{"id":984757,"date":"2026-05-25T23:36:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T23:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/984757\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T23:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T23:36:20","slug":"christy-doran-why-the-hurricanes-would-stack-up-v-bordeaux-begles-and-the-concern-for-wallabies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/984757\/","title":{"rendered":"Christy Doran: Why the Hurricanes would ‘stack up’ v Bordeaux-Begles and the ‘concern’ for Wallabies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Barbarians<\/a><\/p>\n

Super Rugby has suffered immeasurably because of the decisions of countless administrators over the past decade or two, but there\u2019s little doubt that the quality on the field, on New Zealand soil at least, still stacks up against the best clubs in the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In fact, if the Hurricanes were to play Bordeaux this weekend, you\u2019d be na\u00efve to write them off. And that\u2019s not just because the French heavyweights will be nursing a severe hangover from some of Bordeaux\u2019s best grapes after their Investec Champions Cup victory over Leinster.<\/p>\n

With Warner Dearns spending the year in Wellington, the Hurricanes<\/a>, with Asafo Aumua at hooker, have a pack that stands up against anyone. Their loose trio is deep and strong, while their halves, with Cam Roigard and Ruben Love driving the show, rival any in the world. Then there is their incredibly powerful backline, with former Leinster back Jordie Barrett at the epicentre of it all. It\u2019s balanced personified.<\/p>\n

Bordeaux\u2019s side, of course, is littered with quality, and their backline is electric, especially with the best winger in the world in Louis Bielle-Biarrey commanding the No.11 jersey.<\/p>\n

The point is that even though Super Rugby<\/a> has suffered many knocks, it\u2019s still a quality competition with dangerous sides everywhere.<\/p>\n

After all, just look at Friday\u2019s New Zealand derby between the Crusaders and Chiefs. The two Kiwi heavyweights put on another ding-dong battle under the roof in Christchurch \u2013 and both sides will throw some shots over the next month.<\/p>\n

Even Australia<\/a>\u2018s sides would compete on the global stage, but the issue across the board remains in the tight-five and inside channels.<\/p>\n

Super Rugby officials did, however, look at last weekend\u2019s Champions Cup in Bilbao with envy \u2013 and even want their own version.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely to occur in time.<\/p>\n

Issue facing Wallabies ahead of Nations Championship<\/p>\n

Even though Australia\u2019s Super Rugby sides have historically been found wanting, there\u2019s been a commonly held view that a strong Wallabies team can be found from it.<\/p>\n

But that view is increasingly being tested (just look at the Wallabies\u2019 winning percentage), and one metric you could use is to see how many Australians would make a Super Rugby team of the year.<\/p>\n

Ex-All Black claims PREM and URC are \u2018stronger\u2019 than Super Rugby<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

With one week remaining, it\u2019s hard to see a single Australian making the team.<\/p>\n

Ryan Lonergan has been brilliant for the Brumbies, but he might not even make the 23 under Joe Schmidt \u2013 and has Roigard or Xavier Roe been just as good?<\/p>\n

Max Jorgensen is perhaps the only Aussie who would make the side, but there\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s not been as effective since being moved to full-back early in the year.<\/p>\n

Incumbent Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has, at least, returned to form over the past month. His Test back-row teammate Rob Valetini has also been relatively consistent.<\/p>\n

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has returned to his bruising best in general play, but the Reds\u2019 lineout has been abysmal in 2026.<\/p>\n

However, the concern is that most of the Wallabies\u2019 big name players like Nick Frost, Tom Wright and Jake Gordon have yet to hit their straps.<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as\u00a0a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a>\u00a0for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

Schmidt and Les Kiss would have been pleased to see Allan Alaalatoa take another step forward last weekend, but they also would have expected to see more dominance from the Brumbies\u2019 front-row, especially against an inexperienced Waratahs front three.<\/p>\n

The Wallabies will at least benefit from the returns of Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau \u2013 but their absence in Super Rugby has been telling.<\/p>\n

Christy Doran\u2019s Australian Super Rugby Team of the Week<\/p>\n

15 Jock Campbell, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan (player of the round), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachie Shaw, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t write off the Reds, yet<\/p>\n

It will take a miracle for an Australian team to break the country\u2019s drought in Super Rugby.<\/p>\n

With New Zealand\u2019s sides set to command the top four spots in Super Rugby, the Brumbies or Reds will likely have to create history to make the semi-finals, let alone win the competition.<\/p>\n

Waratahs v Brumbies: Five takeaways as \u2018age just a number\u2019 for impressive duo in \u2018devastatingly efficient\u2019 win that leaves Sydneysiders \u2018on the brink\u2019<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s because no Australian side has ever won a play-off match on New Zealand shores.<\/p>\n

But you wouldn\u2019t write off the Brumbies or the Reds from firing a shot and winning one match abroad.<\/p>\n

The Brumbies, after all, are regular semi-finalists.<\/p>\n

And despite being pushed all the way by cellar dwellers, Moana Pasifika, the Reds too have the capacity to land a shot, and the fact they\u2019re pretty much at full strength will help.<\/p>\n

Their lineout has been a serious issue, but Josh Canham\u2019s return over the weekend showed how dearly he has been missed.<\/p>\n

Rising prop Massimo De Lutiis has also returned to help give the Reds some muscle in the front-row.<\/p>\n

While Tate McDermott\u2019s return from an eight-month absence over the weekend, and the spark he showed from the outset, offer the Reds another threat too \u2013 and Kiss could yet head to the Wallabies with some momentum behind him.<\/p>\n

Signing \u2018Tahs need to take return to finals<\/p>\n

\u201cAlignment\u201d will be put to the test next year when Angus Crichton arrives at the Waratahs.<\/p>\n

While Crichton is being viewed as inside centre by the Waratahs and incoming Wallabies boss Kiss, the men in blue looked their best when Lawson Creighton was playing the role of second playmaker in the No.12 jersey.<\/p>\n

Christian Cullen urges Dave Rennie to put Ruben Love \u2018with the big dogs\u2019 as All Blacks clamour grows for Hurricanes star<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Jack Bowen played a fine role when he finally returned at fly-half, but Creighton was just as integral in the Waratahs\u2019 backline being ignited \u2013 and they would have made the last six had they finished all the tries they created.<\/p>\n

The issue for Dan McKellar now is how to integrate Crichton, who hasn\u2019t come over on the cheap, and not take a step backward at the same time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a challenging prospect, especially in a World Cup year \u2013 and it\u2019s why clarity is vital.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also why the idea of playing the NRL star in the loose forwards and midfield should be knocked on its head quickly (just ask Stuart Lancaster following England\u2019s pool exit in 2015).<\/p>\n

Regardless, Crichton could do with having someone vastly experienced inside him, like Bernard Foley, to show him the ropes.<\/p>\n

The Waratahs remain in conversations with Foley about bringing the former Wallabies linchpin back to the club he led to their one \u2013 and only \u2013 title in 2014, and they should do everything they can to ensure it happens.<\/p>\n

Even if he doesn\u2019t start, he would help Crichton immensely given his vast experience and strong communication skills.<\/p>\n

And if his form in Japan is anything to go by, Foley would rocket into the mix for the Wallabies in the World Cup year.<\/p>\n

The unexpected game changer<\/p>\n

Super Round in Christchurch breathed some serious life back into Super Rugby.<\/p>\n

Success wasn\u2019t something that was missing in the city, but enjoyment was \u2013 and the fans are voting with their feet.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not just warm and dry, but they\u2019ve discovered that going to the rugby is fun again, and it\u2019s the hottest ticket in town.<\/p>\n

For the third straight round, the Crusaders sold out the match \u2013 and fans were treated to a classic Kiwi derby.<\/p>\n

But what it has also done is allow social media influencers, including Super Rugby, an opportunity to sell the product again.<\/p>\n

That had previously proved difficult in the grounds in Australia, where the capacity of Allianz Stadium (42,000), Suncorp Stadium (52,500) and Eden Park (50,000) dwarfs most of the stadia used in the French Top 14 and English Prem.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also given the ACT Government the perfect case study of why cities, including Canberra, need modern stadiums to draw in crowds, especially in cold climates.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Former Wallabies star denied bail after repeatedly threatening to kill a man<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Super Rugby has suffered immeasurably because of the decisions of countless administrators over the past decade or two,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":984758,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4102],"tags":[186,29981,58931,10262,126,225,10263,90462,704,12,68837,4151,79,10264,16,15,12988,33491],"class_list":["post-984757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-australia","tag-brumbies","tag-chiefs","tag-crusaders","tag-features","tag-home-page","tag-hurricanes","tag-internationals","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-queensland-reds","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-super-rugby","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-waratahs","tag-western-force"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116637845989014180","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=984757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984757\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/984758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=984757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=984757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=984757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}