Best of the best: The top 10 flankers in Super Rugby 2021
As the Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competitions inch closer to kick-off, a panel of RugbyPass writers have taken it upon themselves to rank the best players across New Zealand and Australia in each position.
Some have gone for a statistical approach, while other have trusted their gut, but the end result has yielded a list of the top 10 players per position.
We have already revealed who we believe to be the best fullbacks, wings, midfielders, flyhalves, halfbacks and No.8s throughout Australasia, but now we turn our focus to the flankers.
The writer-by-writer rankings will soon be available on Instagram, but here is the overall rankings that have been calculated as an average of the five scribes’ lists.
1) Sam Cane (Chiefs)
The most consistent performer for the All Blacks year, there are no other flankers in Super Rugby who can boast the stature and reputation that Sam Cane possesses.
Sure, the 29-year-old had a tough season with the Chiefs in 2020, but that didn’t stop him from standing out from his peers, and it’s that rich vein of form he took into the test season as he dominated the tackle count for the All Blacks.
A natural leader who isn’t afraid to say it how it is – just ask All Blacks fans last year – it’s fitting that Cane was unanimously voted the best flanker in the competition by all five of the RugbyPass writers.
2) Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs)
For someone who hasn’t yet won a test cap, being ranked the second-best flanker across Australia and New Zealand is no mean feat.
But that’s exactly where Chiefs tearaway Lachlan Boshier finds himself in this list after an outstanding season where his work at the breakdown for the Hamilton franchise was unparalleled, while his output on either side of the ball was immense.
Many were perplexed that Boshier was overlooked for All Blacks selection last year, as head coach Ian Foster opted for more sizeable athletes, but it may be that the 26-year-old proves too good to miss out again in 2021.
3) Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
A star for the Highlanders in an otherwise underwhelming campaign last season, Shannon Frizell has a stern fight on his hands to retain the No. 6 jersey this year.
The acquisitions of Liam Squire and Kazuki Himeno will be more than enough to keep Frizell on his toes, but if the 27-year-old can rekindle the form that propelled him into the starting side for four of the All Blacks’ last six tests, then his place in the Highlanders starting XV should be assured.
That’s how good Frizell was in last year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa as he charged through defenders at will to establish himself as the Dunedin franchise’s enforcer, a title he will no doubt want to maintain.
4) Akira Ioane (Blues)
The challenge for Akira Ioane this season is to follow up his impressive 2020 campaign, where he finally began to tap into his unrealised potential, and begin to fully blossom into the best version of himself.
We saw plenty of that last year, as the 25-year-old came back from lockdown fit, firing and determined to make a statement.
That he did, both for the Blues and All Blacks, as he improved his work rate, defence and ability at the set piece, all of which complemented his strong attacking game to make him one of New Zealand’s best all-round packages.
5) Liam Wright (Reds)
Handed captaincy duties by Reds head coach Brad Thorn at the age of just 22 indicates how highly-regarded Liam Wright should be.
Leading one of the more youthful yet exciting Queensland squads seen in a long time, the 23-year-old’s talent and potential as a fetcher was not only realised by the Reds, but also by the Wallabies, with Dave Rennie handing him four tests last year.
Unfortunately, Wright will be unavailable for the majority of the Super Rugby AU season due to an ankle injury, but his return will be welcomed upon the kick-off of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman (provided it goes ahead).
6) Cullen Grace (Crusaders)
The youngest player to grace Super Rugby Aotearoa last year, Cullen Grace enjoyed a rapid ascent to prominence in the wake of some barnstorming displays for the Crusaders, both before and after the COVID-19 lockdown.
After starring at lock for the New Zealand U20 side and Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup, it was at blindside flanker where the 21-year-old inflicted his damage on opposition sides up and down the country.
Hard-hitting on defence and a nuisance at the lineout, not even a fractured thumb could deny Grace a place in the All Blacks squad, and if he can continue that kind of work over the coming months, expect him to add to his sole test cap.
7) Dalton Papalii (Blues)
When it comes to talking about All Blacks selection and what New Zealand’s loose forward trio will look like, Dalton Papalii is often a forgotten name when others – Cane, Frizell, Ioane, Ardie Savea, etc – are in the spotlight.
There’s a good case to be made that the 23-year-old should, in fact, be at the forefront of that discussion, and anyone who has seen him get into his work for the Blues can attest to that.
A brute physical force who knows how to throw his weight around – regardless of whether that’s with ball in hand, on defence or at the breakdown – Papalii’s ability exceeds that of his four test caps, and he’ll be sure to prove that this season.
8) Lachlan Swinton (Waratahs)
Perhaps best known for his red card on test debut during the Wallabies’ 24-22 victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane last year, there is plenty more than meets the eye with Lachlan Swinton.
Regarded as a highly-promising loose forward in Australia, the 24-year-old will be tasked with helping spearhead the Waratahs’ upcoming season as the New South Wales franchise’s personnel overhaul continues.
Being so heavily depended on could do wonders for Swinton as he looks to move on from his bittersweet international debut, so don’t be surprised to see the Waratahs perform admirably this year.
9) Liam Squire (Highlanders)
The return of one New Zealand’s most damaging ball-carriers and physical defenders is music to the ears of Highlanders fans, but should leave opposing sides quivering in their boots.
Even more so when Liam Squire considers himself to be mentally and physically refreshed following a brief spell in Japanese club rugby and almost a year off rugby entirely.
Now back in Dunedin for the next two seasons, the 29-year-old wants his place in the All Blacks back – a scary prospect for anyone standing in his way, but one that seems well within reach if replicates the form he conjured up between 2016 and 2018.
10) Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
One of New Zealand’s brightest young prospects in a highly-competitive loose forward selection frame, Du’Plessis Kirifi’s potential and talent was recognised when he was called into the All Blacks squad for last year’s Tri-Nations.
While the 23-year-old didn’t make his test debut, his inclusion in the national set-up indicates he’s on the right track to doing just that.
A behemoth at the breakdown, uncompromising defensively and a strong-minded leader, Kirifi needs another big campaign for the Hurricanes – do that, and a richly-deserved international appearance could well be in the offing.
Honourable mentions
Of those to receive nominations for these rankings but missed out on a place in the top 10, Los Pumas flanker Tomas Lezana, a new recruit at the Western Force, headlined the best of the rest.
Others, such as Crusaders pilferer Tom Christie, new Blues recruit Dillon Hunt, rising Reds star Fraser McReight and Blues fan favourite Tom Robinson, also earned recognition by various writers.
Comments on RugbyPass
1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
1 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
30 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
2 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
30 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
30 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
30 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
30 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
30 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
30 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
5 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
55 Go to comments