Key men ... George Smith (Brumbies) and Bernard Foley (Waratahs).
With the first half of the 2013 Super Rugby season now gone, we rate the progress of the five Australian teams with the help of Fox Sports Stats.
Brumbies
Where they sit: First.The Brumbies raced out of the blocks this season, putting last year's final round heartache behind them with five straight victories. The early loss of David Pocock has been offset by the arrival – and subsequent seamless transition – of George Smith while the likes of Ben Mowen, Christian Lealiifano and Jesse Mogg making an irresistible case for Wallabies selection. The only hiccup remains a draw at home to Southern Kings but with their South African tour out of the way, an automatic semi-finals berth as winners of the Australian conference looks to be well within reach.
Star performer: George Smith. It's honestly like he never left. The 110-Test veteran had little time soak up his return to Canberra, finding himself thrust into action after just 13 minutes of the round-four clash against the Waratahs. Since then, Smith has turned in a couple of vintage displays – particularly against the Highlanders – and leads the Brumbies for tackles (95), offloads (10), pilfers (5) and forced penalties (4).
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Sore point: Although he claimed a decision to make wholesale changes for the clash with the Kings was about resting players, there's no hiding from the fact Jake White may have taken the South Africans just a little bit too lightly. The Brumbies were barely in the game in the second half as the visitors stormed home to snatch a draw, which may have even been two more points than the Brumbies deserved.
Where to now? The only real problem worry for the Brumbies at this stage looks to be their poor discipline with the side averaging the most penalties per game (11.7) of any Super Rugby team. Their key position players are in good form while they're strong starts make them dangerous frontrunners. A tough four-week period that sees them face the Crusaders, Waratahs and Blues away from home from rounds 12 to 15 is likely to be the defining factor on where they finish on the table.
Reds
Where they sit: Second. After a poor opening game against the Brumbies, the Reds have made steady progress each game to put themselves firmly in the running for the semi-finals at the halfway point of the season. The return from injury of skipper James Horwill and halfback Will Genia coincided with a sharp improvement in their direction and structure, allowing playmaker Quade Cooper more time and space on the ball. They're as good as any side with their best team on the field, although Digby Ioane's contract breakdown has the power to derail what is looking like a very promising season.
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Star performer. Digby Ioane. He may not be covering himself in glory off the field, but there's no doubting Ioane's dominance on it. The Reds winger has been heroic in attack this season, never shirking the responsibility when asked to take the ball forward. He leads the franchise for runs (75), metres (646) and linebreaks (6), and is second in the competition for tackle busts (34). The Reds would be wise to make peace with their most-dangerous attacking weapon as they plot a title charge.
Sore point: It wasn't such the result that had Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie up in arms following his side's shock loss to Western Force, but the manner in which it came. Unbackable favourites before kick-off, the Reds were out-enthused and outmuscled around the contact engagements and were possibly not entirely switched on. They also may live to regret the spurning of several kickable penalties from the weekend's draw with the Brumbies.
Where to now: Just two points shy of the Brumbies in the Aussie conference, the Reds are well ahead of where they were at the same stage last year. They'll be out to make a clean sweep of their New Zealand encounters on Friday night while two tough games in the Republic – against the Cheetahs and Stormers - could decide whether they challenge for the Aussie conference title or fight it out for a wildcard spot. Whatever the result, it'd take a brave man to suggest the Reds can't go all the way on the strength of their recent form.
Waratahs
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Where they sit: Third. A new gameplan and coach were always going to make the first half of the season a difficult proposition for the Waratahs but it's performances like their one against the Chiefs that suggests times are changing in Sydney. Friday night's victory at Allianz Stadium keeps them in the hunt for the semis but you get the feeling coach Michael Cheika is more focused on refining the Waratahs' attacking mindset so that it becomes second-nature. The coach's willingness to put senior players on notice has created a healthy competition for spots while Israel Folau's signature is looking like more of a masterstroke each time he steps onto the field.
Star performer: Bernard Foley. A former Australia Sevens captain, Foley was always going to be the right man to spearhead Cheika's running mantra. So often criticised for their aimless kicking, the Waratahs have finally found a No.10 who's first instinct isn't to put boot to ball but to take the line on and create opportunities for those outside him. Foley's decision-making has been excellent and has seen him rise to second in the competition for linebreak assists (9) and try assists (5), and equal third for linebreaks (8). He has also crossed for three tries.
Sore point: The Waratahs have little cause to be angry about their narrow defeat to the Cheetahs, considering they got out of jail against both the Blues and Chiefs but they may yet live to rue their inability to close out the South Africans. They'll need to stop giving opposition sides such a comfortable opening to their encounters – a feature of their loss to the Cheetahs - having conceded the most points in the opening 20 minutes of any side in the competition.
Where to now? While they're still in the playoff mix at this stage, a trip to the post-season just looks to be beyond the boys in blue in 2013. There's been plenty of positive signs over the past few weeks - not least of which was Foley's clever ball to John Ulugia last Friday night – but their inability to turn in a consistent effort for 80 minutes suggests games on the road against the Crusaders and Bulls, and at home against the Reds and Brumbies might be too much to ask. A clean sweep of their South African tour while unlikely, would certainly have the Brumbies and Reds looking over their shoulder.
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Melbourne Rebels
Where they sit: Fourth. A bright start to the season quickly turned sour for the Rebels as their performances on the field, and behaviour off it, took a turn for the worse. Five straight defeats sandwiched between victories over the Force have brought coach Damien Hill's job into question while the late-night scuffle between Kurtley Beale and Cooper Vuna made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hill has been told he'll have to reapply for his job next season, which is sure to see him pushing for Beale's return from suspension as early as this weekend.
Star performer: James O'Connor. Another man sweating on Beale's return, O'Connor has done his best to make the most of the Rebels' few attacking opportunities. A move into No.10 against the Kings paid dividends albeit without the desired outcome and he looks to have established a good understanding with impressive Kiwi newcomer Jason Woodward. O'Connor leads the side for also for offloads (9), linebreak assists (4), try assists (4), run metres (497) and tackle busts (20).
Sore point. Much has been made of the late night bust-up that saw Beale and Vuna sent home from South Africa but the question as to why players were ever out in the first place remains a mystery. Smashed 60-7 by the Sharks, team management would have been wise to enforce "night in" before ordering the squad to review their performance and complete a thorough recovery the next morning. The match against the Kings was easily the one that got away, too.
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Where to now? The first step for the Rebels will be to fix their leaky defence, which has given up the second most linebreaks (6.8) and missed the second most tackles (24.4) of any side in the competition. That may be easier said than done with their next three matches coming against the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues before they resume Australian hostilities. Beale's eventual return is sure to coincide with an upturn in form but it might not be enough to see the Rebels avoid the wooden spoon in Australia, and perhaps the competition.
Force
Where they sit. Fifth. It may not have been the brightest of starts for coach Michael Foley at the Force but looking at the way he finished things with the Waratahs, it certainly could have been a lot worse. Two rousing wins over the Reds and Crusaders and a series of near misses have given the Sea of Blue cause for optimism, particularly since they've done it without a genuine superstar. Alfi Mafi has been a revelation out wide, Hugh McMeniman's efforts were grabbing the attention of Wallabies selectors while Alby Mathewson has been one of the buys of the competition. It's not always pretty rugby but the Force have shown enough to suggest they'll nab a couple more win before the season's out.
Star performer. Kyle Godwin. A former Australian Schoolboys and Under 20s star, Godwin is developing into a fine midfield option for the Force. Boasting plenty of speed and some neat footwork, Godwin has shown both the ability to create opportunities for those outside him and a willingness to attack the line himself. Freshened up after a week's rest, his battle with in-form Brumbies centre Christian Lealiifano is one not to be missed in round 11.
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Sore point: While the victory over the Crusaders sent the Perth faithful delirious, heartbreaking losses to both the Cheetahs and Rebels must have had them seeing red. The Force seem to have an ability to get up for the big games but fail to deliver when the adrenalin of facing a supposedly easier opposition isn't there. They're also averaging just 18.2 points per game – the least of any side in Super Rugby – so an improved attack should be a focus for the second half of the season.
Where to now? The semi-finals may be out of reach but the Force are more than capable of spoiling the playoff dreams of several sides, particularly their Australian rivals. With five of their last six games at home, the Force will also be out to repay the faith of their long-suffering fans as they look to improve a dismal home record. The threat of the Aussie conference, and possibly Super Rugby's, wooden-spoon should also serve as a key motivator.
