Former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell believes an Australian team will take out next year’s Super Rugby Pacific title. Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley were front and centre for the Waratahs the last time an Aussie side took out club rugby’s top prize down south in 2014.
New Zealand teams have dominated the competition ever since, with the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Blues all tasting championship success. From that list, the Chiefs are of course absent, but that did go back-to-back in the two seasons before the Tahs’ triumph.
While the Crusaders have stood tallest time and time again throughout the last decade, with coach Scott Robertson leading the side to an unprecedented run of seven titles in as many years, the other Kiwi sides still did damage with regular wins over their Australian rivals.
The ACT Brumbies have been a shining light as of late with trips to the Semi-Finals, and the Queensland Reds have also beaten eventual finalists the Chiefs at least once in consecutive seasons. While that’s something to celebrate, more success could be on the way.
Mitchell, 40, has boldly predicted that New Zealand’s era of Super Rugby dominance will come to a close in 2025 with an Australian team set to take charge before the international season rolls around against the British and Irish Lions in July.
“With a few key players from New Zealand going to play in Japan and elsewhere, I do think, and I know this could be a little bit… I think the Super Rugby champions have got to come from Australia,” Mitchell said on Kick Offs and Kick Ons.
“I think also because the Rebels are out, it’s bolstered the squads, all the four teams in Australia. I think the competition for spots… it’ll help with the mindset and the psyche going into the Lions just to have a little bit more success.
“It may not be a winning title but more wins against Super Rugby teams and whatever, I think it’s going to be beneficial.”
While that prediction might come as a welcomed surprise to New Zealand rugby supporters, it’s not all doom and gloom with Mitchell praising the All Blacks for their efforts in 2024 under coach Scott Robertson.
Following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks moved in a different direction as Robertson came in as Ian Foster’s replacement. Scott Barrett was later appointed into the role of captain before the opening two Test matches of the year against England.
New Zealand got the better of England in two matches before piling on a big score against Fiji in San Diego, but a three-from-six record in The Rugby Championship was a blip on their record. They were beaten by Argentina in Wellington and then in both matches away to South Africa.
While the All Blacks rounded out the year with wins over Japan, England, Ireland and Italy, as well as a loss to France in Paris, they still lost four matches for the year – but once again, it’s not all doom and gloom.
“I don’t know if they’d be happy,” Mitchell explained. “I don’t think it’s panic stations by any means but the only I say they wouldn’t be happy is because of the standards they’ve been upheld to for so long.
“Obviously, Scott Robertson coming in. There’s been a bit of change in terms of the guard of leadership. There’s been plenty of different outliers that Scott Robertson’s had to deal with.
“I think they’re doing really well and I think they’ve unearthed a few great players – Wallace Sititi, Will Jordan coming back, not that he was unearthed but him coming back, he’s going to be a key figure.
“Look, they’re always going to be good… it’s just about finding the blend of which players work with which players.
“If there’s anyone out that can get the best out of a player it’s probably going to be Scott Robertson in that All Blacks setup, and I think they’ve got the cattle to be really competitive. I also think they’re on an upward trajectory.”
