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Super 15 Form XV

Roar Guru
28th July, 2014
11

The Super Rugby final features the best two teams in the competition this year, and the decider will be a cracker.

In a long season many individuals have stood out, none more so than these 15, who I believe make up the form team of the year.

15. Israel Folau (Waratahs)
The Waratahs have become the first Australian team in Super Rugby history to score 500 points in a season. When Folau was injured for three games, they only scored three tries.

This fact illustrates the importance of Folau to the Waratahs. He has scored 12 tries this season, the best effort by any player since 2007. He leads the competition in offloads with 47, nearly double that of the next player.

Folau is also in the top five for metres run, clean breaks and defenders beaten. He is arguably the most exciting attacking player in the game at present.

14. Henry Speight (Brumbies)
The Fijian might have only scored two tries this season, but his dynamic form has earned him a call up to the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship. The Brumbies have used Speight off the back of scrums and even in midfield to get go forward. At his best he breaks tackles at will and has the ability to create and score tries.

13. Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)
In his first Super Rugby season, Fekitoa has been brilliant, earning two Test caps for the All Blacks in the English series. A strapping runner, Fekitoa has scored seven tries and has beaten more defenders (65) than any other player in the competition. He memorably smashed fellow All Blacks centre Conrad Smith in Dunedin this year.

12. Alapati Leiua (Hurricanes)
Leiua will be sorely missed by the Hurricanes in 2015. He is a superb player, equally brilliant in midfield as he is on the wing. Leiua was in the top ten for defenders beaten and clean breaks this year and scored perhaps the try of the season to inspire the Hurricanes to victory against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Leiua is a complete player who could be a star for Samoa in the 2015 World Cup.

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11. Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders)
The big Fijian has added some much needed spark to the Crusaders back line. He has scored 11 tries, more than any other New Zealand player, and has made more clean breaks (26) than any other player. He is also third for defenders beaten. Nadolo arrived in New Zealand from Japan with a big reputation and has more than lived up to it.

10. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
Scored 209 points this season, which was a record for any Hurricanes player. Three times this year Barrett scored 20 points in a game. At his best Barrett was absolutely mesmerising. He attacks the line with authority, steps off both feet and has startling acceleration. Many New Zealand pundits suggested that Barrett should replace Aaron Cruden as the starting first-five for the All Blacks during the English series.

9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
Is there a halfback in world rugby with a quicker pass? Smith is a real livewire whose service has been such a key factor in Fekitoa and fullback Ben Smith’s form. Aaron Smith is also good at catching tired defenders out of position with his running game and his kicking has improved as well.

8. Jerome Kaino (Blues)
Two years in Japan did Kaino the world of good. He was in storming form for a disappointing Blues outfit this season. All the qualities that made Kaino the best player at the 2011 World Cup were evident, strong ball carries, thumping tackles and niggle around the breakdown.

7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
The Waratahs captain has been inspirational this season. Sixth in tackles make, Hooper’s speed, strength and ability to disrupt at the breakdowns is peerless in the game at present. A very strong ball carrier, Hooper looks set to be the Wallabies captain for many years.

6. Jacques Potgieter (Warathas)
The former Springboks player spent some time in Japan before returning to Super Rugby this year. He is in stirring form and is an abrasive presence on defence and attack. Potgieter is an equally capable lock who has added a lot of resolve to the Warathas pack this year.

5. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
Another strong season by the veteran All Blacks player, Whitelock was in the top ten for most lineouts won and stolen. Whitelock’s hustle and toil adds much steel to a formidable Crusaders pack.

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4. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
A warrior of a player, Retallick’s work rate is unmatched by any lock in world rugby. The Chiefs’ lineout was poor this season, but that was no fault of Retallick who was secure jumping at two. Where Retallick’s game has really improved is his ball carrying, he is a menace for the opposition and has shown he can offload too.

3. Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
The Stormers tighthead was arguably the best prop in the competition until he suffered a concussion injury. A powerful ball carrier, the Stormers scrum was one of the few positives in their poor season.

2. Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)
The best hooker in the world consistently found his jumpers and overwhelmed opponents with his explosive play. He will be a vital part of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship campaign.

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
The ‘beast’ lived up to his name with a powerhouse season. He is carrying as strongly as he ever has and his pressure in the scrum is immense. Expect the beast to add to his 55 Test caps.

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