Super Rugby Aotearoa Team Of The Tournament

The first competition to hit our screens since the global pandemic cancelled games worldwide, Super Rugby Aotearoa was full value as the Kiwis entertained from the first game to the last!

The Crusaders managed to win the competition but also lost their first home game under the stewardship of Scott Robertson while Warren Gatland's Chiefs remained winless throughout.

The competition also introduced the world to some of the brightest talents coming through the ranks in New Zealand and gave us a glimpse as to who we may see turning out for the All Blacks in the near future.

After an outstanding competition, we have selected our team of the season.

1. Joe Moody - Crusaders

There were to standouts at loosehead prop throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa with the Blues' Alex Hodgman just being pipped by All Blacks and Crusaders' loosehead Joe Moody.

Both players were industrious and effect both in the scrums and around the park.

2. Codie Taylor - Crusaders

The Crusaders' lineout did have the uncharacteristic wobble at times during the competition but so did the other sides.

In the end, Codie Taylor was superb consistently for the Crusaders with ball in hand while also doing all of his core roles as a hooker to guide his side to glory. Dane Coles had flashes of brilliance throughout the competition, as too did Asafo Aumua, but the Hurricanes' lineout was far from perfect. 

Elsewhere, Ash Dixon and Kurt Eklund are extremely unlucky to miss out after consistent performances during the competition. 

3. Ofa Tuungafasi - Blues

The kind of form that will certainly make the All Black selectors stand up and take notice. The Blues pack was excellent throughout the competition and that was largely down to the work Ofa Tuungafasi was doing at tighthead.

If he wasn't flattening a back for running down his channel on defence, he was dominating - or holding his own at least - at scrum time.

While there were a few candidates for the tighthead role, Tuungafasi was the comfortable winner.

4. Patrick Tuipulotu - Blues

With Brodie Retallick in Japan and Scott Barrett injured, Patrick Tuipulotu used Super Rugby Aotearoa to send a very clear message to the new All Black staff on who he thinks deserves a starting All Black jumper.

He lead his side extremely well, was easily one of the busiest forwards in the competition and hardly took a step backwards the entire competition.

5. Sam Whitelock - Crusaders

Steered the ship well upfront commanding the lineout and continually producing quick attacking ball at the rucks.

A workhorse whose graft often goes unnoticed. 

Both Highlanders' locks Jack Whetton and Pari Pari Parkinson also had excellent tournament as too did Chiefs' rookie Naitoa Au Kuoi.

6. Shannon Frizell - Highlanders

The race for the blindside role would have been a lot closer had Cullen Grace's competition not been cut short with him and Shannon Frizell putting in stellar performances during the competition.

Frizell was reminiscent of Jerome Kaino at times and worked tirelessly for the Highlanders in all 8 games.

He scored four tries, made 98 tackles, 74 carries and 300 running metres and five turnovers. 

On form, he strolls into the All Black back row.

Notable mention for Akira Ioane who was superb on the side of the scrum for the Blues.

7. Lachlan Boshier - Chiefs

It took Boshier a few games to get used the new law interpretations at the breakdown but once he did, he was superb.

The 25-year-old also grabbed four tries in his seven games and did just enough to beat Highlander Dillon Hunt to a place in the side.

Hunt is possibly the unluckiest forward not to make our side after a superb season that may thrust him back into the All Black conversation with Dalton Papali'i also starring for the Blues and Du'Plessis Kirifi for the Hurricanes.

8. Marino Mikaele Tu'u - Highlanders

Had injury not cut Hoskins Sotutu's season in half, it may well have been his name at no.8 but the young Highlander gets the nod.

Mikaele Tu'u and Sotutu were both fighting it out for the best young no.8 in New Zealand with Sotutu's injury putting the conversation on pause for now.

Ardie Savea was also excellent on his return from injury but Mikaele Tu'u's bruising hits on attack and defence gets him the nod.

9. Aaron Smith - Highlanders

TJ Perenara ran his All Black partner close while Finlay Christie shone during the latter stages of the competition but there was no scrumhalf consistently better than Aaron Smith.

He rediscovered his running game while is passing and kicking were of a world-class standard - as per usual.

At 31, he is showing no sign of slowing down.

10. Richie Mo'unga - Crusaders

Arguably the form player of the tournament. Excellent throughout and produced match-winning performances almost single-handedly winning some of them.

Beat more defenders, assisted more tries, scored the most points and made the second most offloads and clean breaks. 

11. Caleb Clarke - Blues

Close between the Crusaders' George Bridge and the Blues' breakthrough speedster.

Clarke made you sit up and take notice of every touch of the ball he had and was sensational for the Aucklanders.

12. Ngani Laumape - Hurricanes

A slow start to the season but once he got going he was unplayable. 

Laumape steamrolled the Blues producing a memorable performance and was sublime for the Hurricanes.

An honourable mention for Sio Tomkinson who hardly put a foot wrong for the Highlanders as well as Jack Goodhue who had his ups and downs for the Crusaders.

13. Peter Umaga-Jensen - Hurricanes

Rieko Ioane was solid for the Blues as too was Braydon Ennor for the Crusaders but Peter Umaga-Jensen had a breakout tournament that already was pundits tipping him for higher honours.

He ran superb lines for the Hurricanes and was just as brilliant on defence. Anton Liernert-Brown also had a consistent tournament playing at inside and outside centre.

  

Finally, Micheal Collins was excellent in filling in the midfield for the Highlanders. 

14. Sevu Reece - Crusaders

Another outstanding tournament for the 23-year-old All Black who dotted down 4 times and assisted two tries in the Crusaders run to the title.

Once again he was excellent on defence and on attack proving to be one of the Crusaders' most potent attackers.

15. Jordie Barrett - Hurricanes

The best Barrett of the competition. Jordie was a match-winner for the Hurricanes making an immediate impact for the side.

The brilliant fullback was superb in every facet of the game with his goal kicking proving to be incredibly handy as well.

Will Jordan is exceptionally unlucky to miss out but Barrett's game was more well rounded than the Crusaders' youngster with Jordie also getting the better of Jordan when the two met in round seven.