Form Super Rugby 15

[SomeOke]

Well super rugby is 12 weeks in which if more than enough time for dumb speculation. The side should probably be mostly filled with NZer's but I'm going to go the other way sometimes for the sake of conversation.

I'm just go off the top of my head for mine just to get things started.

1. Ox Nche - Run fat boy, run!
2. Codie Taylor - not too much competition around but a consistent part of a dominant forward pack.
3. Franks - props to the tight head in a scrum that dangerous.
4. Eben Etzebeth - was immense in the first half of the season but has tapered off a little, Romano definitely deserves to be part of the conversation.
5. Brodie Retallick - hard to argue here.
6. Michael Hooper - Heart breaking watching this guy go about his business each week in a side that doesn't seem to care. I know he's a seven but it's not my fault the Aussie's can't number a fetcher properly.
7. Jean-luc du Plessis - A big part of a successful sharks pack, he's been immense this season and seems to break tackles at will, definite shout for a Bok start - Todd/Cane/Kolisi honorable mentions.
8. Mafi - Like Hooper, an absolute beast in a shocking side - honorable mentions to Higginbotham and Akira Ioane.
9. IJ Perenara- A testament to how good he is that I have one of my most hated players on this list, can't think of many other stand outs. Saffer and Aus half-backs are woeful, Pulu honourable mention.
10. Beuden Barret - If NZ use this guy they are cheating, because reasons. Richie was injured for a long while so he's not really in the conversation, honourable mentions to Cruden, Foley, Cronje and du Preez
11. Courtnall Skosan - Savea/Bridge/Melani Nanai all deserve to be in the conversation so I went with the Saffer to be difficult.
12. Laumape - I know Crotty will get the black jersey for a better all round skill set but this guy is a ball carrying machine. The guy with the best name in rugby gets an honorable mention Jeronimo de la Fuente.
13. Kerevi - No obvious Kiwi options here, tempted to say Rieko Ioane but is he even a 13? If Umaga doesn't know how should I.
14. Matt Duffie - A bit of a surprise here but it's hard to argue, Naholo and Temanivalu are close but haven't played enough games and therefore haven't been as consistent.
15. Rapeface Maccers all day. Havilli and Jordie honorable mentions.

Note I usually don't watch the Jaguares games because they are too late and I'm hammered by the time they are on.
Let the flaming polite discussion commence!

 

[Ground We Won]

1. Joe Moody
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Owen Franks
4. Franco Mostert
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Peter Samu - So many off the bench performances but has come on and blown opposition away.
7. Matt Todd
8. Warren Whiteley
9. Tony Pulu
10. Beauden Barrett
11. James Lowe
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. George Bridge
15. Damien McKenzie

Res. 16. O. Nche 17. Hika Elliot 18. Charlie Faumuina 19. Scott Barrett 20. Ardie Savea 21. TJ.Perenara 22. Samu Kerevi 23. Jordie Barrett

None of the Australian players really deserve a look in this year. Powell, Kerevi, Hooper, Hodge and Speight definitely stick out, other than that it's really slim pickings.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I was just thinking about this, and then you make this thread! Perfect!
I reckon...
1. O. Nche - To be fair, he's actually put in a **** load of work. Could probs pick any number of guys here though.
2. M. Marx - No hookers have stood out too much, but Marx has been pretty dynamic all year. Honourable Mentions to Codie Taylor and Creevy.
3. C. Faumuiina - Such an impressive player, does things most props couldn't. Franks and Alaalatoa have been immense too.
4. B. Retallick - Forward of the season so far
5. S. Whitelock - Hard to argue against the captain of the best team, he has also put in a big workload. Honourable Mentions to Franco Mostert and Dominic Bird. Barrett and Romano have been great too.
6. J. du Plessis - Been an absolute workhorse for the Sharks all year. Wears 7 cos he's a Saffa, but plays the role of a traditional 6. HM to Shields.
7. M. Hooper - After the weekend I was very close to putting Todd, but Hooper has been great all year in a crap team. Savea's been dynamic as always, but also a bit hot and cold.
8. W. Whiteley - The rock/glue of the Lions pack and has been consistently good all year. HMs to Samu who's taken his chances exceptionally, Whitelock who's been super solid, and Mafi who's been a beast.
9. TJ. Perenara - Has got better and better and is the clear standout. HMs to TKB & Pulu. The young Aussies Powell and Gordon have impressed too.
10. B. Barrett - Shout out to Mounga who's been awesome since returning from injury.
11. J. Lowe - Has been impressive as always, such a good player. HMs to Skosan and Bridge.
12. N. Laumape - Has been the form 12 right from the start, very impressive season so far.
13. S. Kerevi - IMO he's been the best Aussie this year and seems to be thriving under captaincy. Genuinely impressed me, I think he's the clear form 13.
14. M. Duffie - Was in awesome form for most of the season, been a bit quieter of late, but still the form 14 overall
15. D. McKenzie - The best of a very impressive bunch of young fullbacks, and probs the overall form back of the comp so far. HMs to Jordie and Havili.

 

[Ground We Won]

Nice list guys, but there's no way on earth Hoopers been better than Todd this season. Other than that, 100% agree.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Nice list guys, but there's no way on earth Hoopers been better than Todd this season. Other than that, 100% agree.

Fair enough, pretty much agree with your list too, though I don't think Fekitoa has been that good... Kerevi has definitely impressed me more.
And I'm not sure I've ever seen Tony Pulu play halfback

 

[Ground We Won]

Fair enough, pretty much agree with your list too, though I don't think Fekitoa has been that good... Kerevi has definitely impressed me more.
And I'm not sure I've ever seen Tony Pulu play halfback

Did you see his try in the weekend? He's put in matching performances vs the Blues and other great performances vs the Brumbies, Stormers, Bulls . I think he's been a large part of keeping the Highlanders in the play-offs spot and the Highlanders deserve someone in the team since they're in the WC spot. He started of poorly, but has come into his own.

AUGUSTINE* -.-

 

[SomeOke]

I actually forgot about James Lowe somehow, he'd be my obvious 11 as well.

I like Augustine Pulu a lot but I feel like his skill-set is somewhat lacking, mostly as a distributor, TJ is almost as strong a ball-runner and offers a lock more.

As for Todd over Hooper I have to disagree, Todd is a fine player, but more of a jack of all trade whereas Hooper is a specialist fetcher as well as being an effective carrier.

 

[Ground We Won]

I actually forgot about James Lowe somehow, he'd be my obvious 11 as well.

I like Augustine Pulu a lot but I feel like his skill-set is somewhat lacking, mostly as a distributor, TJ is almost as strong a ball-runner and offers a lock more.

As for Todd over Hooper I have to disagree, Todd is a fine player, but more of a jack of all trade whereas Hooper is a specialist fetcher as well as being an effective carrier.

I just think Pulu has had better form this season than TJ, I thought that was what this thread was? Form, not best players. If that were the case, then I would select Smith and TJ ahead of Pulu.

Todd is one of the big reasons the Crusaders have dominated in the forwards this year and been far more of an influence this season than Hooper. I am aware of Hoopers abilities, but the Warratahs are languishing near the bottom of the table and the Crusaders are flying, which Todd has played a huge role in and I think he's the 'form' option currently.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I don't think one strong performance by Hooper qualifies him being selected. He was rather poor against the Kings, and was overshadowed by a guy with the name of Chris Cloete, who has been for me the best 6 in the comp so far.

Todd & Ioane would be me 2nd and 3rd choices

 

[SomeOke]

I'm not so sure lads, I've watched a lot of Tah's games this year since Folau is in my fantasy team (Hooper isn't btw) and he's put up some pretty consistent performances. Let's look at some stats:


Now they're all very close which isn't surprising since they are all great players but Hooper has the edge in both turn overs and ball carrying where as on average Todd and Cane make an extra tackle a game.
Now I know stats don't tell the full story by any stretch but I don't think it's indefensible to say Hooper is the best player.

And in case anyone is wondering my job is dead boring.

 

[Ground We Won]

You have to remember the quality and standard of opposition comes into account as well.

Where do you get your stats from? They're definitely different to the statscentres. Hoopers tackle success is at 85% here and Todds at 90%

 

[SomeOke]

Stats are from all out rugby, the annoying thing about stats is that you get three different sets from three different websites.

 

[Ground We Won]

Stats are from all out rugby, the annoying thing about stats is that you get three different sets from three different websites.

Yeah, different stats analysts have different interpretations and criteria!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

In keeping with the OP encouraging non-NZ suggestions I was happy to see Cronje, Skosan and Mafi mentioned above. I'd add Mohoje, Tamura and Tuculet as outside suggestions for their respective positions.

In terms of Coach I'd go with Crusaders; with honourable mentions for Kings and Sunwolves (unbeleivably after their start, maybe JJ is having a big influence behind the scenes?). Ackerman and Rennie would have been my picks last year but I'd only make them fourth and fifth so far this year.

 

[Larksea]

I honestly cant comment on non NZ players, there is a heck of a lot of rugby on and I very rarely watch games that dont involve NZ teams.

1, Moody
2, Coltman
3, Faumuina
4, Retalick
5, Whitelock
6, Shields, tough one... Squire has looked amazing but hes spent a lot of time injured.
7, Todd
8, Whitelock on early season form, Akira Ioane on recent form.
9, Perenara
10, Barrett
11, Lowe
12, Laumape
13, Aso. Tough position, Fekitoa is the only player that has been a regular at 13 but I dont think he deserves to be on this list because Generally even Buckman, faddes and Thompson have been better at the highlanders.
14, Duffie, first half of the season he was clear #1 in NZ but has drifted a bit.
15, McKenzie