell, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Rene Ranger, Jordon Trainor, Ihaia West, Sonny Bill Williams, Piers Francis

CHIEFS

The return of Liam Meesam and Aaron Cruden in his swan song season the highlights. With the departure of several regular 2016 starters, those two senior Chiefs along with Sam Cane and the returning Tim Nanai Williams, will need to use all their experience to get this somewhat youthful side into the playoffs.

The Good:

Now he’s all signed up to depart, Aaron Cruden might play with the freedom of old on his farewell tour and will look to release live-wires like MacKenzie & Lowe. Mitchell Karpik is one of the young up-and-comers in this squad who could take the season by storm in a strong loose trio teaming up with Messam and Cane. Midfield could be a real strength with Lienert-Brown and Ngatai, provided the latter has overcome those concussion issues that kept him out of action most of 2016. The backline of Weber, Cruden, Lowe, Lienert-Brown, Ngatai, Nanai Williams and MacKenzie could be a try scoring juggernaut most teams may struggle to contain. Propping stocks look reasonably strong with Kane Hames and Nepo Laulala also.

The Bad:

Depth & culture. The Chiefs know all too well just how devastating the injury toll can be on a team but have they unearthed enough young diamonds in the rough to cover for this? The release of Augustine Pulu, Rhys Marshall, Pauliasi Manu, Andrew Horrell and Seta Tamanivalu could prove costly. For so long this franchise has held itself to a particularly high standard but now some serious work needs to be done on sorting out the bad apples in their team culture. After last years end of season incidents, the last thing they needed was another off-field indiscretion before the new season has even kicked off. Sure enough, another has made the headlines already. Needs to be sorted out quick smart.

Predicted NZ Conference finish: 4th

Forwards: Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Mitchell Graham, Kane Hames, Sefo Kautai, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Hika Elliot, Nathan Harris, Liam Polwart, Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, James Tucker, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Sam Cane, Mitchell Karpik, Michael Leitch, Liam Messam, Tom Sanders, Taleni Seu.

Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Finlay Christie, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, Damian McKenzie, Johnny Fa'auli, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Solomon Alaimalo, Glen Fisiiahi, James Lowe, Sam McNicol, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson, Chase Tiatia.

HURRICANES

The Defending champs. Can they back up the drought breaking championship with another title? Or will it be a sophomore slump where we see the inconsistent ‘Canes of old return? With only a handful of players moving on from last season I think they’ll be the form team of the conference, building on the confidence they gained from winning their first title in 2016.

The Good:

Lethal flyhalf / halfback combo in Barrett and Perenara - the two form backs from the end of season tour. The Skudder step also makes a welcome comeback at fullback. That’s a strong team on it’s own. Throw in Dane Coles, the Savea boys, Barrett jnr plus the fending abilities of Cory Jane & you’ve got a recipe for meat pies galore.

The Bad:

The midfield could prove a weakness. The Ma’a Nonu/Conrad Smith void is still to be filled with none of their midfield options really proven at Super Rugby level yet. It could be a rock off between Jordie Barrett, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Pita Ahki, and Ngani Laumape each week to see who gets a starters jersey. Not an overly strong forward pack either but they’ll just need to provide Barrett & Co with enough front foot ball to do their thing and they should make the playoffs in their sleep.

Predicted NZ Conference finish: 1st

Forwards: Chris Eves, Reggie Goodes, Ben May, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Loni Uhila, Mike Kainga, Dane Coles, Leni Apisai, Ricky Ricciteli, Mark Abbott, James Broadhurst, Geoff Cridge, Michael Fatialofa, Sam Lousi, Callum Gibbins, Vaea Fifita, Reed Prinsep, Hugh Renton, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Toa Halafihi.

Backs: TJ Perenara, Te Toiria Tahuiorangi, Kylem O'Donnell, Beauden Barrett, Otere Black, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Pita Ahki, Wes Goosen, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Ben Lam, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jordie Barrett.

CRUSADERS

Very solid on paper. With some exciting new talent recruited to start bleeding red & black, the season looks promising for the All Black laden squad. New Coach, new era for the ‘Saders? An almost entirely All Black forward pack should have them in the mix come playoff time but how deep will they go when the knockout games kick off? They may need to pip the ‘Canes at the top of the NZ conference for home advantage and the easier playoff route to take home the title.

The Good:

The entire forward pack really. Moody, Taylor, Franks, Crockett, Barrett, Romano, Whitelock, Todd and Read! Plenty of experience and power there. Add in the impressive Jordan Taufua and that’s a rock solid forward pack to lay on good front foot ball. Digby Ioane is one we’ll be watching with interest. Recruited as a replacement for Nadolo, if he can settle into the Crusaders dynamics and link with Dagg on a regular basis then expect him to be a handful for any defence. The midfield paring of Crotty and Tamanivalu is intriguing but don’t be surprised if young punter Jack Goodhue works his way into the starting jersey over the ex-Chief.

The Bad:

Halfback looks like a weak spot in their armour with Bryn Hall appearing to be the successor to take over from the stalwart Andy Ellis. Most athletes that leave the big smoke for another franchise tend to go alright though so watch this space. The loss of human wrecking ball Nadolo will be heavy with Ioane and Dagg the only real proven finishers in the backs. The impact of Canterbury legend Todd Blackadder moving on from head coach is a tough one to predict - leading the franchise to 4 semi-final & 2 grand final appearances in his 8 years. Can Scott Robertson get this team back to championship glory?

Predicted NZ Conference finish: 2nd

Forwards: Michael Alaalatoa, Wyatt Crockett, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Sam Whitelock, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Jed Brown, Mitchell Dunshea, Kieran Read, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd.

Backs: Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Bryn Hall, Tim Bateman, Marty McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, George Bridge, Israel Dagg, Sione Fifita, Mitchell Hunt, Digby Ioane, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele.

HIGHLANDERS

Big changes in the deep south. Can Tony Brown build on the successful culture Jamie Jospeh spent the past 6 seasons developing? Can the two big Smiths in NZ rugby lead this rag tag squad to more Super Rugby success and a 2nd title or has the magic formula left with Joseph?

The Good:

Core squad still together from past few successful seasons. The backline of Aaron Smith, Sopoaga, Buckman, Fekitoa, Faddes, Naholo, and Ben Smith looks dynamite on paper. Throw in Tevita Li, who was deemed not required by the Blues this year despite his 3 years worth of experience at super rugby level, and there’s plenty of scoring potential. Massive platform for Aaron Smith to regain his number 1 All Blacks halfback status before showtime when the British and Irish Lions arrive on New Zealand shores.

The Bad:

The forward pack in general. Potentially lacking enough quality to take control of matches when the going gets tough. No Fumi Tanaka this year?! The Highlanders have let a solid halfback backup and one of the few true characters of the game slip away. Tony Brown stepping into the head coach role is a bit of an enigma as well. Could prove a genius move by the franchise or be the beginning of their decline. He’s only signed on for the one season before heading back to Japan so has nothing to lose here.

Predicted NZ Conference finish: 5th

Forwards: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Guy Millar, Siate Tokolahi, Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Dan Pryor, Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon.

Backs: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Lima Sopoaga, Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne, Tevita Li, Jason Emery, Ben Smith.

The 2017 Super Rugby season kicks-off on Thursday 23 February with the Rebels hosting the Blues at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne. Bring it on!