Super Rugby Pacific's MVP and the uncapped players pushing for the All Blacks and Wallabies
At the halfway stage of Super Rugby Pacific, the RugbyPass roundtable writers from New Zealand and Australia – Alex McLeod (AM), Jordan King (JK), Nick Turnbull (NT), Ben Smith (BS), Jack O’Rourke (JO) and Tom Vinicombe (TV) – review their pre-season predictions and deliver their verdicts for the remainder of the season.
Who will end the season as Super Rugby Pacific MVP? Has this changed from your pre-season roundtable pick?
AM: Pita Gus Sowakula or Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea are two frontrunners for that accolade on the basis of their efforts in the first half of the season, but it may well be that Beauden Barrett will end the season with the MVP title. He hasn’t played enough to claim that prize just yet, but his influence for the Blues in the few games he has featured in has been immense. You just need to look at his performances against the Chiefs and Crusaders over the last fortnight, as well as his display against the Highlanders before he sustained a concussion, to see how important he is to this Blues side. If they do end up winning Super Rugby Pacific, Barrett will be at the forefront of their success. Funnily enough, that’s in stark contrast to my pre-season pick for MVP, which was Crusaders star and Barrett’s chief All Blacks rival Richie Mo’unga.
JK: As mentioned above, Savea’s form and track record of consistency should see him win the award, but he won’t as a consequence of playing in a losing side. I tipped Richie Mo’unga to claim the MVP gong, even with missing the first couple of weeks, and it’s fair to say that boat has probably sailed. If I had to change my answer with all that I know now, it’d be between Tom Christie and Dalton Papalii. The latter would have a slight edge with being the alpha in his clubhouse, although it’d be silly not to recognise how influential the Crusaders openside has been for them up until the point at which I’m typing this.
NT: I think Tom Christie of the Crusaders has been superb this season and will get the chocolates. His efforts in defence and around the ball have been exceptional in the opening stages of the season. Hard often unseen graft but absolutely invaluable work. As the old wisdom goes, titles are won on the back of defence and Christie brings that like no other. My choice has changed from a three-way split between Michael Hooper, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. But at least I’ve stayed consistent with an open side flanker.
BS: My pre-season pick was Beauden Barrett, who probably hasn’t played enough games to put together the bones of an MVP season. His games against the Chiefs and Crusaders in which the Blues won both adds a lot of weight. If he can continue this down the stretch and into the playoffs he can still put forward a worthy case. I’ll stick with my pick.
JO: I had Tongan Thor tipped as a potential MVP but the form of Ardie Savea has been undeniable so far. He has been a big part of the reason the Hurricanes are sitting where they are now. Nothing short of inspirational for the Canes skipper.
TV: Rieko Ioane still hasn’t quite hit his straps for the Blues and will no doubt go on to play a big role in the latter half of the year, but it might be Stephen Perofeta who will be able to put his hand up at the end of the year as the key cog in the Blues’ success. When you consider how influential Perofeta was for the Blues in the early rounds against New Zealand opposition, it’s those successes that have paved the way for the Blues to make a genuine run at a genuine title for the first time since 2003. With Beauden Barrett back on deck, Perofeta’s usefulness might fade, but that won’t diminish the impact he’s already had on their season so far.
Which uncapped player will be picked for the All Blacks or Wallabies after this season? Has this changed from your pre-season roundtable pick?
AM: Of those I selected in my All Blacks squad based on the first half of Super Rugby Pacific, I included three uncapped players – Pita Gus Sowakula, ex-Wallabies prop Jermaine Ainsley and Crusaders starlet Leicester Fainga’anuku. All three players warrant due consideration from Ian Foster, and it will be interesting to see if any of them make the cut. As for the Wallabies, Nick Frost was one of numerous newbies named in Dave Rennie’s 40-man squad last month, and given Australia’s lack of depth in the second row, it wouldn’t surprise to see him earn his first test cap this year. These picks differ from my pre-season selections, which were comprised of Folau Fakatava and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the All Blacks, as well as Suliasi Vunivalu, Pone Fa’amausili and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco for the Wallabies.
JK: Folau Fakatava was the guy I’d put down initially, and I still think he’s in with a shout, but the position which will have the biggest shake up is looking like it’ll be the front row. So, I’d be buying some Ollie Norris stock in the hope his efforts and potential are rewarded by the national selectors for when the Irish visit in July.
NT: Nick Frost. He was my pre-season pick and he has since been selected in the 40-man Wallabies squad. It’s reported that he has signed a contract with a Japanese club, however it is understood he may now be looking to get out of that contract. The former Crusaders academy player has a serious amount of speed for a big man and that could give the Wallabies an edge. Who doesn’t love a big man who can motor?
BS: The bolter for the All Blacks should be Leicester Fainga’anuku after dynamic form on both the left wing and at centre. Another one out of left field could be Cortez Ratima. The All Blacks halfback stocks are aging and there needs to be some more youth in the position group. Aaron Smith will be 35 years old next year, TJ Perenara will be 31, Finlay Christie will be 28. Folau Fakatava won’t be capped unless dispensation is granted under the new residency eligibility laws. Ratima has been impressive and has the youthful zip the others don’t. He is worth blooding to see what he can do at the next level.
JO: Suliasi Vunivalu has returned from injury to take his place on the wing for the Queensland Reds and he is an excitement machine. If he can stay fit, we could see him in Wallabies colours for the July test series against England. A bolter that has emerged during the season is his fellow Queensland teammate Jock Campbell. The Wallabies are still searching for a long-term option at fullback and Campbell was included the Wallabies first squad earlier in the year.
TV: Leicester Fainga’anuku still looks destined for the big leagues and while he’s perhaps not been quite as impressive this year and in 2021, he’s still been one of the top players in the competition, whether in the centres or on the wing. Zarn Sullivan, meanwhile, might still be a couple of seasons away from wearing the silver fern. The other big mover in NZ is tighthead prop Fletcher Newell, who could help breathe some fresh air in the All Blacks’ front row stocks.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments