George Bridge is the only player from the back‑to‑back champion Crusaders included in Sanzaar's annual Super Rugby team of the year.
Wing Bridge, who scored 15 tries for the red and blacks, hasn't even been joined by form first‑five Richie Mo'unga, who many are calling to replace Beauden Barrett as the All Blacks first‑string pivot.
But forget Barrett and Mo'unga, it's Chief Damian McKenzie, the other first‑five in the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship, who has been named in the No 10 jersey.
The players from 12 of the teams were picked based on comprehensive statistics that monitor in detail every action of every match.
The Chiefs are the best represented Kiwi franchise ‑ Anton Lienert‑Brown, Solomon Alaimalo, McKenzie and Brodie Retallick ‑ made the cut.
Waratahs fullback Israel Folau, beat out Ben Smith to be named at fullback.
The other players include Hurricanes TJ Perenara, Blues No 8 Akira Ioane, four South African forwards, Michael Little from Sunwolves, Pablo Matera of the Jaguares and Taniela Tupou from the Reds.
[Source: stuff.co]
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