One Crusader in Super team of 2018

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. McKenzie was also named Sanzaar’s player of the year.

The fact just one player from the nine-time champions, who won their last 15 games and beat the Lions 37-18 in the final in Christchurch last Saturday night, made the cut sparked criticism on social media.

“Must have been the same panel that formatted the competition,” one disgruntled fan wrote.

Sanzaar publishes a form team each week of the season based on stats, and used the same system for the team of the year. However, that hasn’t stopped some teeing off at the governing body’s team, which includes players from 12 of the 15 sides in the much maligned competition.

“One Crusader and one Blues player? Best Super Rugby team and worst NZ team has one player in team of the year. Michael Little over Ryan Crotty? What a joke,” another fan wrote.

“The Crusaders would wipe this team,” another posted.

Including Little, who plays for the Sunwolves, eight of the 15 players are Kiwis. The Chiefs are the best represented Kiwi franchise - Anton Lienert-Brown, Solomon Alaimalo, McKenzie and Brodie Retallick made the cut.

On the other end of the scale, not one Highlander, including Ben Smith, overlooked in favour of Waratah Israel Folau at fullback, was picked.

Has players from 12 of the teams and like the regular season is based on comprehensive statistics that monitor in detail every action of every match. Player of the year is @ ChiefsRugby playmaker halfback TJ Perenara is the only Hurricane, while Blues No 8 Akira Ioane, not good enough to make the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship, was named at No. 8.

Team of 2018: 15. Israel Folau (Waratahs),14. Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs),13, Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 12.Michael Little (Sunwolves), 11.,George Bridge (Crusaders),10. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 9. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8.Akira Ioane (Blues), 7.Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks),6. Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5.Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4.Brodie Retallick (Chiefs),3. Taniela Tupou (Reds), 2.Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1.Steven Kitschoff (Stormers).