Our Ridiculously Early Super Rugby Form 15 Rankings
A form XV? But the season hasn’t even started yet! We know, and that’s why this list is A. Absolutely nuts, and B. Completely argument proof. Perfect!
Here we take a look at all 18 rosters and pick our Super Rugby starting team for the launch of the 2016 competition. Think we’ve got it wrong? All good with us – be sure to name your form XV and get in touch. Let the fun and games begin!
15
There is a temptation to put Ben Smith in here without even thinking about it. Last year the man known as ‘The Oracle’ led his Super Rugby side to grand final glory simply through the power of his mind. Smith is the Vulcan of rugby – an emotionless, gloriously logical player who makes no mistakes. What a guy to have at the back!
Then again, the Waratahs have Israel Folau, a man whose true value can be measured by how much he was missed by the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup final. A fully fit Israel Folau is a very different proposition: twice winner of the John Eales medal, a Super Rugby Champion in 2014, and a one-man stat attack.
Then there’s Willie le Roux, not to be confused with Pepe le Pew.
It’s a close call, but on sheer number production, our fullback spot goes to Israel Folau
14
This is the ultimate apples and oranges comparison. How to choose between Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo. Okay, there are some similarities: both made their All Blacks debut in 2015 and both played in last year’s Super Rugby final. But that’s about where the similarities end.
Milner-Skudder has the best step in the game, a combination of River Dance and backyard arrogance that leaves most opponents grasping at air about three minutes after he’s run past them. Naholo once made turned Cheslin Kolbe into swiss cheese and prefers to step right over people, instead of around them.
This is hell, but we’re gonna plump for evasiveness on the right wing and give the spot to Nehe Milner-Skudder
13
In recent seasons you could pretty much narrow this down to a two-horse race between Conrad Smith and Jean de Villiers, but the 2016 season ushers in a brand new era, and with it some new contenders for the centre spot.
Damien de Allende has gone from a Stormers outsider to a dead set lock in the thick of the Springbok midfield and all signs point to him kicking on in 2016 as the premier South African centre. de Allende has what all the great centres have – an uncanny acceleration and some vice-like defensive nous.
Back at the Blues, however, Rene Ranger is back. Ranger has knocked at least half of the backs in Super Rugby into next week. Former Rebel James O’Connor once got hammered so badly trying to tackle Ranger that he was forced to leave the field with an acute case of embarrassment.
Making Ranger even more dangerous is the fact he can easily play 12 or on the wing. He’s a triple threat.
Damn it, he’s in. Our centre is Rene Ranger
12
No Ma’a. Denied.
We have been forced to cast the net far and wide here, and that net has unfortunately hauled in a whole lot of by-catch.
Down at the Crusaders the formidably straight-laced Ryan Crotty may well be the kind of player to get the best out of a bunch of untested first fives. He will never be the biggest ball carrier, but he has all the organisational nous the position demands. He may have spent much of his time one out, but we like him at 12.
Meanwhile, over in Brisbane, coach Richard Graham is trying to avoid being sacked before the season even starts, so surely his game plan involves getting the ball to Samu Kerevi as much as possible. Fijian-born Kerevi led the side last year in linebreaks, tackle busts and tries. He is about the best thing going at the Reds.
We like him too, and our 12 is Samu Kerevi
11
Tickets please! The Bus beats all comers here. Our left wing is Julian Savea
10
If you want to become a millionaire, trademark the phrase, “you can’t win Super Rugby without a first five”. This line has now been repeated so often it is now just taken as gospel, and who are we to argue with gospel?
So where do we start? What about in South Africa, with the Bulls and Handre Pollard. The Bulls’ general came to New Zealand as a South African under-20 and became a sensation. Just nine tests into his Springbok career, he’s already run more metres than Morne Steyn did in 60 tests. We like that fact. We don’t like the fact his knee virtually exploded in a freak training accident and he’s out for the entire Super Rugby season.
In Australia the frontrunner will once again be Bernard Foley. The Waratahs’ star is the most underestimated first five in world rugby, which is strange, really, as he is an outstanding runner and a goal kicking savant. Maybe it’s the name. Yep, definitely the name.
With Dan Carter’s retirement, New Zealand now has a first five vacuum, and nature has nothing on rugby fans when it comes to abhorring a vacuum. There are three big names chasing the number one spot in the All Blacks pecking order: Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett, and the returning Aaron Cruden. That’s going to be an entertaining race, but we’re going to go out on a limb here, and give the nod, name notwithstanding, to Bernard Foley
9
Aaron Smith
Anyone want to argue? No? Didn’t think so.
8
Why did you leave Duane Vermuelen? Come back! Ah well, that leaves David Pocock or Kieran Read*, which is an impossible choice. One saves trees and stands up for all sorts of people who can’t fight for themselves. The other played the Rugby World Cup final with a high ankle sprain and captains the Crusaders.
That last bit was the kicker.
Our number 8 is David Pocock
*We do also have a massive soft spot for Lions captain Warren Whiteley
7
The world’s open side flankers are still rejoicing the retirement of Richie McCaw, which is fair enough. The GOAT didn’t always have it his way in Super Rugby but he’s still the GOAT and no one enjoyed playing him.
That leaves the door wide open for the title of world’s best number 7, and there is little doubt that spot this year will be filled by someone playing Super Rugby.
With Pocock slotting in at 8, the natural Australian choice is Michael Hooper, who plays the game like his boots are on fire and he’s covered in a swarm of bees. He doesn’t run so much as panic, and we appreciate his madness. Hooper has a bottomless gas tank, which is a prerequisite for the role, and he carries the ball a lot. He’s almost over-used, but he doesn’t complain.
At the Chiefs, the greatest rugby apprenticeship in history is over and Sam Cane is ready to put his big boy boots on. Cane has been well-managed through his formative years at the Chiefs and in the All Blacks, but he is a lone ranger now and knows it. The possible future All Blacks captain is relentless, but in a very understated way.
We like understated. Our openside spot goes to Sam Cane.
6
Despite the fact the South Africans play their sixes like sevens, we’re going on number alone here. This is a gritty selection, one we have agonised over for the sole reason that sixes are tough bastards and we didn’t want to piss anyone off.
Here is a list of people we are about to piss off: Marcel Coetzee, Jerome Kaino, Elliot Dixon, Brad Shields, Scott Fardy, Blade Thompson, Steven Luatua, Jacques Vermulen, and Jean Deysel.
That said, the man we have picked once completely popped a rib playing against the All Blacks in Hamilton and walked off the field laughing about the tennis-ball sized lump protruding from his chest. Laughing! Good God.
Our pick for the six is one hell of a veteran. It is Schalk Burger
5 and 4
We were tempted to pick a locking duo here. Think Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit at the Stormers, or Dean Mumm and Will Skelton at the Waratahs.
We kinda have picked a locking duo, though they will be arch enemies come kick off. We refer of course to the All Blacks combination that did not lose a single line out at the Rugby World Cup.
Our second row is Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
3
Tighthead prop is just the worst. Why would you ever want to do that to yourself? It takes a very special human being to choose this position: someone who hates himself and his life, and is determined to spend his miserable existence in a pitched battle with men who are trained to bend him in half while trying to rip his head off.
Don’t tell anyone, but we’re just going to put Charlie Faumuina in here and hope the rest don’t notice.
2
Hookers are interesting people. Rid of the real pressure of pushing in the scrum, many have become adept at front row banter. Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn and Bismarck du Plessis were sensational at it.
Dane Coles is not one of those people. Instead he has become adept at running searing lines in midfield and scoring impossible tries. There are many hookers who could have grabbed this spot on strict adherence to tradition – think Adriaan Strauss, Liam Coltman, and Stephen Moore, to name a few.
But to hell with tradition. We want a team of freaks and the freakiest hooker of them all is Dane Coles.
1
For years the Australians have been punished mercilessly by those who believed the nation was bereft of scrummaging ability, which was a little bit harsh, really. And besides, any notion that Australians can’t scrum has been well and truly blown apart by the emergence of Scott Sio.
There are some outstanding loose heads floating about – Wyatt Crockett is some sort of complete mutant for having done this for so long, but we like like the big Brumbies boy here.
Our loosehead spot goes to Scott Sio.
At a glance:
15. Israel Folau
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
13. Rene Ranger
12. Samu Kerevi
11. Julian Savea
10. Bernard Foley
9. Aaron Smith
8. David Pocock
7. Sam Cane
6. Schalk Burger
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Charlie Faumuina
2. Dane Coles
1. Scott Sio
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to comments