Super Rugby AU: Five Talking Points from Round 3
Issak Fines of the Brumbies celebrates his late match-winning try against the Waratahs
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Round 3 of Super Rugby AU is in the books, and it’s fair to say there was a sense of what might have been about both games.
For the second week in a row, the unfancied Western Force showed they are well worth their place at Australian rugby’s top table with another fast start against the Queensland Reds, but were once again unable to sustain it as they were chased down in an entertaining 31-24 defeat.
On Saturday, the Waratahs finally seemed to have gotten their act together and put in the kind of performance the blue-clad crowd demanded before ultimately giving away the game to the Brumbies in Sydney, a late score condemning them to a 24-23 defeat.
Both games will not only have taught all four teams a lot about where they stand in Super Rugby AU but also educated Dave Rennie a great deal as he casts eyes towards his first Wallabies squad later in the year.
Here are the key talking points from Round 3.
Force are far from making up the numbers
There was a preconception that the Western Force were being re-introduced into this truncated Super Rugby competition to balance out the numbers.
If the men from out west have proved anything in their first two performances in Super Rugby AU, it is that they are worth far more than that tag.
The Force has brought serious enthusiasm, energy and no lack of skill and invention to this competition already, with it on display to maximum effect as they raced into a 14-0 lead against the Reds.
Early tries to Jack McGregor and Byron Ralston (more on him later) saw the Perth team, for the second week in a row, shock their more vaunted opposition and take an early grip on the game as they did against the Waratahs last time out.
The difference this week, though, is that they didn’t fall away when the Reds got their foothold in the game and gain the lead.
Instead, they responded to being pegged back at 21-14 by nailing a third try of their own and stayed with the Reds for large parts of the second half.
Despite not carrying the same reputation as their opponents, what the Force are showing is a real willingness to go toe-to-toe and play the likes of the Reds at their own game, rather than play safe options and stick tight.
What is more, they have shown great accuracy in a lot of their execution in attack, which marks them out as a side that will ruffle more feathers as this competition goes on.
Next, they need to find a way to consolidate these fast starts and not let opponents back into the game, and they will find themselves racking up a few wins before this tournament is out.
Flying wingers turning heads early on
Byron Ralston of the Western Force has already turned a fair few heads in Super Rugby AU
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We alluded to him already, but it is worth noting the performances of Byron Ralston so far in Super Rugby AU.
The Force flyer has not missed a beat stepping up to top-level rugby and is showing a few of his new contemporaries, who have been around the block longer than him, how it’s done.
The guy clearly has an eye for a finish, but just looks dangerous when he gets his hands on the ball and what is most impressive is his willingness to come inside and look for work.
It’s easy for young wingers to sit out wide and wait for the ball to come their way, but a winger who tries to create his own opportunities can be gold dust in the right setup.
However, he was not the only winger making his mark on Friday as his opposite number, Filipo Daugunu, continued his hot streak at the start of this competition.
A try-scorer in all three games so far, the more compact winger has formed an intriguing relationship already with James O’Connor, whose cut-out balls are allowing Daugunu to showcase his abilities to the maximum.
All three of his tries so far have shown off a potentially devastating weapon in his arsenal - a great inside step off the left foot that has already left a few of his opposite numbers grasping at air and allows him to regularly beat first tacklers in a manner English fans will associate with Jack Nowell.
Along with Waratahs sparks Mark Nawaqanitawase and James Ramm, this competition could be seeing a really interesting battle of up-and-coming wing options over the coming weeks.
McDermott continues to lead Wallaby scrumhalf race
Tate McDermott makes a break for the Reds against the Western Force
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In a time when Wallaby scrumhalf options are thin on the ground, one of the most important subplots of Super Rugby AU was always going to be who would pick up the mantle put down by Will Genia and claim the 9 jersey.
The Brumbies’ Joe Powell arguably entered the competition as the man in possession given he is one of very few options with previous international experience, but the early performances of Queensland’s Tate McDermott are putting serious question marks on that.
Despite being overshadowed early on by one-time Red Ian Prior on Friday, McDermott stood up big-time in the Reds’ revival and was central alongside James O’Connor in re-establishing control of the game and turning the tide.
It is indicative of the dominant performances he has put in from number 9 so far in this tournament, with his attacking threat around the ruck as well as central role in the Reds’ structure.
His consistent support work - see Jock Campbell’s brilliant team score - have him mirroring the playing styles of Kiwi generals Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara, but he does have a bit to go to match those two yet.
Mitch Short from the Waratahs had a mixed bag in the second game of the weekend, surely with one eye over his shoulder at incumbent first-choice half Jake Gordon.
His Brumbies counterpart Powell also failed to make the most of his chance, being shown up by eventual match winner Issak Fines, which leaves McDermott firmly in the box seat with no serious contender for a gold jersey putting their hands up yet in Melbourne.
Waratahs almost afraid to win in Brumbies thriller
The Waratahs delivered one of the most frustrating performances in years against the Brumbies - not least because all the stars aligned for them to have won the game.
In the first half, they harried the Brumbies into multiple indiscretions, at one point making the Brumbies concede six straight penalties.
That phase of play resulted in a yellow card for Andy Muirhead and the extra man was capitalised on for Tom Horton’s score.
They also looked to have finally discovered some of the discipline and resilience, as well as set-piece dominance, that characterised the state’s best sides under Michael Cheika.
Their exuberance shone through in an almost Barbarians-style play to put James Ramm over from a penalty.
The problem was, when the momentum swung back in favour of the Brumbies, the Waratahs did not seem to be able to find a way of getting it back.
A contentious try awarded to Folau Fainga’a (at least in this viewer’s opinion) was swiftly followed by a Rob Valetini score before half-time, after which the Brumbies promptly broke upfield and could have scored again to lead.
Even in the second half, repeated Brumbies errors and poor discipline gave the Tahs ample opportunity to close out the game - the NSW outfit had 75% territory and about the same proportion of possession in the third quarter of the game - but they honestly seemed afraid to do so.
They kicked far too much ball away and made crucial errors in attacking positions time and again, but much credit must be given to the resilience of the Brumbies to capitalise on their only real attacking chance of the half to steal the win.
Fainga’a sets incredible record as try-scoring hot streak continues
Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a has become the first player to score in six straight games for the club
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In the midst of other talking points coming out of the clash between the ‘Tahs and Brumbies, it is important to doff the proverbial cap to ACT hooker Folau Fainga’a.
Try-scoring forwards are becoming more and more of a feature in the game, but Fainga’a set the mark of scoring in six consecutive games - the first Brumby to achieve the feat and one that only Wallaby legend Chris Latham (seven) has ever bettered.
That is now 22 tries in his career so far, of which Phil Kearns wryly commented during the commentary: “Some hookers would be lucky to get 22 touches in their career.”
There is no doubting he has established himself firmly as a crucial facet in the Brumbies’ pack and will be a vital weapon for Dave Rennie when he comes to put together his first Wallabies squad.
However, the importance of Fainga’a to the team even besides his try-scoring exploits cannot be underestimated.
He is the heartbeat of their work in the tight alongside club captain Allan Alaalatoa and led the charge in the same way Waratahs captain Michael Hooper does week in, week out for the men in blue.
His position in a very impressive Brumbie maul setup means a try is never too far away - English fans may well think of Sam Simmonds benefiting from Exeter Chiefs’ dominance in the same area - so there is little to suggest Chris Latham might not be looking over his shoulder.
