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| Beauden Barret – Image copyright Steve Haag Sports |
Darry Worthington takes a look at the best off-season signings made by the teams in the Australian and New Zealand Conferences.
Super Rugby is under a month away and all 15 sides have been heavily involved in off-season wheelings and dealings.
A few signings really stand out with a number of seasoned players returning to old stomping grounds and some leaving the unions they made their names at for new pastures.
Beauden Barrett
From: Hurricanes
To: Blues
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Talk about your marquee signings! The All Black star has made a mega-money from Wellington to Auckland, where he will try and guide the Blues back to their glory days.
Barett is just what this Auckland side needs, a fly-half. While they have an incredible amount of talented young pivots, none of them have the skillset and composure to guide this talented yet faltering Blues side around and turn them into real contenders.
While Barrett will miss the first couple months of the season due to All Black rest protocols, he’ll make a massive impact when he returns to the playing field.
Aaron Cruden
From: Montpellier
To: Chiefs
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This was a very shrewd business from the Chiefs. Cruden has struggled for form since moving to Montpellier back in 2017. While he did show flashes of brilliance while playing for the French side, their brand of rugby didn’t really suit the 50-cap All Black.
Cruden will bring a very cool head to the number 10 jersey. He’s a very skilfull player who knows how to manage a game. His return to Waikato will also allow Damien McKenzie to revert back to the fullback role.
Frank Lomani
From: Fijian Drua
To: Rebels
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The diminutive scrum-half trained with the Rebels the last term but didn’t get a Super Rugby game. This year will be different, however, with Lomani coming off the back of a great NRC campaign for the Fijian Drua and Will Genia leaving for Japan.
Lomani may not be a household name at present but he will be in the coming years. Expect a big season from him.
James O’Connor
From: Sale Sharks
To: Reds
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I have to say, if this signing occurred last season I would have been left severely underwhelmed but O’Connor’s performances for the Wallabies were so good that I’m now really interested to see how he goes for the Reds.
The former ‘golden boy’ of Australian rugby is capable of playing across almost the entire backline which will be crucial for the Reds who have lost a number of experienced backs including Samu Kervei.
Ben Te’o
From: Toulon
To: Sunwolves
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The former England international will be looking to make up for the lost time when he runs out for the Sunwolves this year.
Teo’o has had a horrific year and a bit where injuries and a drop in form saw him go from British and Irish Lion to surplus to requirements for the English national team.
He’s a solid centre that will offer a strong midfielder who will offer a solid ball-carrying option for the Japanese outfit. He has struggled with injuries over the past few years and the Sunwolves will be wise to manage his game time if they are to get the best out for him.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
