Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Season: Crusaders and Chiefs lead the way

David Skippers
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With the dust having settled on Super Rugby Pacific 2023, we have made our calls on which players stood out the most during a memorable tournament.

After competing in a thrilling final in Hamilton on Saturday, the Crusaders and Chiefs lead the way with five players apiece in our selection. The Brumbies are next best with two representatives while, the Blues, Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika each have one player in the XV.

So without further ado, here’s our selection that we feel is a fair reflection on the year. Make sure to have your say and leave your side in the comments.

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Season

15 Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs): Although Will Jordan of the Crusaders showed his class during the latter stages of the tournament – after missing most of the season due to a migraine-related condition – it wasn’t enough to get in ahead of Stevenson. The 26-year-old played consistently well throughout the Chiefs‘ memorable campaign as his brilliance on attack saw him finish on 12 tries. Very unlucky not be called up to the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad.

14 Emoni Narawa (Chiefs): Like Stevenson, Narawa displayed excellent attacking form throughout the season which played a big part in helping the Chiefs finish at the top of the table during Super Rugby Pacific‘s league phase and their run to the final. His brilliance with ball in hand made him a real handful for opposing defences and he beats out the Crusaders’ Dallas McLeod and Waratahs youngster Max Jorgensen.

13 Braydon Ennor (Crusaders): Fellow All Black Rieko Ioane is unlucky to miss out as he was one of the Blues‘ star performers in 2023 but we couldn’t leave Ennor out as he made a huge contribution during the Crusaders’ impressive run to the title. After featuring mostly as a squad player in previous seasons, Ennor cemented himself in the Crusaders run-on side with his brilliant attacking ability and he was also solid in defence.

12 Levi Aumua (Moana Pasifika): This was a difficult choice as Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown played well during the latter stages of the competition, while fellow All Black Jordie Barrett also had some good moments during the year. However, Aumua built on his fine form from 2022 and although he played several games at outside centre, he also shone when wearing the number 12 jersey. A strong runner, he always proved a handful on attack and also created try-scoring opportunities for his team-mates.

11 Mark Telea (Blues): The Crusaders’ Leicester Fainga’anuku and Brumbies’ Corey Toole were outstanding, especially the former, who finished as the tournament’s top try-scorer (13) but his fellow All Black – Telea – could not be ignored as he was not far behind as he dotted down on 12 occasions. Apart from that the Blues man beat the most defenders (101), made the most clean breaks (24), was second for metres carried (1716), fifth for offloads (21) and sixth for carries (159).

10 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs): While fellow All Black Richie Mo’unga just got the better of him in the final, McKenzie can be happy with his overall form as he returned to New Zealand – after a six-month stint in Japan – and hit the ground running, playing a leading role with his outstanding playmaking skills and excellent game management throughout the season. Was also superb off the kicking tee and finished as the tournament’s leading points-scorer with 191 points.

9 Cam Roigard (Hurricanes): Brumbies veteran Nic White was a consistent performer but it’s Hurricanes rookie Roigard who gets into our team after delivering several superb performances throughout the season. Came into the men from Wellington’s run-on side as a replacement for injured All Black TJ Perenara and filled his predecessor’s boots with aplomb. Roigard’s slick service to his outside backs and try-scoring ability made him a shoo-in for this position and his fine form saw earning a call-up to the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad.

8 Luke Jacobson (Chiefs): The Hurricanes’ Ardie Savea had his moments while Langi Gleeson of the Waratahs also showed plenty of promise but it wasn’t enough to get in ahead of Jacobson. The 26-year-old also featured on the flank in some matches but whether on the side of the scrum or at its base, he delivered the goods with several outstanding performances. Jacobson was strong on attack and solid in defence, while also doing well in the lineouts.

7 Tom Christie (Crusaders): There were outstanding performances at various stages throughout the year from the Blues’ Dalton Papali’i and Fraser McReight of the Reds but neither of them could match the consistency of Christie for the Crusaders. The 25-year-old was like a machine on defence and he finished the season with 231 tackles made, which is more than any other player in the competition. Apart from his prowess on defence, Christie’s breakdown work was also superb.

6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies): The Wallabies hard man caught the eye with several outstanding performances and was at the forefront of the Brumbies’ charge until they were eventually knocked out by the Chiefs in the semi-finals. Valetini was outstanding throughout the Brumbies’ campaign as a ball carrier as he gave his side good momentum in that department, but also made his mark with a high work-rate on defence and at the breakdowns. The Chiefs’ Samipeni Finau and Fijian Drua’s Joseva Tamani also impressed.

5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): On Saturday, the veteran All Blacks second-row played his final game for the Crusaders – before joining Top 14 outfit Pau after the Rugby World Cup – and showed that he is still one of the world’s best players in his position as he walked off with the official man of the match award after that fixture. He missed the previous play-off matches due to a nagging Achilles injury but came into the starting XV and made a huge contribution in their triumph.

4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs): Like last year, he joins his All Blacks second-row partner in our team which means there is no space in our side for the Crusaders’ captain Scott Barrett, who led his troops well in trying circumstances as they lost several players to injury. However, Retallick was, once again, at the forefront of the Chiefs’ forward onslaught as he did his bit in the lineouts, shone with ball in hand and also put his body on the line on defence.

3 Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders): One of the rising stars of the game, the 22-year-old started the year on the fringes of the Crusaders’ first XV but his versatility saw him elevated to the run-on side and he did brilliantly on both sides of the scrum after All Blacks duo George Bower and Joe Moody suffered season-ending injuries. Williams’ fine form was eventually rewarded with a maiden call-up to the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad.

2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders): The Chiefs’ Samisoni Taukei’aho made last year’s team and came close again this year but it’s fellow All Black Taylor who gets in ahead of him after delivering the goods consistently during the Crusaders’ triumphant campaign. Taylor’s experience proved invaluable in tight situations and he was brilliant on attack as he set the record for the most tries by a forward in a season (12) – just one adrift of top scorer Fainga’anuku. The Fijian Drua’s Tevita Ikanivere was another player who caught the eye.

1 James Slipper (Brumbies): The Highlanders’ Ethan de Groot was solid throughout the season but Wallabies veteran Slipper was one of the Brumbies’ stars during their charge to the semi-finals. Slipper’s experience proved invaluable to the Canberra-based outfit as he shone in the execution of his core duties throughout, with his scrummaging and defensive work particularly impressive, while he also did his bit as a ball carrier.

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