'How do you not pick Aaron Smith?!' - Official Super Rugby team of the season blasted by fans for leaving out two of the best players
Saturday's Highlanders-Hurricanes clash brought a conclusion to the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa after the Blues-Crusaders clash was cancelled due to level three lockdowns in the Auckland region.
The end of a high-octane 10 weeks of New Zealand Rugby has been celebrated by the selection of an official team of the season by Super Rugby.
However, the team has once again not gone down well with fans, as Super Rugby's selection is based on surface-level stats that fail to capture other areas of importance, such as speed, vision, tempo, decision-making, strategy, and system fit.
The official team had no place for current All Black halfback Aaron Smith, who is widely regarded as being in the form of his life at the Highlanders, with Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara picked instead.
Aaron Smith's quick tempo and lightening fast recycles at the right times led to the creation of many Highlanders' tries, albeit the final pass was usually delivered by someone else out wide. His decision-making around when to link with his backs or play flat forward runners was often a key component of directing the Highlanders' game.
The halfback's running game also had a resurgence with shades of his earlier self, resulting in many breaks and good support lines. Fans asked whether Super Rugby 'had watched any of the games' as Aaron Smith was 'clearly heads and shoulders' above every other halfback, with one fan claiming he was 'literally the player of the season.'
The other contentious decision was Crusaders flyer Will Jordan over Hurricane Jordie Barrett for the competition's best fullback.
The Hurricanes started 0-2 without Barrett but when he returned they went on a 5-0 run before losing their last game in the final round to the Highlanders in Dunedin. In all of the Hurricanes wins, Jordie played an important part as the primary goal kicker and key playmaker out wide.
In the head-t0-head battle between the two fullbacks in Christchurch, it was Jordie Barrett who was immense under the high ball diffusing a number of Crusaders box kicks and bombs, whilst kicking the key goals to keep his side in the game.
Against his brother when the Blues visited Wellington, Jordie Barrett nailed a clutch conversion to put the Hurricanes ahead 29-27 over the Blues with just three minutes remaining.
Will Jordan was one of the competition's top running threats, finishing first in tries scored and second in defenders beaten and line breaks, but it is blurred by the fact that some of that was done playing on the right wing, particularly against the Highlanders in Dunedin with a scorching two-try performance while against the Blues Jordan was used as a late game substitute.
The two fullbacks won't get a chance to face off in the North vs South game either with both picked for the South Island due to Jordie Barrett's provincial debut with Canterbury, despite growing up in the Taranaki and his brother Beauden playing for the North.
Both Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara will play for the North Island having debuted at provincial level for Manawatu and Wellington respectively.
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If I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
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