Australias record in the Super Rugby tournament is hardly in the back-slapping category. Just four titles in 20 years. You can now make that four titles in 21 years, after Australia failed to field a semi-final candidate this season.In spite of the drama over the Brumbies missing out on a semifinal berth following a disallowed try against the Highlanders last Friday night, 2016 would rank among Australias worst Super Rugby seasons. All five teams were sadly off the pace for most of the competition, while several struggled with serious off-field issues.Greg Growden runs his rule over each Australian teams 2016 campaign.BrumbiesThey deserve credit for being the only local team to make the finals, but it was still a disconcerting season for the Brumbies- suffering the stumbles before securing the Australian conference.They first had to overcome a long-running off-field saga that revealed serious divisions within the ranks, and eventually saw its chief executive Michael Jones leave the organisation after expressing concerns over various Brumbies financial issues. Then the Brumbies appeared to struggle with their on-field direction, becoming more of a forward based outfit the longer the season went, moving well away from its traditional stance of being Australias most flourishing and inventive attacking unit.In the end, the often stodgy Brumbies had to turn to a reliable forward pack that knew for the second season running how to use the driving maul to full effect to keep them ahead of the Waratahs on the competition table. Their most consistent performers were all up front, with prop Scott Sio, hooker Stephen Moore, locks Rory Arnold and Sam Carter and backrowers Scott Fardy and David Pocock having strong seasons. They also made the best signing of the year, with their Argentinean half-back Tomas Cubelli easily the best No 9 in the Australian conference. Cubelli was instrumental in the Brumbies making the quarterfinal cut.Whether the Brumbies can remain Australias leading province in 2017 is debatable as they are losing an abundance of talent who are either heading overseas or interstate.Mark: C plus. 2015 mark: B2014 mark: B plus2013 mark: B plus.WaratahsJust two years after winning the Super Rugby title, the Waratahs slid to 10th position- putting their coach Daryl Gibson under enormous pressure. What was so disconcerting about the Waratahs was that they had several good chances to make the finals, but squandered every one of them.For most of the season they appeared disjointed, and were never able to get over the loss of midfielder Kurtley Beale through injury. In the few games that Bernard Foley and Beale combined, the Waratahs attack showed some menace, but that dropped off after Beale was sidelined.One player who cannot be blamed for the provinces demise is their captain Michael Hooper. He did begin the season way off colour, prompting a rebuke from former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer who described his form as dreadful. Hooper could have easily sulked after such a pointed public attack. Instead he focused on improving his game, and for the rest of the season was among the best performers in the Australian conference. He had several exceptional games, in particular against the Stormers in Cape Town.It was also clear Hooper had matured as a skipper, never letting the occasion get to him. His leadership will be crucial in Tahland in coming years, especially next season following the departure of numerous players from their successful 2014 campaign.Mark: C 2015 mark: B minus2014 mark: A plus2013: C plusRebelsThey suffered several dreadful losses in particular against the Crusaders in Christchurch, but the Rebels continue to hold up well against the other Australian provinces. One can never dispute the Rebels enthusiasm, while they have in their favour a shrewd coach in Tony McGahan. Under McGahan there is a no-nonsense policy at the Rebels.The loss of Scott Higginbotham was as expected difficulty to overcome, but back-rower Sean McMahon by the end of the season showed he has the skills and enthusiasm to become a crucial upfront leader, producing several quality performances. His final round effort against the Reds was exceptional, almost singlehandedly beating the opposition.The Rebels struggled late in the season with an overwhelming injury list, while No 10 Jack Debreczeni sometimes appeared to be affected by the pressure of being the teams prime playmaker. There is still a sense of promise, especially as the province possesses one of the best attacking players in the competition- Sefa Naivalu. They are still several players off from being a formidable team.Mark: C 2015 mark: B plus2014 mark: D2013 mark: DRedsFollowing the departure of head coach Richard Graham after a few rounds, for a short time under the command of Nick Stiles and Matt OConnor there was a resurgence within the Reds. But that soon petered out and in the end it was another underwhelming season for a team that not so long ago was a powerhouse of Australian Rugby.While half-back Nick Frisby is a trier and had several commendable games, the Reds still desperately miss the talents of Will Genia, Quade Cooper and co, with the side seriously short of midfield authority. Opposition teams consistently exposed them in that area, and also took advantage of an often substandard defensive alignment. No wonder there was a sense of relief in Brisbane late in the season when Cooper was sighted back in town and indicating that he may be back in the Reds colours next season.Centre Samu Kerevi attempted to bring back some aggression and thrust out wide but often lacked backup, while Liam Gill, Greg Holmes and Andrew Ready were the best in a pack that were one of the better performers at scrum and lineout time.Stiles, this week appointed the new Reds coach, has an enormous task in 2017, especially with Holmes and Gill departing. At least the Reds have begun their recruitment drive positively by signing George Smith and luring Stephen Moore back to Brisbane. The tension will be eased further if Cooper returns. Maybe, just maybe, a Reds revival?Mark: D 2015 mark: F2014 mark: F2013 mark: BForceAnother miserable season for the Force. They were winless at home, had to replace their coach Michael Foley during the competition, the Australian Rugby Union took over the running of the struggling province, and they suffered disciplinary dramas following a boozy night in Bloemfontein. They also had to cope with a tough Super Rugby draw- and not surprisingly finished with only two victories- against the Reds and Sunwolves.There werent too many bright moments in their season, especially after Matt Hodgson, their most loyal player, was ruled out through injury. Without Hodgson and Ben McCalman, the Force were rudderless. Their best player was easily full-back Dane Haylett-Petty, who justifiably made the Test team before even he slipped up in Bloemfontein.The ARU have agreed to prop up the Force, and confirmed that the province is staying in Perth, but the problem remains- how to lure players from the other side of the country, which has led to them relying on overseas signings, particularly from South Africa. Whoever their new coach is will be walking into the toughest job among the Australian provinces.Mark: F 2015 mark: F2014 mark: B2013 mark: C Cheap Adidas NMD Shoes For Sale . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Cheap Wholesale Adidas NMD .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. http://www.cheapadidasnmd.com/ . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Black Adidas NMD . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Cheap Adidas NMD Shoes Online . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist, and teammates Nick Foligno and William Karlsson picked up their first goals of the season as Columbus beat Chicago 3-2 on Friday night.Columbus Sergei Bobrovsky blocked 32 shots as the Blue Jackets picked up their first win of the season, avoiding a repeat of last seasons disastrous 0-8 start.Tyler Motte and Richard Panik scored for Chicago (2-3-0), and Corey Crawford had 25 saves.The Blue Jackets (1-2-0) took the lead when the 19-year-old Werenski netted a wrist shot from the point during a power play at 9:10 in the first period. It was his team-leading second goal of the season.ISLANDERS 3, COYOTES 2NEW YORK -- Johnny Boychuks short-handed goal early in the third period lifted New York to the victory.Dennis Seidenberg and Ryan Strome also scored for New York, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 23 shots for his first win of the season and the Islanders second in three home games after opening with two road losses.Brad Richardson and Radim Vrbata scored 13 seconds apart in the first period to tie the score for the Coyotes.dddddddddddd Louis Domingue had 28 saves as Phoenix lost its third straight on the road after one home win.The game marked the first NHL meeting between the Strome brothers. Dylan Strome, 19, was the third overall pick by the Coyotes in the 2015 draft and made his debut earlier this week. Ryan Strome, 23, was the fifth overall pick in the Islanders in the 2011 draft.RED WINGS 5, PREDATORS 3DETROIT -- Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist for Detroit.Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller, Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm also scored as Detroit won its third straight. Petr Mrazek stopped 30 shots.P.K. Subban, Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher scored for Nashville, which has lost three straight. Pekka Rinne finished with 38 saves.Fishers power-play goal with 4:46 left pulled the Predators within 4-3. It was Fishers third goal, all on the power play.Helm had an empty-net power-play score with 22 seconds left, his fourth goal of the season, to seal the win. ' ' '
