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The Roar's Super Rugby team of the tournament

The Hurricanes return to the scene of their 2015 semi-final triumph, against the Waratahs. (Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
8th August, 2014
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2166 Reads

After a staggering 850-odd responses, we’ve collated the data and have put together who you picked as The Roar‘s Super Rugby team of the tournament.

Before we launch into a big explanation of the team and the data, let’s just lay out, 15-1, who made it in.

15. Israel Folau
14. Henry Speight
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Kurtley Beale
11. Nemani Nadolo
10. Bernard Foley
9. Aaron Smith
8. Kieran Read
7. Michael Hooper
6. Liam Messam
5. Brodie Retallick
4. Jacques Potgieter
3. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Owen Franks

The first thing to note is the amazing number of Waratahs in the side. The attacking threat posed by Folau, Beale, Ashley-Cooper, Foley, and the starch added by Potgieter and skipper Michael Hooper means that they have the most players in the side with six. They were fitting champions, it would seem.

Complementing the backline stacked with sky blue are two serious threats on the wing, with Henry Speight and Nemani Nadolo getting the nod. The lack of kicking ability in the back three would be made up for by the exceptional running game and line-breaking ability these three provide. Imagine those three turning out for the Wallabies (though at this point that’s no longer possible for Nadolo).

The midfield that dominated Super Rugby is intact here, with Beale, Ashley-Cooper and Foley given the nod ahead of Malakai Fekitoa, Ma’a Nonu and Beauden Barrett. It’s likely that Beale and Ashley-Cooper will be in the Wallabies’ match-day 23, but not in the positions they’ve been selected in here.

The impressive Aaron Smith will feed the backline from halfback, while Kieran Read has been charged with eightman duties over Wycliff Palu.

The data shows Hooper was a clear winner at seven, with Liam Messam beating out a strong field of contenders to take the six jumper.

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Sam Whitelock was the big name to miss out among the locks, with Brodie Retallick and the tireless Jacques Potgieter getting the nod there.

Owen Franks and ‘The Beast’, Tendai Mtawarira will be our team’s props with the immense Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.

The full breakdown of the data is below.

What do you think Roarers? Is this the best team of the Super Rugby tournament?

Summary

15. Fullback

Israel Folau (Waratahs) 650 78%
Israel Dagg (Crusaders) 11 1%
Willie Le Roux (Cheetahs) 26 3%
Ben Smith (Highlanders) 149 18%
Other 1 0%

14 & 11. Wingers

Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders) 520 32%
Henry Speight (Brumbies) 554 34%
Nick Cummins (Force) 131 8%
Julian Savea (Hurricanes) 331 20%
Rob Horne (Waratahs) 70 4%
Joe Tomane (Brumbies) 14 1%
Other 13 1%

13. Outside centre

Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs) 475 57%
Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders) 298 36%
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) 1 0%
JP Pietersen (Sharks) 12 1%
Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) 49 6%
Other 4 0%

12. Inside centre

Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) 526 63%
Jan Serfontein (Bulls) 48 6%
Pat McCabe (Brumbies) 44 5%
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) 33 4%
Ma’a Nonu (Blues) 124 15%
Alapati Leiua (Hurricanes) 54 6%
Other 10 1%

10. Fly-half

Bernard Foley (Waratahs) 423 50%
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) 205 24%
Francois Steyn (Sharks) 27 3%
Matt Toomua (Brumbies 125 15%
Marnitz Boshoff (Lions) 20 2%
Colin Slade 36 4%
Other 5 1%

9. Halfback

Cobus Reinach (Sharks) 66 8%
Nic White (Brumbies) 92 11%
Nick Phipps (Waratahs) 175 21%
Aaron Smith (Highlanders) 388 46%
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) 33 4%
Alby Mathewson (Force) 67 8%
Other 15 2%

8. Number 8

Kieran Read (Crusaders) 414 49%
Wycliff Palu (Waratahs) 217 26%
Ben McCalman (Force) 67 8%
Warren Whiteley (Lions) 57 7%
Jerome Kaino (Blues) 83 10%
Other 4 0%

7. Openside flanker

Schalk Burger (Stormers) 28 3%
Matt Hodgson (Force) 107 13%
Matt Todd (Crusaders) 54 6%
Michael Hooper (Waratahs) 647 77%
Other 3 0%

6. Blindside flanker

Jean Deysel (Sharks) 74 9%
Scott Fardy (Brumbies) 191 23%
Liam Messam (Chiefs) 247 29%
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) 176 21%
Richie McCaw (Crusaders) 128 15%
Other 24 3%

5 and 4. Locks

Brodie Retallick (Chiefs) 430 25%
Sam Carter (Brumbies) 163 10%
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) 348 21%
Jacques Potgieter (Waratahs) 444 26%
Will Skelton (Waratahs) 125 7%
Rob Simmons (Reds) 52 3%
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) 38 2%
Victor Matfield (Bulls) 80 5%
Other 12 1%

3 and 1. Props

James Slipper (Reds) 281 17%
Owen Franks (Crusaders) 459 27%
Kane Hames (Highlanders) 85 5%
Ben Franks (Hurricanes) 153 9%
Benn Robinson (Waratahs) 93 5%
Pek Cowan (Force) 46 3%
Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) 234 14%
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) 306 18%
Other 35 2%

2. Hooker

Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks) 605 72%
Stephen Moore (Brumbies) 162 19%
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) 10 1%
Other 66 8%
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