5 Storylines to Follow in Super Rugby Week 15

Week 15 in Super Rugby sees last year’s finalists go head-to-head in Sydney as the jockeying for play–off places continues.

While the Waratahs and Crusaders do battle, across the Tasman, one man might have to swap the microphone for the engine room of the Chiefs’ scrum.

In South Africa, the Stormers hope a returning Sevens star can sprinkle some of his try-scoring stardust on their campaign, while two more of the tournament’s most devastating wide men run out to show the nations craving their allegiance just how valuable they are.

In a week in which England re-affirmed their stance on overseas-based players remaining persona non grata where international selection is concerned, the end of this campaign in the southern hemisphere will test the lure of national honours for a number of young players being tempted by the riches on offer up north.

Here are the stories to keep track of in Week 15 of Super Rugby.

The injury plague affecting the second row stocks at the Chiefs could call for extreme measures when they face the Bulls on Friday.

With Brodie Retallick and Matt Symons out, former squad member turned columnist and commentator Ross Filipo has been called back into the squad and may well start if Michael Fitzgerald does not recover from his thigh injury.

According to the New Zealand Herald:

Filipo, a Herald on Sunday columnist who has also been fronting games for Sky Television this season, has been bracketed with a more conventional choice in Michael Fitzgerald, while Bardoul has been named to start in the No. 5 jersey.

Were Filipo to play, it wouldn't perhaps be as extreme as the dire situation the 2001 British and Irish Lions found themselves in on their tour of Australia.

Ahead of the final Test, the Lions' scrum-half injury crisis was so extreme they plucked the retired Scottish No. 9 Andy Nicol from his role with a Lions tour operator to take a place on the bench, per the Independent.

Last season’s finalists do battle on Saturday, when the Waratahs host the Crusaders, with the New Zealanders desperate to avenge that one-point final loss and gain vital ground on the wild-card teams.

The Sydneysiders occupy the last wild-card spot at present and are five points above the Christchurch side going in to Week 15.

Tahs No. 10 Bernard Foley, who kicked the winning points in that final last season, told Georgina Robinson of the Sydney Morning Herald: "For sure they'll have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. It's the one that got away I suppose, so that's how they'll be thinking."

This should be the game of the round.

Fresh from his try-scoring exploits for the South African Sevens side, Seabelo Senatla is back in the Stormers fold and could start for the Cape Town outfit when they host the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

The winger was top try scorer in the HSBC Sevens World Series with 47 and is among the nominees for World Sevens Player of the Year.

However, he needs to increase his game time for the Super Rugby franchise in order to be a part of their post-season title bid, as John Goliath wrote on IOL:

Senatla needs to play four matches in order to be eligible for the Super Rugby playoffs…[Stormers coach Allister] Coetzee and his coaching staff are well aware of that rule, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone, not even the Rebels, if the Welkom speedster comes straight into the side in order to give the Stormers a bit of X-Factor and a lot more bite on attack.

He is certainly capable of getting the Newlands faithful off their seats with his searing pace and obvious finishing ability, and he may well be able to use the end of this season to make his case for a place in the Springboks' World Cup squad.

Blues centre George Moala has wasted no time in reasserting himself as a key weapon in his team's armory toward the end of this campaign.

After he was discharged without conviction following the guilty verdict handed down to him for one of three assault charges, per TVNZ, the centre has been back in the side and was instrumental in John Kirwan’s men’s victory over the Bulls last week.

The New Zealand Herald’s Wynne Gray wrote:

[The Bulls] had no one to match the ferocious strength of George Moala. ... His shift into midfield has been one of the brighter points in a troubled season. ... His preference is for confrontation and attack.

Dealing with traffic down route one is just fine for him. His move into [inside centre] looks a handy solution where his power can get the Blues over the advantage line most times he carries.

And he will face the litmus test of those abilities on Saturday against Hurricanes and All Black great Ma’a Nonu.

There is a lot of the classic Nonu power and directness about Moala’s game, perhaps without the subtlety the 100-plus capper has added over the recent years.

It should be an intriguing battle to see which of the two can impose himself on the other.

Last week, we picked out the Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro after a scorching try in Perth.

He has since signed for Glasgow for next season—not Edinburgh, as first thought by sections of the Australian media, per Duncan Smith in the Scotsman.

But it’s a move that could still be thwarted if Australia come calling before he joins the Pro 12 team.

This week, he is joined by another wide man in a similar contractual position.

The competition’s leading try scorer thus far, Waisake Naholo, has impressed for the Highlanders, indicating just why he was signed on a two-year deal by Clermont Auvergne before the current Super Rugby campaign got underway.

That deal is due to start next season, so he could fill the boots of the Toulon-bound Napolioni Nalaga.

But so good has his form been that the New Zealand Rugby Union is now looking to usurp that agreement with the French giants, per Wynne Gray of the New Zealand Herald.

Clermont's sports director Jean-Marc Lhermet indicates the New Zealand Rugby Union wants the club to release Naholo from his contract.

His performances in Super Rugby are remarkable and we are under an increasing amount of pressure from the [NZRU] and, when the All Blacks machine gets going, it becomes complicated.

Keep an eye on these two prized assets, for whom more tries could increase their bargaining power with their respective suitors.