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The RugbyPass Super Rugby Mid-Season Awards

(Photos / Getty Images)

A panel of RugbyPass writers have come together to celebrate the best (and worst) of Super Rugby so far this season with our annual Super Rugby Mid-Season Awards.

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Our writers – Hamish Bidwell, Alex McLeod and Nick Turnbull – give their verdicts on who shone and who didn’t quite hit the mark in the first seven rounds of the competition before its suspension three weeks ago.

MVP

Hamish Bidwell: Otere Black (Blues)

Look, there’s any number of blokes you could go for here. David Havili, Lachlan Boshier, Jordie Barrett and half the Sharks squad immediately spring to mind.

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      Billy Searle takes on Billy Burns in the quarter-finals of the RugbyPass FIFA charity tournament.

      But no player took a team from nowhere and got them somewhere, better than Blues first five-eighth Otere Black.

      The Blues have had the makings of a formidable team for a while now, but were continually let down by a lack of accuracy and composure from 10. Stephen Perofeta and Harry Plummer both looked out of their depth again this year and then Black suddenly appeared and the Blues were a different side.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B84wegLgHh7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      Alex McLeod: David Havili (Crusaders)

      Had emergency bowel surgery and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic not impeded David Havili’s 2020 campaign, the Crusaders fullback may well have been in the running for a starting role with the All Blacks.

      That would have been quite the accomplishment given both Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett sit ahead of him in the pecking order, but it would have been deserved nonetheless.

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      Whether it was his incisive running game or accuracy off the boot, Havili stood as an integral figure for the Crusaders in the opening five rounds of the new season.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mys_kA7SK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      Nick Turnbull: Harry Wilson (Reds)

      Harry Wilson is the No. 8 Australian rugby has been looking for since the days of Toutai Kefu.

      There were questions on how the Reds would gain meters close to the recycle since the loss of Samu Kerevi to Japan, but Wilson has answered that question comprehensively.

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      It comes as no surprise Crusaders coach Scott Robertson rates him so highly as Wilson gives his team quality front foot ball consistently. I expect Dave Rennie will start him for the Wallabies despite Isi Naisarani playing very well for the Rebels.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B90YvTjAKlk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      Rookie of the Year

      HB: Mark Telea (Blues)

      Not too hard this one.

      You look at Crusaders loose forwards Tom Christie and Cullen Grace and see guys who could contribute strongly for a decade to come.

      The star of Blues wing Mark Telea might not end up burning as long as that of Christie and Grace, but there’s no doubt he’s been 2020’s best newcomer.

      Strong and elusive, Telea’s ascent might yet cost team-mate Rieko Ioane a spot in the All Blacks squad. Assuming there is any test footy this year.

      AM: Mark Telea (Blues)

      There have been a plethora of standout newbies throughout the competition in 2020, with the likes of Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Hoskins Sotutu, Harry Wilson and Noah Lolesio all catching the eye.

      Few would have predicted the rise of Blues wing Mark Telea, though, who has been unexpectedly electric for the Auckland side in the only seven rounds of action to date.

      Whether or not he’s done enough to leapfrog a raft of contenders for a place in the next All Blacks squad is up for debate, but the 23-year-old certainly loomed as a key piece to the Blues’ tilt towards their first play-offs appearance in nearly 20 years.

      (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

      NT: Mark Telea (Blues)

      I understand Telea was with the Hurricanes squad in 2019 but made his Super Rugby debut for his native Blues in 2020.

      Thus far he has brought carries, meters, offloads and points, but his defence is not as potent as his attack and is prone to conceding a turnover.

      That aside, I think Telea is proving to be the rookie of the year with respect to Noah Lolesio of the Brumbies and Will Harrison of the Waratahs, both of whom have shown glimpses of class that bodes well for the future.

      Most Improved Player

      HB: Curwin Bosch (Sharks)

      We all appreciate that playmakers are at the mercy of their pack, so hats off to the Sharks’ forwards for starters. Their mixture of dynamism and strength has been more than most opponents could handle this season, allowing Bosch the luxury of time.

      He’s used that exceedingly well and looked a very classy footballer.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B9079wLgKRw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      AM: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)

      A debutant for the Sharks last year, Aphelele Fassi has taken his game to a new level in 2020 – so much so that he must have registered on new Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber’s selection radar.

      From an attacking standpoint, few players have been as prominent as the 22-year-old fullback, who leads the competition for running metres and is sitting pretty in terms of clean breaks and defenders beaten.

      With speed to burn and potential in bucketloads, Fassi would be a valued asset for South Africa.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B9uylyAAL3y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      NT: Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

      Came out the junior representative scene with big wraps and the burden of what expectation such a reputation brings.

      I thought he played reasonably well for the Waratahs, but obviously not to his potential. A stint with the Northampton Saints was promising but did not eventuate into regular starting rugby.

      I think his time with Counties Manakau was valuable to him just to get some time on the park and to enjoy the game. He is relishing his opportunity with Melbourne, scoring tries, making breaks and finally turning his potential into solid performances.

      Coach of the Year

      HB: Sean Everitt (Sharks)

      Again, this category isn’t a contest. In his rookie season, Everitt has genuinely worked wonders with the Sharks.

      At the risk of looking a fool, I’m happy to admit I expected nothing from the Sharks this season. Not least because of a start to their campaign that saw them play in Dunedin, Wellington, Melbourne and Brisbane in consecutive weeks.

      But for the bounce of the ball, in their clash with the Hurricanes, the Sharks would’ve won the lot and they followed that lengthy trip by then beating the Jaguares and Stormers back in Durban.

      AM: Sean Everitt (Sharks)

      It was tempting to hand this award to new Chiefs coach Warren Gatland, but without anywhere near the same reputation or coaching experience, Sean Everitt led the Sharks to the top of the competition until its suspension.

      After over a decade in youth and assistant roles with the Sharks franchise, Everitt has made an immediate impression in his debut campaign with the senior side.

      Not many would have expected the four-time finalists to have performed as well as they have done, especially with some big name losses in the off-season, which is a testament to Everitt’s influence and coaching ability.

      (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

      NT: Sean Everitt (Sharks)

      I think the Sharks have been exceptional thus far in 2020. Their only slip up was against the Hurricanes in Wellington. Their road trip to New Zealand and Australia was fruitful which has set them up for success later in the tournament.

      Winning on the road is tough. Winning consistently on the road like the Sharks have is even tougher and it is a credit to their culture.

      They are a tough side at set piece and the recycle and are a side that will go through another as opposed to around. Credit to coach Everitt for that and I think they will be there at the season’s end.

      Best Signing

      HB: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)

      I assume Aaron Cruden will be a popular (and sentimental) choice for this award, but the Chiefs’ home losses to the Brumbies and Hurricanes rather weaken his case.

      Notshe, meanwhile, has been nothing short of outstanding at No.8 for the Sharks, following his offseason shift from the Stormers. In a good pack, Notshe’s athleticism and workrate have been phenomenal and his rugby has simply been a pleasure to watch.

      AM: James O’Connor (Reds)

      Upon the announcement of his signing with the Reds to confirm his eligibility for the Wallabies at the World Cup last year, it was apparent James O’Connor would prove to be a vital addition to the Queensland roster.

      In a squad filled with youngsters across the board, the experience, versatility, physicality and playmaking nous that O’Connor has brought with him from the Sale Sharks has been second to none.

      Whether it be from the No. 10 or No. 12 jerseys, the 52-test Wallaby has been a leading light in a side that has proven it has the potential to reach the giddying heights of the 2011 championship-winning side.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B85PoYYA2SV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      NT: James O’Connor (Reds)

      The prodigal son has returned and returned well. With the loss of Samu Kerevi, the Reds backline was in need of quality and experience and the one time errant O’Connor has delivered for Brad Thorn and his teammates in 2020.

      Whilst Queensland have not enjoyed as many victories as they would like, clearly they are a dangerous side when O’Connor is guiding them around the park, and with him at the helm the Reds could sneak a finals berth.

      Aaron Cruden for the Chiefs is another worthy mention for this category.

      Worst Signing

      HB: Beauden Barrett (Blues)

      Again, there’s really just the one choice here.

      It’s not so much that Barrett didn’t pull on a boot for the Blues, it’s that the shadow he cast obscured what a good season so many of his new team-mates were having.

      We endured weeks of questions about when Barrett might appear at training or decide to play a game. Then he turns up to say g’day and it’s headline news. A couple of weeks later he even joined in.

      All the while we wasted time talking about someone who wasn’t actually relevant.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/B-wPdeDAJXy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      AM: Morné Steyn (Bulls)

      Replacing South Africa’s premier first-five Handré Pollard is no easy feat, so you could excuse the Bulls for putting their faith in the return of club legend Morné Steyn from France.

      However, the 35-year-old playmaker, who played a pivotal role in the Bulls’ three Super Rugby crowns between 2007 and 2010, looks well past his prime and hasn’t reaped the results he yielded in Pretoria from a decade ago.

      The proof is in the pudding in that regard, as the Bulls have lost every match Steyn has started in this season, with the club’s only victory coming against a struggling Highlanders outfit with youngster Manie Libbok at the helm.

      NT: Tepai Moeroa (Waratahs)

      I am excited to see what Moeroa can do as he has returned to the code after several seasons in rugby league yet he has only played one game for NSW.

      He has the potential to be a great signing as he has been compared to Sonny Bill Williams, yet the Waratahs, who are in all sorts of bother, are not using him which tends to make him a poor signing. 

      Match of the Year

      HB: Hurricanes 27-24 Chiefs (Round Seven)

      Two contenders here for me: the Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over the Chiefs and the Sharks’ 24-14 victory against the Stormers the same weekend.

      On the basis that the Hurricanes hadn’t won in Hamilton since 2007, I’ll give their game the nod.

      AM: Chiefs 25-15 Crusaders (Round Two)

      Two of the most highly-rated teams in the competition went head-to-head early in the season in a bid to assert dominance in the fiercely-competitive New Zealand conference.

      In the end, the hosts put in a defensive clinic in the backend of the first half to keep intact with the Crusaders at halftime, before scoring two tries to none in the second stanza to pull away with the win.

      It was an immense victory for the Chiefs, who sent shockwaves throughout the SANZAAR empire through their decimation of the reigning back-to-back-to-back champions.

      NT: Reds 41-17 Bulls (Round Seven)

      After being beaten up by the Sharks in the previous round and close losses earlier in the tournament, the fans were getting frustrated.

      The Reds were down 17-0 against the Bulls and the season was in the balance, but credit to Brad Thorn and his side, they finally illustrated how destructive they can be and delivered a monumental turnaround blasting the visitors off the park in the second half.

      Who doesn’t enjoy a good redemption story?

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      I
      IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

      Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


      “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

      Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

      So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


      “I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

      I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

      Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


      “I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

      So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


      “lol u really need to chill out”

      Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

      171 Go to comments
      f
      fl 3 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

      Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


      “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

      Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


      To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


      I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


      I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


      I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


      “Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

      lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

      171 Go to comments
      I
      IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


      His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


      How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


      Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


      His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


      Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


      Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


      Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

      171 Go to comments
      f
      fl 5 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “He won a ECL and a domestic treble at the beginning of his career.”

      He won 2 ECLs at the beginning of his career (2009, 2011). Since then he’s won 1 in 15 years.


      “He then won 3 leagues on the bounce later in his career”

      He won 3 leagues on the bounce at the start of his career too - (2009, 2010, 2011).


      If we’re judging him by champions league wins, he peaked in his late 30s, early 40s. If we’re judging him by domestic titles he’s stayed pretty consistent over his career. If we’re judging him by overall win rate he peaked at Bayern, and was better at Barcelona than at City. So no, he hasn’t gotten better by every measure.


      “You mentioned coaches were older around the mid-2010’s compared to the mid-2000’s. Robson was well above the average age you’ve given for those periods even in the 90’s when in his pomp.”

      Robson was 63-64 when he was at Barcelona, so he wasn’t very old. But yeah, he was slightly above the average age of 60 I gave for the top 4 premier league coaches in 2015, and quite a bit above the averages for 2005 and 2025.


      “Also, comparing coaches - and their experiences, achievements - at different ages is unstable. It’s not a valid way to compare and tends to torpedo your own logic when you do compare them on equal terms. I can see why you don’t like doing it.”

      Well my logic certainly hasn’t been torpedoed. Currently the most successful premier league coaches right now are younger than they were ten years ago. You can throw all the nuance at it that you want, but that fact won’t change. It’s not even clear what comparing managers “on equal terms” would even mean, or why it would be relevant to anything I’ve said.


      “You still haven’t answered why Kiss could be a risker appointment?”

      Because I’ve been talking to you about football managers. If you want to change the subject then great - I care a lot more about rugby than I do football.

      But wrt Kiss, I don’t agree that 25 years experience is actually that useful, given what a different sport rugby was 25 years ago. Obviously in theory more experience can never be a bad thing, but I think 10 years of coaching experience is actually more than enough these days. Erasmus had been a coach for 13 years when he got the SA top job. Andy Farrell had been a coach for 9 when he got the Ireland job. I don’t think anyone would say that either of them were lacking in experience.


      Now - what about coaches who do have 25+ years experience? The clearest example of that would be Eddie Jones, who started coaching 31 years ago. He did pretty well everywhere he worked until around 2021 (when he was 61), when results with England hit a sharp decline. He similarly oversaw a terrible run with Australia, and currently isn’t doing a great job with Japan.

      Another example is Warren Gatland, who also started coaching full-time 31 years ago, after 5 years as a player-coach. Gatland did pretty well everywhere he went until 2020 (when he was 56), when he did a relatively poor job with the Chiefs, before doing a pretty poor job with the Lions, and then overseeing a genuine disaster with Wales. There are very few other examples, as most coaches retire or step back into lesser roles when they enter their 60s. Mick Byrne actually has 34 years experience in coaching (but only 23 years coaching in rugby) and at 66 he’s the oldest coach of a top 10 side, and he’s actually doing really well. He goes to show that you can continue to be a good coach well into your 60s, but he seems like an outlier.


      So the point is - right now, Les Kiss looks like a pretty reliable option, but 5 years ago so did Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland before they went on to prove that coaches often decline as they get older. If Australia want Kiss as a short term appointment to take over after Schmidt leaves in the summer, I don’t think that would be a terrible idea - but NB wanted Kiss as a long term appointment starting in 2027! That’s a massive risk, given the chance that his aptitude will begin to decline.


      Its kind of analagous to how players decline. We know (for example) that a fly-half can still be world class at 38, but we also know that most fly-halves peak in their mid-to-late 20s, so it is generally considered a risk to build your game plan around someone much older than that.

      171 Go to comments
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