Is Lachlan Boshier your Investec Super Rugby MVP?
It’s time for fans to choose the ultimate MVP of the Investec Super Rugby season so far.
Last week fans chose the following five players as MVPs from each of the New Zealand teams:
Mark Telea (Blues), Lachlan Boshier (Gallagher Chiefs), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), David Havili (Crusaders), Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
Now we want to know who the ultimate MVP is. Vote below and have your say!
The finalists:
Mark Telea (Blues)
Relatively unknown at the start of the season, flying wing Mark Telea is now an automatic selection for coach Leon MacDonald on the Blues team-sheet. The 23-year-old speedster has started in all seven of the Blues games in 2020, scoring five tries and topping most of their attacking statistics. He leads the competition in defenders beaten with 54 and is second overall in metres made (559) and third in clean breaks (14). His form has been rewarded with a spot at the top of the Super Rugby New Zealand rookie of the year leaderboard. He is on top of the ladder with 13 points, five ahead of second-placed Tom Christie from the Crusaders.
Lachlan Boshier (Gallagher Chiefs)
The 25 year-old flanker has been a turnover machine for the Chiefs in 2020. In just five games, Boshier has made 17 turnovers, the most in the competition. In amongst his thieving of the ball, he has also scored three tries and his tackle success rate is at 90%. The Taranaki backrower has been on fire so far this season and his form has certainly warranted All Blacks selection chatter. He has teamed up well with fellow Chiefs loosies Sam Cane and Pita Gus Sowakula and as well as his impressive turnover stats, Boshier has made 27 carries, 112 run metres and three clean breaks.
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
In the absence of his older brother Beauden, Jordie Barrett has stepped up on the goal-kicking front for the Hurricanes and in games played he had scored 42 points. He had also been an important attacking weapon when running the ball back from fullback and working with the highly-effective Hurricanes rearguard. He had made 57 carries, made 283 metres in beating 15 defenders. He had also made four clean breaks, offloads and try assists. Clearly growing within himself, Barrett showed he was becoming a key influence in the Hurricanes backline.
David Havili (Crusaders)
In outstanding form before an abdominal problem hospitalised him, David Havili was right back to the best that saw him first selected for the All Blacks. Fullback, midfield or, on one occasion first five-eighths, has mattered little to him. He has consistently produced when it was most needed. He had made 45 carries and was fourth highest across the competition for beating 25 defenders while his 14 offloads were the best among all teams.
Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
Having stayed the distance with the Highlanders when they lost so many of their experienced brigade in the post-World Cup hiatus, halfback Aaron Smith has become a vital part of the side's leadership on the field. Playing as well as ever, in spite of the lack of success for the side, he remains a player opposing sides need to contain. He averages 52.8 passes per game and had made 264 as the season went into its enforced break. His speed is still a benchmark by which all other halfbacks are measured.
