Alex Payne wonders how Danny Cipriani will rate alongside some high-quality fly halves in Super 15.
Cipriani faces one of the biggest tests of his career, says Alex
There has been much hyperbole already written about Danny Cipriani's move to Melbourne for next season's Super 15.
Whether you're with or against him, the success of the decision will obviously be determined by his performances on the field.
Many observers have labelled the Southern hemisphere tournament as ideal for his game, but the young Englishman will also face the biggest tests of his career.
Reputation
Putting aside the antagonistic effects of being an Englishman down under, with a reputation to motivate even the most docile of opponents, Cipriani will find himself up against the three best fly halves in the world.
He has already mentioned his excitement at the prospect of playing against Dan Carter and Matt Giteau, while all South Africans would now bracket last summer's Lions slayer Morne Steyn alongside his Australasian counterparts.
But there also appears to be a new generation of fly halves emerging in the competition - all of whom will be desperate to outshine the Rebel.
As Carter found out in Round two, Super Rugby is no respecter of reputation. The All Black was given a torrid afternoon by Quade Cooper who, having put aside his off-season problems with the law, is establishing himself as a key component of the revived Reds.
Fellow international Berwick Barnes continues to mix between 10 and 12 for the Waratahs, but he has shown a calm class to contradict the strut of the Queenslander.
While the Western Force look like they'll struggle over this campaign their one highlight has been another Wallaby, play maker James O'Connor, who has now been handed the fly half spot. Incredibly, this is the 19-year-old's third season of Super Rugby.
Physicality
All Black head coach Graham Henry will be hugely encouraged by the performances of the young pivots in New Zealand.
Michael Hobbs at the Highlanders is this season's leading try-scorer with four in two-and-a-half-games (all the more impressive in a struggling side) and he seems to bring a great slab of physicality to ten, in the mould of ex-Springbok Henry Honiball.
Just ask All Black and Crusaders lock Isaac Ross, whose summer in the gym seems fruitless after he was steamrollered by Hobbs' for a try in round one.
In contrast to the strength of the Highlander, Aaron Cruden has demonstrated slickness and guile off the bench for the Hurricanes. There are great wraps in New Zealand for last year's IRB Junior player of the year, and regular game time next season could see him force his way into the New Zealand World Cup squad.
Elsewhere Stephen Brett, once labelled by the great Zinzan Brooke as Carter's successor, has moved north from Canterbury to Auckland to escape the shadow of the All Black 10.
Though Brett can produce both the sublime and the ridiculous, there is no disputing his natural talent and he is another rising star.
Pecking order
And what of the others? The Chiefs' Stephen Donald and Ruan Piennar of the Sharks are the national deputies to Carter and Steyn respectively, which doesn't make them bad players.
Stormer Peter Grant has also played for the Springboks, and is another with understanding and experience.
Naas Olivier at the Cheetahs is a young man with a bright future, who has also proved he can do it the hard way, driving the Griquas from perennial strugglers into challengers during last year's Currie Cup.
Injury has robbed the Sharks of their marquee signing, the sublime Juan Martin Hernandez, but every rugby lover would love to see him back in the competition next season.
There are also growing rumours that World Cup winner Butch James may be on his way back to South Africa in time for next season's tournament, though Bath remain convinced he's going nowhere.
It is quite some selection of tens. Idle Monday wonderings have me pondering - if they were all English how many would be above Cipriani in the pecking order at the moment? Or, put another way, how many wouldn't?
There is no doubt the Wasp is frustrated and disenchanted with the game, and he needs a new challenge to reignite his undoubted ability. The Super 15 will certainly provide just that, but let's hope it is the making and not the breaking of him.
