SYDNEY : Finally freed of the COVID travel restrictions that sounded the death knell to the intercontinental edition and fragmented and disrupted the rump competition, Super Rugby returns in its full new normality on Friday.
The Canterbury Crusaders dominated Super Rugby in the years pre-pandemic and have proved just as hard to beat with or without fans in the stadiums, through lockdowns, biosecurity protocols and in competition hubs. The Auckland Blues beat the Crusaders in their Christchurch fortress last season during a 15-match winning streak but were unable to reprise the feat in front of their own fans at Eden Park in the title-decider.
The ACT Brumbies were again Australia's best last season with a run to the semi-finals, but a resurgent New South Wales Waratahs have a chance to make a big statement in Friday's other match.The Waratahs went winless in a horror 2021 season but rebounded in impressive style under new coach Darren Coleman last year to make the quarter-finals.
Nothing annoys Queenslanders more than New South Wales hogging the limelight and Brad Thorn's Reds have enough quality to vie for Australian bragging rights as well as upset a few New Zealand sides.