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Picking the Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team of the Month
Only two Australian players have been voted into a fan-selected Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team one month after the competition kicked-off.
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Home to the best players on offer in New Zealand, Australia and the wider Pacific region, the RugbyPass Super Rugby Dream Team offers fans the chance to have their say as to who the best players in the competition are on a week-by-week basis.
Exactly one month on from the season-opening clash between the Waratahs and Fijian Drua in Sydney, fans have taken to the polls to vote for who they believe to be the best player in each position across every round.
Each round has its own Dream Team, made up of players who won the most votes in their respective positions based on their performances in that round.
Votes accumulate over the course of the season to create an overall Dream Team, a composite team comprised of the highest-voted players from throughout the year.
After four rounds and 21 matches of action, only two Wallabies, and a Los Pumas star, have bucked the trend of Kiwi dominance in the overall RugbyPass Super Rugby Dream Team, which currently features 12 New Zealanders.
This is in spite of the Australian dominance on the Super Rugby Pacific table, which has the Brumbies and Reds – both of whom are unbeaten – in first and second place, while the Waratahs sit in fourth spot behind the Crusaders.
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However, Reds duo Taniela Tupou and James O’Connor are the sole Australian representatives in the RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team after having won the most votes at tighthead prop and first-five, respectively.
O’Connor has found himself in fine form for the Queenslanders so far this season, having starred in their recent victories over the Melbourne Rebels, Waratahs, Western Force and Fijian Drua.
As such, the 61-test veteran has earned himself the No 10 jersey in the RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team after the opening month of action, two votes clear of Chiefs pivot Josh Ioane.
Tupou, meanwhile, has only started in two matches this year, and came off the bench against the Force, after succumbing to a back injury prior to his side’s victory over the Waratahs three weeks ago.
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Nevertheless, the barnstorming prop has still managed to play his way into the RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team, where he sits more than 130 votes clear of the second-placed Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax in the No 3 jersey.
O’Connor and Tupou aren’t the only non-New Zealanders in the team, as Los Pumas star Pablo Matera, who joined the Crusaders this season, has earned selection at blindside flanker ahead of the second-placed Highlanders star Shannon Frizell.
The remainder of the team, though, is made up of Kiwis, almost all of whom are All Blacks.
Accompanying Tupou in the front row is Crusaders loosehead prop Joe Moody and Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, while Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick partner in the second row.
Chiefs veteran Sam Cane and Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea join Matera in the loose forwards, while Highlanders skipper Aaron Smith pair up with O’Connor in the halves.
The rest of the backline features Blues star Rieko Ioane at centre, and Crusaders duo Sevu Reece and Will Jordan on the right wing and at fullback, respectively.
The only two uncapped test players who have been voted into the RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team at present are Blues second-five Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku.
The door remains open for other players to be voted into the RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team over the coming weeks, so register now to have your say and be in with a chance to win a guest appearance on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
Current Overall RugbyPass Super Rugby Pacific Dream Team
1. Joe Moody (Crusaders)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs)
3. Taniela Tupou (Reds)
4. Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
5. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
6. Pablo Matera (Crusaders)
7. Sam Cane (Chiefs)
8. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
10. James O’Connor (Reds)
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues)
13. Rieko Ioane (Blues)
14. Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
15. Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Comments on RugbyPass
After missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
10 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
10 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
10 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
10 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
10 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to comments