Super Rugby Team of the Season
As Eric Rush once said, “this is just one man’s opinion”. Please add your picks and your favourites in the feedback box below.
15 – Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Let’s start off with a bit of controversy! The youngster started 5 games early in the season and scored 8 tries. Both David Havili and Sevu Reece benefitted from his frustrating foot injury woes mid-season, but this kid will light it up in the Mitre 10 Cup and in 2020. Watch out, as he is an exceptional talent. He had a small cameo in the final and looks like he’s been working on his rig; he looked lean and rangy.
14 – Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
Sevu Reece has been a revelation for the Crusaders, who lost Manasa Mataele in round two and then threw Reece a career lifeline. Many of his 15 tries this season were vanilla finishes, but there were also some wonderful stepping runs inside where he left a trail of defenders grasping at thin air. It was noticeable in the final and the win over the Jaguares that Reece didn’t venture inside to try his stepping skills when deprived of ball. Test rugby will be an interesting challenge but he hasn’t failed at previous steps.
13 – Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)
Played most of his rugby season at 12, but you could easily play him and Kerevi as left and right centres. Even with the emergence of Jack Goodhue and Brayden Ennor, with Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape and Ryan Crotty at second five, ALB’s best chance of starting test matches is at 13. Has great timing of his draw and pass and has worked on his pace, footwork and evasion skills. Kudos to Matias Orlando (Jaguares), who, alongside his centre partners de la Fuente and Moroni, is using a very skilful interplay style to break the line. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks) was a great decision maker for the Sharks.
12 – Samu Kerevi (Reds)
Poor Samu Kerevi had the Taine Randalls this season, with so many losing captain interviews he’d really run out of anything fresh to say by season’s end. Led from the front, but could only carry the team so far. Carry being the operative word, at the end of the regular season Kerevi had 25% more carries than the next best. He is off to Japan for some big pay days, but at 25, you’d think we will see him back in a Reds jersey before the 2023 World Cup. I think he has the potential to be one of THE players of this year’s tournament. Laumape was mercurial, sizzling hot one week and then barely noticeable the next. Good return of 13 tries though.
11 – Semisi Masirewa (Sunwolves)
One of those complete jack in the boxes who doesn’t follow convention whether he is on the wing or at fullback. Is such a tonic in the aerial pingpong era, he averaged over eight metres a carry this Super Rugby season, 11 tries and played with a care-free charm. It will be interesting to see where he pops up next. Speaking of the Sunwolves, Gerhard van den Heever was one of the form wings in the first half of the comp but faded midseason.
10 – Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Stepped up to the kicking tee for the final with a four from four effort, but didn’t feature in a load of playmaking. I wonder if the All Black selectors will throw him into the upcoming Springbok test to take on more in-your-face defences. He was unfazed by the pressure against the Argentinians but certainly didn’t have the time on his hands that we saw in lead up games. He really has been a wizard throughout the season with his ability to unlock defences.
9 – TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)
With the re-selection of Brad Weber, the All Blacks are blessed with three incredible halfbacks with different strengths. TJ Perenara is a ‘boss’ type halfback, happy to mix it up around the fringes and makes some great decisions for his team at the base of the scrum and ruck. Aaron Smith will have to bring his very best to the Rugby Championship party, as Perenara is ready to strike if the Highlander is not on-song.
8 – Kwagga Smith (Lions)
Tough decision between Kwagga Smith and Dan du Preez. The Shark was superb on a consistent basis but Smith always made a radical difference when he is on the field. Seven tries for the ex-7s star, and even he will get over the red-faced moment when he was put on his butt by a Sevu Reece hand-off. Seems like he has signed in Scotland over the period of the World Cup, but with Siya Kolisi out of the next few tests surely Kwagga would be the perfect replacement?
7 – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Impressed all with his developed all-round game at open-side flanker. Was a dominating presence at the breakdown, but his skill and pace with the ball in hand has added a new dimension to New Zealand’s loose forward mix. Also spent time at No 8, especially on attacking scrums. Will be very interesting to see what his role will be in the early tests of the year. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) topped the tackle count in the regular season and was his combative self.
6 – Pablo Matera (Jaguares)
Player of the Match in the final, taking that award on the losing team is the ultimate plaudit for this rawboned 25 year old. Like Savea (who is also 25), Pablo Matera’s all-round game has flourished. We’ve seen some great running in outside channels, attacking kicks off the left foot in the semifinal, and he was one of the few in the final who could release players in space. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) was also a stand out and is a classic tight-loose forward.
5 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
You sense that Scott Barrett has well and truly stepped up into the senior leadership group at the Crusaders during this season. Early on with loads of senior players resting or injured, Barrett took it on himself to spark momentum changes for his team. Whether it was a dominant tackle, a big run (remember the try from halfway against the Chiefs?) or a line out steal, Barrett knows when to step up.
4 – RG Snyman (Bulls)
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) was sensational in the last three weeks of the season as the Crusaders went trophy hunting, but there were a number of candidates who impressed over the whole season. Rory Arnold took the most line outs, Izack Rodda and Tyler Adron were workhorses in teams that found the going hard. Jackson Hemopo was strong and dominated, but RG Snyman was an athlete who impressed at line out time (highest average line out takes per game) and around the field with subtle offloads and startling pace. With Barrett as our top lock pick, Snyman would be the perfect complement for the Crusader.
3 – Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
Allan Alaalatoa is the perfect illustration that it’s not just about your physique in rugby. Of course, Alaalatoa has the 120 kilos of attributes as a tighthead prop, but his top two inches is where he impresses. He is a smart player who gets into great positions in open play, whether it’s to clean out or to defend in the line in general play. His scrummaging relies strongly on technique, and he adds power to the famous rolling maul with a low body position. Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders) did a brilliant job this year and it seems slightly unfair that the southerners have grown him to national contention and he is off to his home town and Hurricanes next year.
2 – Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Folau Fainga (Brumbies) scored more tries, Dane Coles (Hurricanes) appeared for the last couple of games and showed fire, passion and elusive running out wide, but Malcolm Marx had the most complete package. Featured strongly in top carrying and turnovers lists; his leadership in the strong, silent type mould is inspiring.
1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Steven Kitshoff had the extra responsibility of captaincy and it didn’t detract from his core role. Great scrummager and is a hard man to pull down. Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls) had some impressive running stats and was solid at scrum time.
Nadolo – The Documentary:
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments