15. Ben Smith
He has not made quite the same impact as last year, but in 2014 Smith rates alongside Israel Folau as the most heavily marked man in Super Rugby. The holes he exploded through on the counter attack in 2013 have not been there so much this year, yet he still makes a good job of finding them every now and then. Few players run the ball back as hard or as dangerously and he comes into the line at the right times too.
14. Charles Piutau
Piutau has been playing fullback for the Blues, but given the number of players queuing up in that position, it is likely he will get his chance on the wing. Like Smith, he just looks so dangerous with ball in hand and has a knack of making breaks and forcing the defence to pay close attention to him on the counter-attack. His kicking game is improving too and he is using it better, recognising when to try to counter, when to bomb and when to kick in behind.
Hurricanes utility Alapati Leiua also deserves a mention, having been one of the most threatening players in the competition this year, but was ineligible for this team, being Samoan.
13. Conrad Smith
It was a close call between Smith and Highlanders revelation Malakai Fekitoa for this spot, but Smith gets the nod by a whisker. His best attribute, as always, has been his consistency. Rarely do you see him make a mistake, his defence remains the best in the business and he will never die on a play on attack, as was witnessed on Friday night in his improbable try which came from not giving up on a chase.
Fekitoa has added some much needed spark to the Highlanders backline, capable of breaking the line by going both through and around his man. Defensively he is very involved and generally reads play well to come up quickly at the right times, putting pressure on the attack. He could well be an All Black bolter if he can keep his form up.
12. Ryan Crotty
The best of a pretty average bunch, Crotty wins this position almost by default. It must be a concern for Steve Hansen and his men that no New Zealand team has been able to settle on a second-five eighth, be it through form or injury. Ma'a Nonu was pretty solid in the games he played, but has been injured too much to warrant selection in a form XV. Crotty has been solid, running hard and doing the basics well so gets the position. But with the World Cup just one year away, you would not want Nonu to go down injured.
There is no more dynamic player in world rugby than Savea at the moment. His combination of size, strength and speed on attack makes him so difficult to tackle and ensure that he always goes forward when heading into contact. Skill-wise the man has improved out of sight too, not only in his ability under the high ball, but in his ability to get offloads away and to pick up balls on the run. While there is something of a log-jam in the back three for the All Blacks at the moment, Savea must surely have the No. 11 jersey sewn up for the immediate future.
10. Beauden Barrett
Barrett narrowly edges out Aaron Cruden, who was playing outstandingly well prior to injury. Colin Slade too is looking more assured, while Lima Sopoaga is kicking well and beginning to direct his back line better. But Barrett's ability to control a game through his boot and threaten on attack has been the best of the No 10s so far this year. He takes a gap well and possesses a good turn of pace to get through it, while also proving far more confident in his kicking game, steering the Hurricanes around the field better than he has done in the past. There may still be some question marks over his defence, but for so far he has been the form first five-eighth in New Zealand.
9. Aaron Smith
No-one comes close here, Smith has been playing out of his skin and is easily the best halfback in New Zealand, if not the world. He is showing high levels of confidence, running dangerously from the base, kicking accurately for his chasers and still boasting the same fast, long pass, even when under pressure and receiving rubbish ball. His control of the game is of the highest class too, as is his support play, which often sees him become the second or third link man after a long break down field.
8. Kieran Read
It has not been a happy year for the Crusaders so far, but that has not been due to any lack of effort from Read. He continues to show why many regard him as the best in the world, throwing himself into contact, while also possessing the running game and ball skills to excel in the open. At lineout time he has proven himself to be reliable and defensively there are few who hit harder and more often. On top of this he has come up with a couple of big plays at big moments, such as at the end of their one-point win over the Stormers. Next best has been Nasi Manu, who always goes forward and never seems to stop running or tackling.
7. Shane Christie
Before the Highlanders' bye at the weekend, Christie was the competition's equal leading tackler with 104 in just seven games, including one off the bench. And he is simply everywhere on the park. There are times when he will make three or four tackles in a sequence, while also getting over the ball to disrupt it or snaffle a turnover. His speed from the set-piece to the first breakdown is outstanding and often sees the opposition first five-eighth and breakdown under pressure. On attack he is beginning to show more strings to his game too, running hard in the loose and breaking tackles. He is definitely the form New Zealand openside flanker, although mention must go to Samoa's Jack Lam, who has been in outstanding form for the Hurricanes.
Messam is another tireless worker who just never stops. Defensively he always has a high tackle count, but not only this, his tackles are always hard and teams rarely gain momentum when running at him. The Chiefs have become renowned for their steely defence under pressure and Messam is always right at the front of this, the sort of player who is always up fast and always getting back into position to make another tackle. With ball in hand he runs hard at the line too and is beginning to show more in his attacking game than he has in the past few years.
5. Sam Whitelock
He was outplayed by Brodie Retallick on Saturday night, but that was more indicative of Retallick's good form than anything Whitelock did wrong. In the lineouts he is still the best in the country and opponents have struggled throwing in against the Crusaders, as with Whitelock and Read they possess two genuine snatchers. His work rate remains high and his physicality is evident in contact. Next best has been Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler, who is another hard worker, making plenty of tackles and cleanouts, while also winning his ball at the back of the lineout.
Retallick just keeps getting better and has been a colossus in recent times. It is very rare to see him stop and he plays the game with the mentality to move things, whether it be at the breakdown or in the tackle. His consistency is almost machine-like and bodes well for the years ahead as you would expect he is only going to get better. While his lineouts have not been quite as good this year, this can be down to a lot of factors, as the Chiefs lineout as a whole has not operated as well as the few seasons. Ultimately he is the form lock in the country and with Whitelock will form the most underrated and possibly the best locking duo in the world.
3. Chris King
King is another example of a player who embodies consistency. Before the bye-week he ranked in the top 10 in the competition for tackles, which is outstanding for a prop. He supports play well, clearing rucks and linking where needed, popping up to clean up loose ball occasionally too. The set-piece has seemed to operate smoothly while he is on the park, in fact the Highlanders scrum was at its worst this season against the Hurricanes where he was not a tight head prop. He has been one of the Highlanders' most valuable and busiest players this season and deserves the praise.
2. Dane Coles
Hooker is another position where there really is a lack of depth and while it has been discussed to death, it does not seem we are much closer to finding an answer. Liam Coltman has plenty of promise, working hard and is very direct, but needs to stamp the mistakes out of his game. Likewise Rhys Marshall of the Chiefs gets himself involved in the game, but his lineout throwing still needs work. Dane Coles remains the pick of the bunch though, showing good pace around the field, hitting the ball at good angles to carry well, while also making enough tackles.
1. Ben Franks
The last spot came down to Franks and Kane Hames, the two standout loosehead props of 2014 thus far. Tony Woodcock has hardly brought the physicality he needs to, while Wyatt Crockett has been a bit too inconsistent. Hames and Franks both have impressive work rates and been prominent in their respective teams over the first half of the season. Hames has not been quite as involved in the past two games, however, and took a while adjusting to the physicality the Bulls displayed. Franks brings physicality and in general has been better in the scrum than in past years.
Ultimately this jersey is still up for grabs, but do not be surprised to see it go to Woodcock or Crockett come All Blacks season.
