By Sam Ryan

Australia’s four Super Rugby sides begin their 2018 campaigns this weekend and more so than ever before, it’s difficult to know what to expect. It’s fair to say Australian rugby hit rock bottom last year, but from all reports the four remaining Super sides have well and truly put 2017 behind them and are fitter, faster, stronger and better prepared than ever before heading into their opening round.

While it’s difficult to predict how each side will perform, we thought we’d take a look at a handful of individual Australians with a point to prove in 2018, with one eye on next year’s World Cup.

Jono Lance

After leaving Perth for Melbourne, former Red/Waratah/Force/technically Rebel playmaker Jono Lance has ended up back at Ballymore to replace Quade Cooper in the Reds No.10 jersey. While initially, Brad Thorn appeared to favour 19-year old flyhalf Hamish Stewart, Lance’s experience has earned him a starting spot in tomorrow night’s clash against the Rebels.

The 27-year old was impressive in an injury and drama plagued season at the Force last year and many thought he was unlucky not to earn a spot in the Wallabies wider squad. If he can perform in Brisbane and make the Reds No.10 jersey his own, he’ll go a long way to earning a ticket to Tokyo next year as back up for Bernard Foley at the 2019 World Cup.

Joe Powell

Following Tomas Cubelli’s departure, Joe Powell enters 2018 as the Brumbies undisputed first string halfback for the first time. Still just 23, Powell earned two Test caps last season and will look to cement his spot in the Wallabies squad with a strong start to the Super Rugby season. Playing behind a big Brumbies forward pack, Powell will benefit from the experience of Christian Lealiifano outside of him and will provide much of the spark for the Brumbies attack this season.

While Will Genia is the frontrunner for the Wallabies No.9 jersey, Powell will likely battle Waratahs pair Jake Gordon and Nick Phipps for a spot in the matchday 23 and unlike his northern rivals, Powell won’t have to share significant game time with another No.9.

Ned Hanigan

After a breakout Super Rugby season, Coonamble boy Ned Hanigan was thrown in the deep end and named at No.6 for the Wallabies in last year’s June Internationals. The 22-year old copped plenty of unwarranted flack for his performances in those Tests, but the St Joseph’s graduate has a huge amount of upside.

Still growing into his body, Hanigan has spent time at lock and No.6 during the Waratahs preseason and it will be interesting to see where he ends up playing in 2018. For me, his length and work rate make him an ideal candidate to be a long term Wallabies lock, but he’ll need to continue to add aggression to his game to help the Waratahs get over the advantage line this year.

Billy Meakes

After joining half of his Force teammates on the drive across the Nullarbor from Perth to Melbourne, Billy Meakes will be eager to build on a strong debut Super Rugby season. The mature aged rookie, who spent three seasons playing for English Premiership side Gloucester, will first need to play his way into the Rebels starting XV. Reece Hodge and vice captain Tom English will start against the Reds in the midfield, but Meakes would fit comfortably in either spot throughout 2018.

He and Hodge could form a formidable midfield pairing this year that should break the advantage line with ease. If they can do that, it will create plenty of space for the Rebels exciting outside backs and AAMI Park will become a pretty difficult place to visit.

Jed Holloway

Jed Holloway was arguably the Waratahs best forward in the first half of the 2016 season but has struggled to stay injury free and string together consistent performances ever since. The 25-year old was in line to make his Wallabies debut that year, but has since watched a number of younger forwards jump ahead of him into Wallabies calculations, all while he’s been lying on a physio’s bed.

Despite sitting at 195cm and 118kg, Holloway is extremely mobile and quick and while his ability to run in the wider channels is one of his best qualities, he’ll need to find a balance in 2018 between running out wide and working in tight. If he can get that right and stay injury free and on the park, a gold jersey isn’t too far away.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa

Reds recruit Brandon Paenga-Amosa will make a Wallabies squad by the end of 2018. It might sound like a bold prediction for a guy that still hasn’t made his Super Rugby debut, but I genuinely think he’s that good. After signing his first professional contract at the end of last year, the 23-year old hooker quickly made an impression on Brad Thorn and has done enough to earn a starting spot for tomorrow night’s clash against the Rebels.

Paenga-Amosa was arguably the best forward in the Shute Shield last year and will only get better with time in a professional environment. His set piece needs a little work, but if he can get that right, I think he’ll quickly leapfrog a number of other Australian hookers into Wallabies calculations.

Kyle Godwin

Kyle Godwin has been around the Australian rugby scene for quite some time now but has never really fulfilled his potential after making his Super Rugby debut as a 19-year old. The Zimbabwean born utility has had an unfortunate run with injuries over the years but has the size, skill and physicality needed to make a real impact in the Brumbies and potentially even the Wallabies mid field in 2018 and in years to come.

If he can stay fit and build confidence, Godwin could be anything and has the rare ability to play as both a ball running and ball playing centre, something that suits Australian rugby’s style of play perfectly.

Lopeti Timani

At 193 cm and 124kg, Lopeti Timani is one of Australian rugby’s biggest hitters and can provide the brutal physicality that the Rebels and potentially the Wallabies so desperately need. Timani has made nine appearances in the gold jersey, but he still hasn’t set the rugby world on fire as some thought he might. In saying that, Timani’s skill set is quite different to other forwards in Australia and that could be particularly helpful come World Cup time, against a New Zealand or English side looking to fight a war of attrition.

If Timani wants to feature in Japan next year though, he’ll need to start with a strong showing for the new look Rebels this season.