FIVE PLAYERS WHO WILL SHINE
01 GEORGE MOALA [Blues]
It’s all set up for big George to have a storming year. The Blues pack look better equipped to win ball and play on the front foot and with Augustine Pulu and Sonny Bill Williams to slot into the No 9 and No 12 jersies respectively, there could be plenty of ball coming Moala’s way. Give this guy space and he’ll take it.
He won’t pass much but he takes the view he doesn’t have to as he is ridiculously strong, quick enough and more than capable of smashing his way into some interesting places.
02 AARON CRUDEN [Chiefs]
It’s not a stretch for the imagination to conclude that Aaron Cruden probably didn’t enjoy last year as much as he hoped. It was all going so well until he was injured in June and then we barely saw him again as the year became all about Beauden Barrett.
A natural competitor with a vast range of skills, Cruden will bounce back from disappointment the only way he knows how – with a number of commanding performances that show he still has the drive and ability to be a serious force through to the next World Cup.
03 VAEA FIFITA [Hurricanes]
With one campaign behind him now and also having spent a bit of time with the All Blacks on their end of season tour, Vaea Fifta could have the confidence to make himself a prominent feature in all parts of the Hurricanes’ game.
He’ll be a bit stronger and better conditioned following his exposure to the All Blacks and that could make the difference. He’s a crazily agile and rangy athlete who had some freakishly memorable moments last year. He’s long limbs and sharp edges when he carries and he is comfortable on the ball. Has a healthy element of mongrel about him, too.
04 CODIE TAYLOR [Crusaders]
Given the rise and rise of Dane Coles, it has been a little hard to spot that Codie Taylor has matured and developed into a seriously good player in the last 18 months.
He’s well put together, mobile, agile, does his core roles well and tackles like a loose forward. This boy can play and regular game time will see him become a key part of the Crusaders’ attacking patterns. He can carry with the same sort of ease as Coles and he’s not far behind in terms of his speed and athleticism. Watch out for him scoring a few tries wide out.
05 WAISAKE NAHOLO [Highlanders]
He was the man of the moment in 2015 but a second fracture to his leg in the first game of last year saw him miss too much of the season to be the star turn again.
He’s the sort of player that gets better the more he plays and the more he plays, the sharper he becomes. He can finish tries no one else can, beat defenders any way he likes and is never short of confidence. He’ll run from anywhere and try anything and in Super Rugby, more often than not, he pulls off the miracle.