The Super Rugby Exodus XV - The best players leaving Super Rugby in one team
Much has been made of the impending exodus from southern hemisphere that is set to ensue following this year’s World Cup in Japan.
The riches of British, European and Japanese clubs has made it difficult for some of the best players from across New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina to turn down contracts that would significantly inflate their incomes.
As a result, a big influx of All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas are set to ply their trade in the northern hemisphere from 2020 onwards, thus ending their Super Rugby careers in doing so.
While there will inevitably be plenty more players who will announce their departures abroad in the coming weeks and months, here is a XV composed entirely of players making the shift from Super Rugby to either the Premiership in England, Top 14 in France, Pro14 in Europe, or Top League in Japan.
1 – Jeff Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes to Wasps)
After failing to register himself as a mainstay in Steve Hansen’s national set-up sine making his test debut against Japan six years ago, the one-test All Blacks prop has opted to cash in on his talents and join fellow Kiwis Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa and Jimmy Gopperth at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
2 – Akker van der Merwe (Sharks to Sale)
It’s a travesty that Akker van der Merwe has only three test caps to his name. Given his blockbusting ball-running ability and physicality, one could argue that the man known as ‘The Warthog’ has been the victim of both South Africa’s racial quota system and Malcom Marx’s exceptional talents, but nevertheless, the 27-year-old will be trading the Sharks of Durban for the Sharks of Sale come the end of the season.
3 – Owen Franks (Crusaders to Northampton)
A 106-test veteran, a two-time World Cup-winner, a dual Super Rugby champion, and with his sights set on adding a third medal from each of those tournaments to his trophy cabinet, nobody can fault Owen Franks for wanting to sign off from rugby with a big pay cheque from the Saints as he rounds off an all-Premiership front row.
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers to Toulon)
One of the most fearsome and bruising forwards in Super Rugby, most players throughout the rest of the competition will be quietly happy that Eben Etzebeth is leaving for Toulon. However, the 75-test Springbok will be missed for all the playing quality and leadership value that he provides the Stormers with, and he will leave a big hole in Robbie Fleck’s squad.
5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders to Panasonic Wild Knights)
He may have signed a four-year deal which will keep him in New Zealand until the 2023 World Cup, but Sam Whitelock won’t be playing in Super Rugby next year due to a clause in his new contract which has allowed him to take up a short-term sabbatical with Top League club Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.
6 – Liam Squire (Highlanders to NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes)
Yet to take to the field for the Highlanders this year due to hip and knee injuries, as well as personal family issues, the chance of Liam Squire featuring in Super Rugby before leaving for Top League side NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes next year appears slim. That has left his World Cup selection hopes with the All Blacks in jeopardy, but the 23-test loose forward should be remembered for his barnstorming runs and brutal defence which has earned him the status of an enforcer for both the Highlanders and All Blacks.
7 – Pablo Matera (Jaguares to Stade Francais)
With 58 tests to his name and captain of his country, the influence that Argentine flanker Pablo Matera casts upon both the Jaguares and Pumas cannot be understated. He has impressed time and time again in Super Rugby this season, and he will be vital to Argentina’s chances at this year’s World Cup. Still only 25-years-old, Matera has a lot of rugby left in him, so the prospect of him returning from Stade Français in Paris to Argentina to play club rugby shouldn’t be ruled out. Admittedly a blindside flanker, Matera makes this side as an openside due to both his stature within the southern hemisphere and the presence of Squire at blindside.
8 – Kieran Read (Crusaders to Toyota Verblitz)
As the most experienced player within both the Crusaders and All Blacks, it’s going to take a long time to regather the wisdom attained by Kieran Read since his debut with the franchise in 2007. That task is only going to get harder with the exits of teammates Franks and Whitelock, but with 118 tests, two World Cup titles and three Super Rugby crowns under his belt, the All Blacks captain’s final season in New Zealand before jetting off to Toyota is one that should be savoured.
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9 – Nick Phipps (Waratahs to London Irish)
London Irish’s acquisition of Nick Phipps is one of many big name recruits made by the recently-promoted Reading-based club. The 30-year-old halfback will bring with him 71 tests worth of experience with the Wallabies, as well as a Super Rugby title won with the Waratahs in 2014, making him an ideal candidate to help keep The Exiles afloat in the Premiership next season.
10 – Handré Pollard (Bulls to Montpellier)
Years of underwhelming campaigns at the Bulls seems to have finally got the better of Handré Pollard, who has ‘agreed in principle’ to join Montpellier in the Top 14 after the World Cup. The three-time Super Rugby champions haven’t been able to replicate their title-winning form since Pollard debuted for them in 2013, although they are edging their South African rivals at the top of their conference. As for Pollard, he will remain a key cog in the make-up of national side, but Springboks fans must be disappointed that the 25-year-old hasn’t extended his stay in the Republic.
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11 – Waisake Naholo (Highlanders to London Irish)
Another one of London Irish’s big signings ahead of their return to the Premiership, the capture of Waisake Naholo is sure to send the home fans at Madejski Stadium into raptures next year. While he has been both severely out of form and injured for the Highlanders this year, he remains the club’s all-time leading try scorer with 40 tries from 57 outings. The pace and power that allows Naholo to possess such lethal finishing has been on display at times throughout his 26 tests for the All Blacks, and London Irish fans will be hoping he can produce those sorts of performances for them in 2020.
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12 – Samu Kerevi (Reds to Suntory Sungoliath)
By far the best player for the Reds this season, Samu Kerevi is set to leave a gaping hole in Brad Thorn’s squad next year onwards after signing with Suntory Sungoliath in the Top League. He will join fellow Wallabies Sean McMahon and Matt Giteau at the club, and the trio will hope to combine as Suntory look to secure their sixth national title, and with Kerevi in the midfield, it should be no surprise to anyone if they manage to achieve just that.
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13 – Jesse Kriel (Bulls to Canon Eagles)
Following Pollard out the door of the Bulls, Jesse Kriel is set to embark on a new club career with the Canon Eagles in the Top League. While it leaves the Bulls extremely thin on options to call experience upon, the 40-test Springbok midfielder should thrive in Japan alongside new South African teammates Rynier Bernardo, Jan de Klerk, and Fred Zeilinga.
14 – Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes to Toulon)
The star of the 2015 World Cup, Nehe Milner-Skudder has been dogged by a raft of injuries that have prevented him from rekindling the sort of form that won him World Breakthrough Player of the Year. Since scoring eight tries in his first eight tests four years ago, the 28-year-old has only managed five appearances for the All Blacks in the following three seasons, so it’s understandable why he’s cashing in at Toulon before his body gives up on him.
15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders to Pau)
News of Ben Smith signing for Top 14 side Pau was sad to hear for all rugby fans across New Zealand because of his World Cup-winning experience and the value he brings to the All Blacks, but it was particularly painful to hear for Highlanders fans. The 76-test veteran, who turns 33 next week, is the franchise’s most-capped player ever and co-captained his hometown side to their maiden and solitary Super Rugby crown in 2015. While a big payday in France is well-deserved, it will be sad to see Smith leave.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
After their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
3 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
2 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
29 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
3 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
3 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to comments