08 July 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld
SUPER RUGBY 2019 – BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS
The biggest takeaways from the 2019 Super Rugby tournament, according to Quintin van Jaarsveld.
The biggest question heading into the 2019 tournament was whether anyone would be able to dethrone the defending-champion Crusaders. The Christchurch collective gave a definitive two-part answer. First, by convincingly topping the table before going on to extend their perfect play-off record.
A commanding 38-14 quarter-final win was followed by a thrilling 30-26 semi-final win over the Hurricanes. That was before their crowning moment on Saturday – a classy 19-3 victory over the Jaguares, their third title triumph on the trot and 10th overall.
What set this year’s conquest apart from the nine that came before it was the heart the ‘Saders showed after Christchurch was rocked by a deadly terrorist attack on Friday, 15 March. In the wake of the tragedy, the scheduled clash with the Highlanders was cancelled and they fell to a shock 20-12 defeat to the Waratahs.
Like a true championship team, they rallied and took it upon themselves to help rebuild the city in the best way they knew how, on the rugby field. There were roadblocks in the form of a draw with the Sharks and loss to the Chiefs, but the band of brothers, fuelled by emotion, showed fighting spirit on top of total rugby wizardry to remain at the summit of Super Rugby.
? The Crusaders put on a masterclass in finals rugby against the Jaguares in Christchurch on Saturday to clinch their 10th Super Rugby title. Read Now: https://t.co/5T43hTbl9F
— BET.co.za (@betcoza) July 8, 2019
2019 was also the year of the Jaguares uprising. In just their fourth season, after missing the play-offs in their first two campaigns and losing to the Lions in the quarter-finals last year, the Buenos Aires side advanced to their first-ever final.
Like all who had come before them, they were unable to usurp the Crusaders in the Christchurch decider. Yet, they fought valiantly – especially in the first half – and will be better for it. Super Rugby, and by extension the Rugby Championship, have done wonders for Argentina rugby. The Jaguares’ success this season, which included a historic South African Conference crown, was a testament of how the tournament can serve as a vehicle for rugby development.
The Jaguares played with a symbiotic synergy as opposed to a group of talented individuals, which was the downfall of many of the other teams. That said, they had multi-talented loose forward Pablo Matera, our Player of the Season, in their ranks, plus perhaps the best halfback combination in Super Rugby in Tomas Cubelli and Joaquin Diaz Bonilla to name but a few of the stars who took them to new heights.
? With the steam of Saturday’s #SuperRugby decider having dissipated, it’s time to honour the standout players of the season. Read Now: https://t.co/MMURwuZG89
— BET.co.za (@betcoza) July 8, 2019