KEY POINTS:
This wasn't a 'usual' season. A form New Zealand Super 14 team with barely a recognised All Black. This is not a joke. It isn't just because they missed the first seven weeks of the competition either. There are players, like Luke McAlister, who have bullied their way
into the team with relatively few games under their belt. Of the returning 22 only Chris Masoe and Dan Carter warranted serious consideration in the 15. Masoe has been excellent since his return but must be balanced against Daniel Braid's consistent form.
Carter might have kicked an amazing wind-propelled sideline conversion against the Highlanders but has otherwise been low on the 'wow' factor by his standards. He loses out to Stephen Donald, whose form in the first half of the competition would have placed him behind Isa Nacewa and Stephen Brett but whose stocks have risen along with his team's. But the rest of the 22? Some normally shoo-in selections like Richie McCaw have taken time to hit their straps, while others have been poor - et tu Ali Williams. So although few of these players will be on the iron bird to Corsica on August 29, they are for now the Herald on Sunday's chosen ones.
1: Clarke Dermody (Highlanders)
Had to play a senior role in the absence of heavyweights Carl Hayman and Anton Oliver and did just that. Seemed to enjoy the responsibility of leading and carried the ball effectively.
2. Corey Flynn (Crusaders)
Keven Mealamu looked occasionally explosive on his return but, unfortunately, his arrival coincided with the Blues collapse. Flynn might never win a coconut shy - will any NZ hooker? - but his barrelling performances around the field have played a large part in his team's success.
3: Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes)
Earns a spot more on the strength of his early-season form where he put himself about a fair amount. John Afoa showed up better in the loose but the Blues man couldn't match Tialata's scrummaging consistency. No matter how modern the game of rugby gets, tightheads have a priority to take care of the set-piece first.
4. Ross Filipo (Crusaders)
Another of those guys that Robbie Deans picks up as a piece of mutton and somehow turns into a tasty cut of lamb. Filipo might not be the most physically imposing second-rower but he gets around the park and makes a nuisance of himself when needs be. Don't be surprised if some European club comes along and pays big money for the try-scoring lock.
5: Troy Flavell (Blues)
Greg Rawlinson and Keith Robinson had strong claims for inclusion but neither could match the overall impact of Flavell, especially early in the season. The former enfant terrible displayed an extraordinary work rate from the get go, carried for big yards, hammered the fringes and held his own at the lineout.
6. Liam Messam (Chiefs)
A cast-iron selection in the loose forwards and we'll take the Chiefs word for it that No 6 is his best position. Messam has the ability to change the way we think about blindside flanker play in the way Zinzan Brooke broke the mould at No 8. Let's hope it doesn't take the All Blacks selectors as long to awake to his charms as they did with Brooke.
7: Daniel Braid (Blues)
The former All Black discovered an explosive side to his game no one knew he possessed. He turned up in all the right places as usual but this campaign, he really made his presence felt. Drove men back in the tackle, carried the ball over the gain line and gave a rugby masterclass in ball poaching against the Waratahs. Marty Holah found his form too late and Josh Blackie never quite found his at all.
8. Sione Lauaki (Chiefs)
A confession here: until Friday night Crusaders backrower Mose Tuiali'i was occupying this space. But courtesy of a dodgy red-and-black scrum that negated his power off the back and Lauaki's barnstorming performance, the two have swapped places. Still, they both look like a rich man's Rodney So'oialo at the moment.
9: Brendon Leonard (Chiefs)
Struggled at first in his rookie season but once Byron Kelleher and Jamie Nutbrown were ruled out with injury, Leonard found his feet in dramatic style. He's an easy player to like with his sniping break and booming left peg. Looked a more dynamic player than Andy Ellis and Kevin Senio.
10. Stephen Donald (Chiefs)
At the start of the season he was almost a handbrake on Chiefs aspirations as he struggled to ignite his backline. But recently, some would say now he's used to the fact he hasn't the safety net of David Hill, he has been among the Chiefs top two or three most influential players.
11: Vili Waqaseduadua (Highlanders)
Lelia Masaga, Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf and David Smith all impressed in patches but the former two did so on the right wing and the latter two probably didn't play enough to convince they could deliver week after week. Waqaseduadua had the thankless task of being on the end of one of the less penetrative back divisions and still managed to dazzle with his running.
12. Luke McAlister (Blues)
Possibly the most pivotal player in the competition. You work out the correlation. Blues close to an unstoppable force. McAlister breaks jaw. Blues turn into a bumbling mess, particularly in the backs. He actually made Nacewa look like a quality flyhalf.
13: Isaia Toeava (Blues)
Started the season at an impressive 100kg and used his extra weight to bust big holes. Was the cutting edge of the Blues backline and one of the few players in the competition to consistently pose a threat when he ran. Toughened up on defence and, with a strong kicking game, could become the centre the All Blacks have craved for some time. Casey Laulala deserves mention for his power running and clever off-loading.
14. Doug Howlett (Blues)
The ultimate pro. He chases down every kick, no matter how futile. He turns and chases, backs up, finishes well. In fact, he does everything except offer that threat of creating something from nothing which has seen the Fijian flyers gain favour in the selectors' eyes over recent years. But Howlett has something the likes of Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu will never have, the Super rugby tryscoring record.
15: Cory Jane (Hurricanes)
By no means the complete player but easily the best Kiwi fullback this season, often providing the only quality attacking thrust in a faltering Hurricanes backline. Needs to develop a kicking game to win a test jersey as he has everything else - pace, power, a creative touch and really nice long lustrous hair. It's the Pantene effect.
