SUPER RUGBY AU FORM XV:
15 Tom Banks (Brumbies)
14 Marika Koroibete (Rebels)
13 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
12 Irae Simone (Brumbies)
11 Filipo Daugunu (Reds)
10 James O’Connor (Reds)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
8 Pete Samu (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
5 Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies)
4 Darcy Swain (Brumbies)
3 Taniela Tupou (Reds)
2 Alex Mafi (Reds)
1 Scott Sio (Brumbies)
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that 14 of the 15 come from the Reds and Brumbies.
Clearly, they were the best two teams in Super Rugby AU by some distance and this is reflective of their dominance. Few, however, would quibble that the likes of Tom Banks, James O’Connor, Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou were the stars of the competition.
Fans in New Zealand will be able to see many of these players in action this weekend when the Reds and Brumbies travel to Aotearoa to take on the Highlanders and Crusaders respectively.
Most of this XV will also form the core of Dave Rennie’s Wallabies team, which will play three Tests against France in July as the precursor to the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.