SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC 2024 | PREVIEW

Super Rugby Pacific is here!!!
I touch on each team going into this years Super. The recruits, players to watch and where I think they’ll end up this year.

WHO DO YOU SUPPORT? WHO’S GOING TO WIN? WHO’S GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPROVED TEAM?

Intro – 00:00
Moana Pasifika – 01:28
Melbourne Rebels – 05:28
Western Force – 09:35
Highlanders – 14:57
Queensland Reds – 18:17
Fijian Drua – 22:50
Waratahs – 26:03
Hurricanes – 29:50
TOP4 2023 – 33:24
Brumbies – 34:10
Blues – 38:13
Crusaders – 41:00
Chiefs – 45:45

#superrugbypacific #superrugby #rugbyreaction

Super Rugby is back this week this week Su Super Rugby Pacific 2024 kicks off baby kicks off we’re going to be I’m going to be previewing this year’s Super Rugby what I think about the teams what I think about their signings how they did a little touching

On how they did a little bit last year and what we can expect from them this year there’s a lot of teams to get through guys I’ll only be spending a little bit of time on each team and so don’t don’t come at me in the comments I

Mean I’m all for your comments leave a comment but don’t come at me if I miss little itsy bitsy bits from each team I’m going to try and cover as much as I can of each team but how good Super Rugby is back I remember when I was 9 10

Years old skipping class to go watch the Super Rugby in the mornings with the teachers in the big assembly Halls cuz back in South Africa Friday night games here was Friday morning there so we’re still at school so I’d asked the teacher if I could go to the toilet quick cuz I

Knew the PE teachers were watching the Super Rugby in the big screen in the assembly and I’d go stand in the back there and watch with them now I get to watch now it’s after work baby I can watch all the games how good but we are going to jump straight into previewing

The this year’s teams let’s let’s get into it starting down the bottom of the 2023 table with Moana Pacifica they come up against the mighty Highlanders first up got the new coaching staff inanaga at head coach Steven Jones Wales Legend and Tom centry have come in as assistant

Coaches and then James L has been named as their new captain EXC like if that doesn’t get you excited that coaching staff surely there’s something’s in the wind there and I feel that a super exciting Squad uh may take a little bit of time for the coaches to kind of implement how they

Want to play but having T someone like tanaga there knowing that or what these the Pacifica players bring to a team and what style they are best suited to play I don’t think they’ll Veer too far away from their natural ability to run the ball run over someone run around someone

Bringing their skill set in letting the boys play um so I’m I’m super excited for that I think this specifica team will definitely turn some heads this year um and I’m picking them to beat at least three of the top six teams at least three there’ll be some there will

Be some victories for this Pacifica team against higher ranked sides don’t watch out watch out for this Pacific this Moana side big signings over the offseason with Julian Seeva and cion aili talatou uh two that’s massive signings two guys that know what it takes to win a Super um obviously sonone jaili coming

From the Crusaders and Julian Seeva back in the day winning it with the Hurricanes these guys know what it takes they consistently win games know what it takes to win the Super I think off field they’ll be massive for this specific aside a lot of younger guys and there a

Lot of inexperienced players um in super L at Super level and these guys will be I think like drilling them down on what needs to be what what what it takes to win the Super or to win games bringing that extra Buzz around training on field

As well of course uh my player to watch and you probably know him Miracle fire langi oh man one of the first players to come through the Samoan uh Academy I’m pretty sure and he’s made his way to Moana Pacifica great that they’ve got those those routs of of ways systems in

Place for guys to if you’re excelling at those acmis let’s put you in we’ve got some they’ve got players have got somewhere to look forward to they seeing their brothers playing or their cousins their uncles playing um at Super rugby level I know what I need to do to get

There awesome to see M’s M’s um debut for Samoa at the World Cup great none of this would have happened if Pacifica wasn’t the Moana Pacifica wasn’t around so good to see man he’s strong fit powerful skillful as well as a back rower um I think he goes to a new level

This year with Moana I definitely see improvement with this Moana side I don’t want to jump jump too far ahead cuz it is a new coaching staff it is they are still building that Core group of players um to yeah like experience in that Squad I think they will still finish in

That 9 to2 bracket on the ladder um hopefully not wooden spooners I I think the squad is too exciting to be wooden spooners it’s whether they can bring it all together is the big question there moving on mbour Rebels they play the bromes first up good old Aussie Derby uh coach Kevin

Foot is there another fellow South African down under and newly appointed Captain Rob leoda uh they definitely want to forget about last year’s season finishing second last fighting for that wooden spoon with Pacifica I think all Aussie teams this year have a point to proove

With what happened at the WABE uh at the world cup with the wbes not performing to their best of their abilities I think with all the Aussie teams in the super they’ve obviously got their waby players within the squads and these guys will want a they’ll want a point to prove we

Are better than how the the World Cup turned out um yeah Rebels are an interesting one for me they do have a core group of players that have been there for a long time um they should be able to perform week in week out it’s whether they have

The depth I feel like a few injuries happen we know this happens all the time injuries happen during the season it’s where they have enough depth to fill those the the the kind of the starting spots those starting players the starting 15 players get injured do we

Have the depth to fill that up um big signings in the off season obviously the tongen Thor tanela tupo and then MD Proctor both International Players tupo obviously going to lead from the front if he can stay fit all year let’s let’s bandage up doco let’s bandage up that

Cough look after that c obviously loves the scrum loves carrying the ball as well um he’ll be massive for them for they go forward and same with Proctor devastating in the centers uh I think this is a great signing for them um he’ll do well for them um setting like

That first phase and then being able to play off that so that’s a massive a massive signing there for them crucial like I said crucial for their attack players to watch for me for Rebels we all know him Carter Gordon was chucked in the deep in

The deepest of ends during the World Cup even before that um in the championship he’s a quality player he played really well in last year’s uh Super Rugby campaign I think he goes to that new level he want to come out any doubters that he did did have before he’d want to

Just be like I deserve to be there he is quality he’s a quality player I think he goes to a new level gets more games under his belt takes this team like this is my team takes them by the Scruff of the neck and says let’s let’s go man

Carter gour will be my player to watch um and then special mention to Brad wilin on the side on the in the back row tough as tough as Nails tough as Nails he was he’s been in and around Aussie or wabby squads I’m pretty sure um but I

Think yeah goes loves getting in the thick of it and I think he’ll go to a new level this year with the rebels I’d like to say I see I see Improvement in the squad um they’ve done well with the few signings they’ve brought in there’s been lots

Of where they smoke there’s always fire I feel like with uh financials Financial backing of the club um there’s been issues around that I don’t know too much about that I’m just worried about what happens on the field obviously with there’ll be a bit of unrest with players

Like am I getting paid what’s happening what’s the future like um so I don’t see I see a little bit of improvement but not much I see them staying in that 9 to2 bracket I see them finishing in that 9 to2 ER if um things don’t go nicely

Don’t go nicely for them early with um injury wise they could be fighting for that wooden spoon spot again moving on all right so Western Force play vers the Hurricanes first up home game in Perth how good later because it’s so weird like the time

Zones for me is crazy I’m in s or Sydney just outside of Sydney Perth in in Australia but it’s a 5 hour difference so the kickoff is at like 10 or 11:00 at night I’m sleeping then boy but I’ll watch I’ll watch the highlights uh Western Force obviously lots of

Excitement around their squad coach Simon cron and captains Jeremy Williams with co- captains Michael Wells and Nick white um like I said a lot of excitement around the force um another team that has been through every the thick of it kicked out of super had to go play in

Rapid rugby with like team from Hong Kong and China they back in it um they’ve been through it all man they’ve made massive massive signings in the offseason um great depth I feel like throughout their squad adding depth like the big signings have obviously helped add depth throughout the

Squad um and that’s we all know that’s super important during the season because injuries happen just like that we’ve seen it before clubs get rocked by injuries and you’re calling you’re either bringing guys out of retirement or you’re calling in a club’s thirdd fourth grade player to help out

Um almost feel like Western force is like is the club for Exiles or like exbats guys that have kind of been given the boot from other clubs and want to rejuvenate or reinvigorate their career somewhere else and Western Force give them a gig it’s like The Replacements the movie with Keo Reeves similar

Similar to that um big signings obviously Ben Donaldson and Nick White uh Donaldson last year with a breakout here getting picked selected in the wabby squad for the World Cup yes the World Cup didn’t go to plan but that’s not Donaldson’s fault he did really well

I think he’s got the record now for most points in a game for the Wes at a World Cup if I’m not mistaken against Georgia good good on him I hope that’s right I’m not just digging that out of nowhere um he’s obviously headed west to link up

With Nick white I think Nick White’s signing was was made before him they would have been in talks for sure Nick white obviously we all know him comes in with ample experience I always say you can’t buy experience but in this case I think Western Force have they have

They’ve got a quality nine at the moment there with um Isaac Isaac finess finess leasa finess leasa I think that’s how you say uh gun quality halfback and obviously be working nice and tightly with Nick white I’ve always said it too that experience that older players can pass

On to the next players coming through uncoachable you can’t buy that that’s that’s what makes whatever they’re paying Nick White worth it 100% uh players to watch for me in this in this Western Force side two backline players first up Harry Potter Yes you heard that

Right Harry Potter and Max buy Max Buy’s been there for two or three seasons now kind of covers the 10 and 15 position I’m thinking with Donson being there he might help out at at fullback I mean they’ve got Chase tier tier as well that’s what I’m saying depth around good

Max buy can kick the leather off a ball quality off the te and out of hand like I say covers that 10 and 15 position really well Harry Potter I think he’s played a little bit in Europe he’s originally from uh Sydney Quality quality player deceptively quick strong as well elusive

Busts tackles on the wing he’s not the biggest or fastest player but somehow eludes tackles really well little a little bit of magic I have to have to make that joke um but watch out watch out for him there also they brought in um ni roro big big Fijian played at waras

Previously before just like I said depth in those position experiences well helps definitely helps um Will Harris Ethan from warar is signed there as well and then ha Stewart also big signings hamy Stewart in the centers again just adding depth across the park guys that have kind of been

Pushed to the side from uh previous clubs coming together like the replacement I think W Weston Force are all out of all the Aussie teams this is like the Wild Card I’m not too sure how they’re going to go they have the squad

To do really well to to to kind of get a few um unexpected wins in there um I think they do better this year than last year they were in the bottom half or the bottom quarter last year I think this year they jump up to that 58 between

Five and eight bracket and yeah hopefully well that will be quarters um so I see them doing really a lot better this here the Western force all right moving on the Highlanders the mighty Highlanders playing Moana first up and they’ve got Jamie Joseph back as head of

Rugby I’m pretty sure he’ll do a lot of the coaching as well and then newly appointed Kappy cap Al Capitano in Billy Harman I like that man I like that Captain the Crusaders in the NPC or the itm cup um has done a job for whoever he’s played for for the longest time

Obviously leads by example a great player so watch their space um obviously won the Super Rugby back in 2015 and haven’t really threatened that title again since a lot of a lot of inexperienced players in the squad but also a lot of guys that have been there and thereabouts as well if

That kind of makes sense some exciting players in the squad along with some hard grafters guys that do the donkey work that do the work that not a lot of people talk about but they’re in there getting it done the big signings for me and these are tongue twisters but stick

With me here toi tavat tavaa he’s come from Pacifica to the Highlanders big big Fijian fella loves to run over the top of people deceptively quick as well very quite short and stocky man out andout finisher an out andout finisher there the the depth that Highlanders have in this in

Their back three is scary another signing they made Jacob ratuki napkins another Winger from the blues fast fast fast skillful elusive I like him I like him a lot he’s someone to watch in this Highlanders Squad two yeah those two signings two Wingers very different styles of play different um

Body shapes but both out and out finishes natural finishes um other players to watch for me Sam Gilbert had a great had a great NPC season and a great back end of super season last year uh he will want to obviously take that next step this year

Other guys that I’m looking forward to watching is Connor Garden Basher um in the back and Billy Harman obviously in the forwards these on these are guys who kind of been in and around it for a bit but guys that have want to take that next step potentially push for New

Zealand honors All Blacks honors but uh man I love K Connor Gard baser probably maybe put him at fullback or on the wing but like I said that depth in the back three that the Highlanders have unreal man unreal um tough one to call this for the Highlanders where they’ll finish on the

Log because it just it just a lot of it depends on injuries as well I do think that they will stay in that 9 to2 bracket I could be totally wrong there like Highlanders prove me wrong man I’ve got the jersey or the T-shirt proed me

Wrong all right and before I forget hit that like hit that subscribe the notification button tick that one as well helps me grow the platform helps me get seen by more views I think that’s how it works my media team told me to say that I’m the media

Team anyway enough of that let’s get back into it Reds first game verse warar the Queensland New South Wales Derby there coach Les kiss and Captain or co- captains Tate mcder and Liam rght out of all the Aussie teams this is the most promising team I feel like the most

Exciting Squad out of all the Aussie teams kind of the excitement mixed in with Core group of players that have been playing there for a long time been building really well under Thor Brad Thorne now with les kiss obviously adding a little bit of his spices to the

Nice big pot if you will new energy at the club obviously tons of experience players again that have played together with each other for a long time I mean you name them Harry Wilson Tate mcder Liam Wright um frasa mcwright then there’s Jordan payre uh Isaac Henry Josh

Fluke jock Campbell like Hunter P armi all these guys vunivalu lots of lots of guys that have been playing together for such a long time they have to reap the reward sometime it has to something has to give you know what I mean um so in the off season Jeffrey Tonga Allen

Signed with the club puts massive depth in that front row uh in their front row stocks obviously having played for the All Blacks before previously with the Hurricanes uh massive massive experience added to the front row there uh and I don’t think they needed to make any more

Signs like the all the players I mentioned just before like you’ve got depth throughout the squad then you look at the exciting younger players coming through Harry m Phillips the 10 um man that 10 battle as well Michael ler mclin Phillips um James OK Conor is there as

Well and then what is do I have his name down here kryon yeah yeah yeah Lawson kryon is the other one so that 10 in that 10 jumper there’s four players already and you could those out of all those four players can probably play 12

And 15 if have to James aonor can play anywhere in the backline line so their depth is is amazing especially in the back line so he’s my first he’s my player to watch Harry mcclin Phillips only 19 or 20 years old um played for WABE under 20s he’s coming through the

Ranks now played for souths in the Queensland uh Club rugby comp quality man exciting confident just doesn’t no care for his body strong in tackles sees an opportunity takes it there’s no disregard of or thought of oh maybe I should like stick to the like yes you obviously want a 10 that plays

The game plan but he always if you see opportunity gun for it and he definitely does that I hope he gets opportunity to show his what he’s worth this year um and then like I said guys like fluke pami Paya uh Harry Wilson Campbell Fraser mcwright Liam wght all these guys

Will want to level up the this year Harry Wilson will want to jump back into that WABE Squad into the WABE mix these guys are going to stick their hands up real high and show what they worth man save face for Australian rugby like I

Aussie rugby is in a weird space at the moment um so these guys all have a point to prove their squad has so much depth like I said across the park I feel like Reds do Reds and the bromes will be Nick Nick and Nick for who does better for

Out of the teams but this red Squad is too good to not make top four this year so I’m putting Reds in that one to four bracket making quarters what they do there and is up to them pushing for semis as well so let’s we’ll see we’ll see prove

Me wrong let’s see about that moving on fij and Dru where do you start man first game versus the blues coach Mick burn captain M Daren nangi been there for a while knows what it takes knows what to do knows how to get the boys rallied up

Knows when to drink his Cava and when not to oh man Dru are going to be an absolute handful this year a proper rugby handful at home especially in Fiji in front of all their fans I bet you all their home games are sold out already a team is not traveling to Fiji

And winning this year I think they Fiji at Dru at home becomes a fortress they just win there man all this squad the exciting plays like what I love most about Fiji and drua since they’ve come in is at the start of the Season yes you

Know one or two guys there’s a couple of no names but then halfway through the season you’re like you can pick out five guys that before the season you had no clue who they are and now they are World beaters and just just gone quality athletes and that’s what we’re going to

See from this Fijian Dru Squad this year couple years in the super now last year they made the quarters and got smoked in the quarters can they push on can they push on players to watch for me Ruru I think that’s Ruru is how you say it Winger

Scored an absolute worldy in the bromes trial which is last week or two weeks ago strong fast electric elusive skill sets got a good step a strong fend like all Fijian Wingers man but this he just looks a little bit faster if that’s even possible so scary prospect there I think

Caleb MTZ the 10 guarded for him got that knee injury just before the Rugby World Cup hopefully he’s all rehabed and ready to go and he comes back in and puts his hand up again gets back in the mix for that Fijian Squad and obviously the guys like the guys that have played

For Fiji in the world cup say like Fiji did Super well in this year’s World Cup all the guys that were in that mix will be coming back with so much confidence man and spreading that confidence throughout this Fijian Squad showing them what it what it takes to be winners

To beat wallabies at the highest stage to compete with the likes of Wales to to do that at the highest stage and spreading that professionalism What It Takes and still keeping that Natural Instinct that uh Fijian guys do have um I think Drew I think I think

They go one better this year I think they finish in that 5 to eight bracket obviously in the quarters and then push for semis I think they make they make a semi obviously depends on where hopefully if they can if they can snag a home semifinal tickets man they’re in the

Final then and then who knows man on the day what can happen um but definitely quarterfinals for me the Fijian drawer moving on warar first game firsts the Reds big big New South Wales vers Queensland Derby there coach Darren Coleman Captain Jake Gordon um well firstly Darren Coleman

Has been given four rounds is what the city Sydney Morning Herald has been reporting on he been given four rounds to prove him himself this year his contract runs until the end of this year yep so he had a 2-year contract and whether they whether or not they will

Then extend depends on these first four rounds so they’ve got to make they’ve got to make inroads something has to happen early the the trials leading up pumped vers Rebels pumped vers Queensland are Reds I don’t I don’t know they have I have a funny feeling that Tes are going

To underperform this year they’ve been building again the squad for a long time but just nothing nothing has been shown they’ve got depth in certain positions um but nothing’s the only thing that I’m hoping for is what I know about the Coleman Brothers Baba included Baba Coleman coach of the hunter

Wildfires Darren Coleman they’ve done it before they’ve always got an ace up their sleeve something always happens maybe he hasn’t he’s just been testing a few things in the Trials come first round comes out and actually smokes the Reds I wouldn’t put it past them I wouldn’t put it past them big signings

In the offseason all Hayden Thompson Stringer uh massive prop ample experience in the front row app his trade over in Europe for a bit um that front row is just stacked Hayden Thompson Stringer Angus Bell uh perekis in the hooking position you’ve got Harry Johnson Holmes in there as

Well nice nice um miles Amero a monster lock or back rower just adding more size to this warar forward pack something they were lacking kind of before Coleman got there when he got there he started bringing big guys in like Jed Holloway massive massive forward uh big forward for

Them and it’s how waras when they won back in 2014 I think it was they had a massive forward pack they were going forward getting over that Vantage line it helps it helps you need that to set up these elusive backs that they have you need front football uh my players to

Watch Teddy Wilson classy little number nine obviously will be sitting behind Jake Gordon um and Jake Gordon’s Captain but who knows with injuries give Teddy Wilson a bit of time Quality quality number nine um gamble Charlie gamble gets a spe special mention as well he been in and

Around those waby camps a proper fetcher just a p at Rock time um I see him go to that new level just to be like hey I’m still here I’m still stealing balls at rocks I’m still making a thousand tackles a game don’t forget about me

That will be Charlie Gamble and then Tay Tay edme with Ben Donaldson gone now can the pressure slightly be off but him be like this is my 10 jumper a special mention there I see waras falling down to that 912 bracket um like I said poor in the preseason trials Coleman’s been

Given four rounds to kind of prove his worth with the squad tough tough ask man so let’s see Pro again prove me wrong now for the Hurricanes woo first game vers the force away in Earth the canes baby the canes my New Zealand team coach Clark lad law Cory Jane assistant

Coach CJ and then Brad Shields Captain with aopo MOA and Jordy Barrett as co- captains my teams man canes in for a massive season the canes are here I might be biased because yes they are my New Zealand team since the Jerry Collins Tano manga J um oh I’ve lost Christian Colin John

ALU M nonu days Conrad Smith man TJ Barett days since back in the day man the they do have a quality Squad throughout I feel like um another one of another one of those teams that have kind of been there and thereabouts but haven’t really threatened for that title

In a while when it comes to those knockout stages then kind of seem to fade away no real big signings in the offseason obviously Brad Shields coming back he’ll add a lot of I don’t see him as a big signing because he’s been there before but kind of is a big signing

Because he’s the captain as well and obviously that experience that he can then filter down throughout the squad with younger loose Trio that they their depth in that loose Trio yes they’ve AI s’s gone big hole to F to fill but Peter Lai dupy kifi strong strong loose Trio here and I

Think Brad Shields would just add little bits to those guys repertoire those guys kind of play a different style yes similar in a lot of ways but their own little style but Brad Shields to to add a bit to that obviously TJ panada another one coming back been out for a

Year and a bit um man the amount of the experience he brings in knowledge he can pass on to someone like cam royard he obviously had a massive breakout season last year playing for the All Blacks at the World Cup scary scary prospect that he could

Just bounce to a whole new level and Peron help him get there um players to watch for me obviously cam royard huge year last year and he’ll just keep pushing W to he want to jump for that nine that nine spots up for grabs Aaron Smith is out so that all

Blacks n jumper is there can he push for it U and then I think again huge year for guys like Peter lacky dupy kifi Ruben love and Josh morby watch out for morby at fullback had a b over here the back end of last year it’s all I could hear on the

Commentators when I was watching a Hurricanes game M here m m m and in the NPC as well gun here he’ll be just one a consistent footy getting touches on the ball and let’s play Man Quality quality player at fullback kan’s finished just outside of that top

Four spot last year um this year I think they’ll stay in that 5 to8 bracket just because that top that top bracket is so tight um hopefully pushing into those semis but definitely quarterfinals for me what do you think of this hurricane Squad and where do you think they will end

Up um let’s jump on to the next team and now moving on to the top four finishes of last year Super Rugby Pacific if you’re still here hit that like subscribe notifications all those fun things it helps me helps me grow man helps me grow makes me do this more

Often reach out to more people to watch let’s go man going to be covering all the Super Rugby this year if you like it if you like Super Rugby hit that like hit that sub subscribe let’s let’s get into it let’s go man super Rugby’s back get Ken Super

Rugby is back look so looking at the top four finishes from 2023 brmes finished fourth um they play the Rebels first up this year be a good one and now it’s Aussie Derby if you will Coach Steven lck Captain Alan Alat TOA um last year lost in the semis to Chiefs

19-6 they definitely want to go one better you always want to go one better even if you win the comp you want to win it again next year um they always always been strong down in Camara it’s cold if you’ve ever played down in camra at

Night time it’s cold it’s a dry cold I think I played there once and it was 6° and it felt minus it felt in the minuses it’s a tough place to go and win and brumes love that they love they know that come come down here come and play

It’s cold there’s not much to do the only thing to do in bromes is moose in camber is moose heads afterwards that’s probably what everyone is thinking about all the players because it’s a good time moose heads is a good time um getting back to it it’s a settled Squad I feel

Like strong again strong Core group of players that have been playing there for a while they all know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are and they kind of build they build around around that some exciting players um it’s again with a lot of these squads it’s just can they keep injuries at

Bay cuz you’re starting 15 or 23 can be here but then after that it just can they keep injuries at Bray Bay and can they improve one more can they improve this year again a core group of players that have been playing together for a while I think someone like Noah lolia L

Laio snubbed from the Wes World Cup squad went away to play for tulon as injury cover come back he he’ll be itching to go got that little rivalry with Carter Gordon first up Carter Gordon ver vers Noah lolio what a game that’s going to be man what a game he’ll

Be Keen to run that one up and good good good let’s go two young throbbers of the game going at it let’s let’s go um I hope to see more one of the signings on the offseason was Harrison Godard from the warar kind of sitting behind Jake Gordon at the

Warar signed now with the brumes I know Ryan lonigan I think it is is the there number nine can Harrison Godard get a few games under his Bel Quality quality player great off the deck service um super fit gets around the park good box

Kick as well well um I hope he gets the chance he deserves man he’s been in and around Super Rugby Melvin Rebels warar now brumes give this man some game time uh Luke rmer and Mick Hooper obviously to have massive years Mick Hooper was part of the wabby squad he’ll just want

To go to that next level as in I want to make sure I’m still part of that wabby Squad not just to Once off let me get back in there and then Rayo just being a pest at breakdown one of the breakdown Mur last year and just we want to just be

Adding on to that strong Squad there is a bit of depth in certain positions um can they keep injuries away I think I think they stay they stay in that one to four bracket and into the semis just because of that suffocating style of of of rugby they play the

Brumes do whether they can win that semis that’s up to them if they get a home semi then maybe but it’s a tough that’s a a tough old ask um let’s see I think they stay in that one they even might even drop out of that one to four

Bracket into that 5 to8 bracket but I’m going to go one to4 bracket the bromes moving on the Oakland the blues the blues first off vers Fiji dreu what a game what a game two of the most exciting squads going at it first up sheesh coach ver Cotter and Captain Patrick toy palu

Unfortunate for Patu with a frater jaw in the pre-season trials up in Japan up in Japan yeah unfortunate very unfortunate there um super exciting Squad nonetheless plenty of talent across the park like I said tough L for p toy pullu with a fractured jaw uh maybe dton Pap gets the nod for Captain

Uh but nonetheless man jeez you’ve got got the Yani Brothers you got Tia Caleb Clark papal um TW gasi like the list just goes on and on of players um I feel like there are they are in their Championship window it’s like for how long are you going to keep all these

Guns together all these quality players together I think anything less than the finals is a failure for this blue Squad their social media is on point one of the most followed Super Rugby teams like let’s let the rugby do the Talking Now Let’s rugby back that up Angus Tavo joins rejoins from the

Chiefs he’s been there before massive and like he’s obviously wanting to have a massive season there just obviously bolsters their front row stocks along with all those other guys will want to have a massive season pereta Stefan pereta obviously pushing for and to get back in that AB Squad um

Had a massive year with taranaki I’m pretty sure at the NPC Quality quality player I think watching out my players to watch watch out for Zan Sullivan classy classy outside back uh and then Cole Forbes stands out for me adding depth to that 10 15 position did a little bit of time

In Europe wonder where he gets a bit of game time who knows Barrett Bal and barretts only due to come back in 2025 or maybe only later this year um so there’s a spot there Harry Plummer is obviously an option there as well um we just have to wait and see

Like I said finals and nothing less um I feel like they fall blues will fall in that one to four bracket um have a semi-final spot and then could this be there here could this be there here what do you guys think let me know let let me

Know the blues moving on to the Crusaders Crusaders obviously winners last year they finish second opening game is the final 2023 final versus the Chiefs Crusaders versus Chiefs what a opener man what an opener last year’s final new coaching coach Rob peny Captain Scott Barrett the rainning Champs the champ Champs the everything

Champs holy where do we start Crusaders adapting to life without Razer Scott Robinson and without Richie moonga biggest talking points for me and that’s like that’s massive your head coach and your fly off that have been around in and around that club now for a decade around a decade could you say

That much that long yeah close to a decade um they’ve been run I mean that’s a massive void to fill you know that doesn’t just happen the next year you know what I mean that doesn’t just happen Owen Franks um matelli comes back Ryan cotty comes back some old guns coming back filling

In helping out adding experience adding depth to the squad uh Rivers rahana joins the squad as a 10 can he F that uh position that’s been left open by Richie Moore W had a great year with Northland I’m pretty sure in the NPC Lee half peny is another big signing

But had a peack toys peack in an injury in a preseason game that’s tough but I still think he’s off the field like what he can bring just knowledge wise will be massive for the younger guys in that Crusader Squad Levi Mo massive massive signing coming from

Moana Pacifica big Center killed it for Pacifica killed it for the Marco in the NBC strong bruising ball Runner got nice soft skills as well slide of hand uh he’ll be wanting to push for All Blacks baby get me in the Crusaders Squad let

Me perform he be he’ be one to watch for sure they’re my players to watch mcka Springer on the wing played all blacks under 20s he’s been there this might be his third year or his second year fast Winger strong Crusaders have always had a white Winger that does

Really well white outside back uh Caleb Ralph Leon McDonald uh Scott was it Scott Hamilton with the curly white hair they’ve always had a gun white outside back I’m not I I think mcka Springer is Caucasian there just the old batler going hard for the Crusaders uh mcka

Spring is one of them killed it for the Tasman in the NPC he’ll be wanting to push for higher honors for sure uh Noah hoam I think that’s how you say it number nine silky player scored a lovely try versus the Bristol bears in um their preseason

Games definitely someone to look out for and then Quinton strange special mention there strong big lock forward um leader within the squad as well was named as their touring captain for the preseason trials so definitely someone probably someone you know about already um but someone to look out for someone that’s

Probably pushing for higher honors look even with the strong Squad uh and the ABS and the guys returning and new signings I think Crusaders adapting to life without Razer and Richie moang really is going to take a little bit of time to change up I mean

You do have still the guys like will Jordan Scott Barrett those guy Joe Moody those guys are still there David haril still strong strong players I think they fall out this might be my do you even take me seriously I think Crusaders fall out of that one to four bracket into

That 5 to8 bracket it it’s a tough ask man to stay at the top for that long something’s got to give something’s got to give I think they fall out of that one to four bracket into the 5 to8 make quarterfinals and who knows that Crusaders if they get a sniff they

Normally find that cheese baby you can smell the can you smell the cheese if I’m a crusader and I can smell the cheese I’m kidding I’m finding that cheese man so Crusaders in that 5 to8 bracket what do you guys think moving on and the top finishes

From 2023 they didn’t win last year but they finished on top the the’re Chiefs Chiefs Mana they play the Crusaders first up what a game that is going to be coach Clayton McMillan Captain Luke Jacobson Chiefs are my favorite to win it this year Chiefs Chiefs are my favorite to

Win it this year losing that GF last year would sting that would sting they won they were on top they would sting they were leading for most of that game I’m pretty sure they’ll be want to come back they’ll be want to come back with a vengeance very very strong group of

Players again Core group of players that have been playing together for a long long long long time work horses in the forwards and exciting M like speed and excitement merchants in the backs um I think anything less than lifting the trophy this year is a fail for them

They would that would be their goal I feel like I feel like also in their like Championship window it’s a strong group of players can they keep them all there Anton Leonard Brown Luke Jacobson Damen McKenzie sha Stevenson imone narai Nuru I’m probably pretty sure he’s there as well like quintay

Aoy like toyato it’s a strong strong Squad this can they keep it together um no big name signings in the offseason unless I’ve missed something um I tried my best to do deep diving in the research but I’m just excited man I’m excited for Quin tupay to be back that horrible knee injury

That kept him out for a long chunk of time he looks back and fit as all hell look here fit that way yeah look here fit is all hell he looks good and he be he’ll be Keen just give me the ball man give me the ball let me run over

Someone um imone naroi sha Stevenson guys got a sniff of that all blacks jumper got a few caps under their belt naroi obviously got injured just before the World Cup and had to be replaced gutting but that’s part of like everyone’s their personal rugby Journey they’ll be wanting they’ll be itching to

Go man to cement their spot or get spots again in that all black Squad um dmac obviously putting his hand up for that number 10 spot for the All Blacks and it starts here like this whole Super Rugby season will be his trial can he do it I think he can man

He’s a he’s just a he’s just a gun he’s just a weapon isn’t he Daman McKenzie one of the best to do it 10 or at fullback Size Doesn’t Matter give Daman mckeny the ball give him a forward pack going forward and the ball let’s go baby

He even takes on the kicking duties for the Chiefs I reckon and for the All Blacks give him that man give him give him those responsibilities um I’m looking at someone like Cortez ratima the little number nine second or third year now uh bright Talent at number nine nippy knows

Where like good number nine know to run those support lines he’s always there Quality quality service off the deck um obviously injuries hopefully stays away from them and gets a good crack at that number nine jumper um I think also someone like Selby Rickett had a superb here with Bay of

Plenty I’m pretty sure in the in NPC he be want to just take that confidence from there into the Super Rugby season and then everyone’s guy AR Koy will want to just go to a new level got a taste of um New Zealand Mali team that’s obviously playing that next level he

Just want to step up his game again been in and around it for a while give me that four or five jumper and let me hold on to it even in the back row just to have to be that extra um option in the line out as well will be good for the

Chiefs obviously a massive Gap left by Sam Kane leaving but Luke Jacobson to bleed them around the park very similar style player um and they are out and out my FV to win this year what do you guys think let me know I hope I hope you

Stuck around for most of this preview like I said there’s only little bits of every team you can’t get to everything otherwise I could sit here for 3 4 hours um like I said hit that like hit that subscribe let me know in the comments what you guys think I’m going

To be covering the Super Rugby Pacific I can’t wait for it to start let’s go man let’s go and I’ll see you next time bye