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Super Rugby Pacific team of the week for round one
The opening round of Super Rugby Pacific is in the books, and what a round it was.
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Defending champions the Crusaders were sensationally overthrown by the Chiefs in front of their home fans, losing 31-10 at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
While the opening match of the new season will forever be remembered is history due to its significance and surprise, that clash was only a taste of what was to come.
New Zealand sides the Blues and Hurricanes also recorded big wins, while the Brumbies and Force started their campaign with a victory.
As for the game of the round, it’s hard to look pass the titanic clash between Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium. The match simply had everything.
Following every round of Super Rugby Pacific this season, RugbyPass will name its Team of the Week. Here’s the TOTW for Round One.
15. Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)
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Fresh of the All Blacks XV end of year tour, Stevenson carried his game-breaking form into the opening round clash against the Crusaders.
Donning the No 15 jersey, the Chiefs fullback was at his elusive best as he clocked up 152 running metres on 14 carries. His three clean breaks were a game high, as well as his nine defenders beaten.
14. Mark Telea (Blues)
The Blues right wing put in an all-time great Super Rugby performance in Dunedin with astronomical numbers. He cracked the double century for running metres, scored two tries, had two try assists, had four line breaks and beat 13 defenders.
Mark Telea gets the Blues first for 2023 👏
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Telea is the easiest selection for team of the week.
13. Iosefo Masi (Fijian Drua)
The Drua centre beats out Rieko Ioane, Alex Nankivell and Billy Proctor for a place in the Team of the Week.
Masi was influential in the side’s win over Moana Pasifika, he scored two tries off strike plays with good support line running, finished with seven carries for 50m, and beat seven defenders.
12. Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
The Hurricanes converted No 12 was rock solid in Townsville with 10 tackles from 10 attempts whilst finding three offloads from his 12 carries. He clattered into the Reds line while looking for options, pulling out the cross field kick when available and made some dominate tackles, one of which put Reds blindside Seru Uru in reverse.
The youngest Barrett brother finished with a personal tally of 15 points off the tee in the win over the Reds.
11. Max Jorgensen (Waratahs)
The next big thing out of Australian rugby announced himself to the world in a big way on Friday evening, as he scored two tries against fierce rivals the Brumbies.
Jorgensen sent the home crowd into a frenzy – including famous father Peter Jorgensen – as the teenager beat tackle attempts from Wallabies Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini.
The rising star added to his try-scoring tally 10 minutes into the second-half, and capped was otherwise a scintillating debut in sky blue. Jorgensen ran for 90 metres on the night, and had beaten three defenders and made four line breaks.
While he didn’t quite make the Team of the Week, Brumbies No. 11 Corey Toole deserves an honourable mention for his try-scoring Super Rugby debut.
10. Beauden Barrett (Blues)
Despite not having a pre-season, the Blues No 10 ran the Blues backline with comfort as they racked up eight tries over the Highlanders.
Barrett bagged a walk-in try after picking up a late offload from Mark Telea whilst assisting on another and finished with 25 points.
9. Brad Weber (Chiefs)
The Chiefs No 9 ran the forwards around and over the Crusaders as the visitors stunned with a 31-10 upset. Whilst understudy Cortez Ratima provided the knock-out blow, Weber provided the platform for two Chiefs’ tries.
Weber had a half break before Retallick’s try in the first half, while his deft short ball provided for Sam Cane to crash over in the second.
The Chiefs co-captain was brilliant, and did just enough to pip Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan in the Team of the Week race.
Lonergan, who started ahead of centurion Nic White, scored a try and had a try assist – finishing the opening round thriller with 16 points to his name.
1. Abraham Pole (Moana Pasifika)
One of the games of the round, if not the game of the round, was Moana Pasifika versus Fijian Drua in Auckland. While Moana didn’t win the clash, a number of their players stood out.
Valiant in defeat, the hosts went on to lose by two in a thriller. But the Pasifika forward pack deserves some praise.
The Waratahs have suffered a major blow while Eddie Jones will be sweating over his return. https://t.co/N1dhnpEM3K
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2023
Prop Abraham Pole was a menace at the set-piece, and also scored two tries to open the season – including his first in just the second minute. Pole also made eight tackles, and only missed one attempt.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs)
Following the opening round of the new season, one of the most contentions positions in the first Team of the Week is hooker.
Tevita Ikanivere and Tom Horton both scored two tries for their teams, while Asafa Aumua was at his rampaging best off the bench for the Hurricanes.
But in review, Chiefs star Samisoni Taukei’aho was the standout performer in the No. 2 shirt this week.
At half-time, Taukei’aho was the best player for the Chiefs against the Crusaders, as he led the way in both attack and defence. The All Blacks carried this form into the second-half, as he finished with 14 carries and 12 tackles.
3. Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
The Brumbies’ set-piece went toe-to-toe with the Waratahs on Friday evening, as the fierce traded blows in the battle for ascendancy.
But Allan Alaalatoa was still able to do the Brumbies jersey justice throughout out in the middle, having made his mark on the defensive side of the ball.
Alaalatoa, who captained the Wallabies against Italy last year, made the most tackles of any Brumbies player on the night with 11.
4. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
Most Super Rugby fans would agree that Brodie Retallick was the best player on the park at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium on Friday.
In fact, the Test veteran might’ve been the best player from Round One.
Not only did Retallick cross for a crucial try during the first-half, but showcased his leadership and Rugby IQ throughout the win. The second-rower made 13 tackles against the Crusaders, and ran the ball eight times.
While the Crusaders were beaten by a comprehensive 21-point margin, captain Scott Barrett was still among the best players on the field. Barrett was everywhere he needed to be, and certainly held his own.
5. Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs)
Rising star Tupou Vaa’i somewhat came of age during the Chiefs’ big win, as he played a pivotal role in the downfall of the Crusaders’ all-star forward pack.
Vaai’i was the go-to player for Taukei’aho at the set-piece, and the second-rower also made an impression the breakdown. Overall, the All Black finished with nine tackles and 35 running metres.
6. Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
After re-signing with Rugby Australia through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, world-class backrower Rob Valetini repaid the faith shown in him.
With Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in the crowd, Valetini shot out of the gates in red-hot form – with an especially impressive first-half seeing him standout.
Valetini ran the ball 10 times for 21 metres, beat three defenders, and also made nine tackles. The Brumbies, and Wallabies for that matter, just wouldn’t be the same without him.
7. Dalton Papali’i (Blues)
After last year’s end-of-season tour with the All Blacks, New Zealand rugby fans are undoubtedly eager to see what Dalton Papali’i can do for the Blues ahead of this year’s World Cup.
The speculation and discussion surrounding his role in the national team, and whether the flanker should replace captain Sam Cane, has been consistent for quite some time now.
Veteran Cane made a statement on Friday evening, as he scored a try during the Chiefs’ big-win. If it wasn’t already, the All Blacks skipper had the advantage.
Super Rugby’s raft introduction of rule changes will be of huge benefit to some players. https://t.co/YQZyrxIrr7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2023
But Papali’i is a man on a mission. Leading by example, the Blues flanker would’ve caught the attention of All Blacks selectors with his stunning display on Saturday.
Papali’i made 19 tackles against the Highlanders, and also crossed for a try late in the piece. Simply world-class.
8. Jonah Mau’u (Moana Pasifika)
There were quite a few No. Eights who stood out this week, but Moana Pasifika loosie Jonah Mau’u gets the nod in the first Team of the Week.
Mau’u ran the ball 12 times for 73 metres, beat four defenders, and also made 13 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments