The five best performers from the final round of Super Rugby Aotearoa
COVID-19 is back in New Zealand, the Blues and Crusaders weren’t allowed to play their final match of the campaign and crowds weren’t allowed to attend the one game that did get the green light to go ahead this weekend.
That still didn’t stop Super Rugby Aotearoa going out with a bang as the Highlanders and Hurricanes played out a entertaining, high-octane battle in an empty Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
In proved to be the final match of a generally exceptional 10-week competition, the Highlanders were spurred on by co-captains Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon’s 150th and 100th respective Super Rugby appearances to churn out a 38-21 victory.
Even without any fans in the stands, both sides put out a compelling display of running rugby, a fitting sign-off from the competition given how the five-team tournament has played out since it kicked off in June.
With that in mind, here are the five best performers in the final round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
If there is anything to take away from the Highlanders’ Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign, it’s that Aaron Smith remains one of the best halfbacks on the planet, if not the best of them all.
Some may say that title belongs to Springboks star Faf de Klerk, but it would be nigh on impossible to find any other halfback in the world who has performed at such a consistently high level for such a prolonged period of time.
Ever since he debuted for the Highlanders back in 2011, Smith’s sublime standards have rarely dipped, and Saturday’s clash was further evidence of that in what’s been a sensational season in the Kiwi domestic league.
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The variety of passes he made throughout the match were key to the Highlanders’ chances of success, while his leadership shone as he conducted his side’s attacking rhythm.
Finished the game with 47 running metres, one defender beaten, four clean breaks, an offload, a turnover won and a try assist to cap off a good display in his 150th outing for his beloved franchise.
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes)
For a third straight week, young midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen has starred in the Hurricanes backline to thrust himself further into the All Blacks reckoning.
The presence of those such as Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor might restrict the 22-year-old’s chance of national honours, but he’s making himself hard to ignore for Ian Foster and his fellow selectors.
Standing at 1.87m and 102kg, Umaga-Jensen possesses a big physical frame, but his point of difference lies in the deft skill set he has with ball in hand.
Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon admits it was a weird feeling playing his 100th #SuperRugby game in front of an empty Forsyth Barr Stadium. #HIGvHUR https://t.co/9pXrWNEp5Y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 16, 2020
Both aspects of his game were on show in Dunedin, as he busted through the line three times and beat three defenders to run for 63 metres, scoring a try and setting up another in doing so.
Regardless of whether he makes the cut for Foster’s 35-man squad in two weeks’ time, the development Umaga-Jensen has shown in Super Rugby Aotearoa makes him an exciting prospect for the future.
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
Speaking of the All Blacks, a mammoth selection headache looms for Foster within his outside back cohort given Jordie Barrett’s coming-of-age campaign.
Previously renowned as a prodigious talent that perhaps lacked the maturity or composure to establish himself as an All Blacks starter and a franchise player at the Hurricanes, the 23-year-old has altered those perceptions this season.
His improved decision-making and coolness under pressure have been hallmarks of the Hurricanes’ change in fortunes since he returned from injury against the Chiefs in round three.
Barrett couldn’t extend his side’s winning run to six straight matches, but his influence on the match was in no way diminished as he ran for a match-high 122 metres, beat six defenders, broke the line three times, threw three offloads and scored six points.
With figures like those commonplace on Barrett’s stat sheet, he’s bound to give Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan and older brother Beauden a tightly-contested run for the All Blacks’ No. 15 jersey.
Jamie Booth (Hurricanes)
Given the unenviable task of stepping up in place of star halfback TJ Perenara, Jamie Booth delivered a spellbinding display of running rugby in the Hurricanes’ No. 9 jersey.
Wreaking havoc in the first half, the plucky ex-Highlanders scrumhalf caused his former side plenty of issues as he splintered their defensive line twice with some searing breaks down the left edge.
The 25-year-old showed a clean pair of heels and some tidy footwork to play a key role in his side’s first try inside the opening five minutes before breaking away to score himself 25 minutes later.
The win may not have fallen the way of the Hurricanes but this man did everything within his power to get the Canes over the line.
Could Jamie Booth now be an option for an #AllBlacks jersey later this year? #SuperRugbyAotearoa #HIGvHURhttps://t.co/R9avgFu7uZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 15, 2020
Hurricanes fans could be at pains, then, to understand why Booth was taken from the field midway through the second half just as the Highlanders were pulling away considering his influence on the first half.
Still, with 91 running metres, two defenders beaten, three clean breaks, an offload, 13 tackles from 15 attempts and a try to his name, there’s plenty to admire about the diminutive Manawatu product’s performance.
Michael Collins (Highlanders)
One of the more underrated players in New Zealand, the Highlanders seemed to have found a spot for Michael Collins in their midfield in the closing stages of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
It’s there, in his preferred position, where the experienced 27-year-old flourished as his communication, organisational skills and distribution were prominent in a dangerous Highlanders attack.
Those aspects of Collins’ game were again vital to the Highlanders’ competitiveness, making it unsurprising to see him cash in on his second try in as many weeks as he finished off a lovely flowing move.
Few people expected the Highlanders to enjoy much success in #SuperRugbyAotearoa, but a post-lockdown resurgence saw Aaron Mauger's side defy expectations. #HIGvHUR https://t.co/DGekct90f2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 16, 2020
He added a further 68 running metres, four clean breaks, eight defenders beaten (both of which were match-high figures), three offloads and a 100 percent tackle success rate to complete a polished performance.
With his contract set to expire at the end of this season, Collins will no doubt be surveying his options, but with efforts like this in weeks gone by, you can expect the Highlanders to try and persuade him to stay in Dunedin beyond this year.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments