2013 Super Rugby Review

The Super Rugby season seems to have dragged on for most fans - especially if you are a Highlanders fan - but it has been a very exciting season as usual.

Adriaan Strauss was dynamic for the Cheetahs

Super Rugby keeps going up a notch each season and at least one new contender emerges this season - this year it was the Cheetahs, who finally ditched their irrelevance tag and made their first appearance in the playoffs, playing the most attractive brand of rugby out of all the South African sides.

The ethereal George Smith led the Brumbies' rennaisance while David Pocock was injured

You could also add the Brumbies although their recent renaissance started last year when they just missed out on the playoffs. Jake White's young squad matured this season and deservedly made the Final after overcoming South Africa's finest home and away. They were comfortably Australia's best Super Rugby side ahead of the Reds and Waratahs, and well ahead of the Force and Rebels, falling just short of their 3rd ever title but can hold their heads up high after an epic performance in a final that many had expected them to lose.

The Crusaders and Reds were 2nd best behind the Chiefs and Brumbies

Indeed, there is no shame losing to undoubtedly the best team in Super Rugby right now. The Chiefs look very much like the team about to embark on the sort of dynasty their rivals from Auckland and Christchurch have embarked on in the past. As long as Dave Rennie and his Moneyball coaches are in Mooloo country, the Chiefs look set for a very long and sustained era of success - and with the process of recruiting the unwanted stars from the other franchises already well underway, it's fair enough to put a bet on them making it three in a row.

After all, this was the same side that people said couldn't win without Sonny Bill Williams. Mind you, the Chiefs will lose the likes of Craig Clarke, Toby Smith, Brendon Leonard, Leila Masaga and Richard Kahui this season and only the Crusaders have won three-in-a-row, making a championship win in 2014 an even bigger challenge than this season.

Rene Ranger was inspirational in 2013 but won't be part of JK's Blues revolution in 2014

Furthermore, expect John Kirwan and Todd Blackadder to make more changes to their sides in a bid to catch up with the men from the Waikato, making an already highly competitive New Zealand conference even tastier - and let's not discount the Hurricanes and Highlanders too.

The Bulls got a bye in the playoffs but that didn't help in their semifinal against the Brumbies

What about the South African sides? The fact that their top side only made the semifinals probably epitomised the rather "so-so" season that South African Super Rugby sides had. The one bright spark must be the Cheetahs' winning form in Australia and New Zealand - even the Bulls who won the conference didn't have as good a run as they did, heavily relying on their form at Loftus Versfeld to finish top - and the Kings' shock results in Australia against the Brumbies and Rebels*.

*Shame the Kings won't be able to repeat their feats next season having lost their promotion-relegation playoff series against the Lions from Joburg, who will return to Super Rugby next season.

Chiefs fans have plenty to thank the Stormers for - their win ensured the Chiefs finished numero uno

The Stormers and Sharks disappointed after their efforts last season and will be going back to the drawing board to get back to the form they showed in 2012. Mind you, it was probably more that other sides stepped up their games than any deficiencies on the part of the coastal teams.

So Super Rugby is over for another year. While there is plenty of talk about changes for 2016, the competition is over for now and talk can shift to the Rugby Championship, ITM Cup and Currie Cup.

Chiefs - champions!

Here are my teams of the year -

Super Rugby XV (NZ only)
1.Wyatt Crockett, Crusaders
2.Dane Coles, Hurricanes
3.Ben Tameifuna, Chiefs
4.Sam Whitelock, Crusaders
5.Brodie Retallick, Chiefs
6.Steven Luatua, Blues
7.Matt Todd, Crusaders
8.Kieran Read, Crusaders
9.TJ Perenara, Hurricanes
10.Aaron Cruden, Chiefs
11.Hosea Gear, Highlanders
12.Bundee Aki, Chiefs
13.Rene Ranger, Blues
14.Frank Halai, Blues
15.Ben Smith, Highlanders

Super Rugby XV (all teams)
1.Wyatt Crockett, Crusaders
2.Adriaan Strauss, Cheetahs
3.Ben Tameifuna, Chiefs
4.Sam Whitelock, Crusaders
5.Brodie Retallick, Chiefs
6.Pieter Labuschagne, Cheetahs
7.George Smith, Brumbies
8.Ben Mowen, Brumbies
9.TJ Perenara, Hurricanes
10.Christian Lealiifano, Brumbies
11.Hosea Gear, Highlanders
12.Bundee Aki, Chiefs
13.Rene Ranger, Blues
14.Henry Speight, Brumbies
15.Ben Smith, Highlanders

Player of the Season - Ben Smith, Highlanders. The best player in New Zealand rugby shone well above his peers in an average Highlanders side. Goodness knows how bad the Highlanders could have been without Ben Smith's influence.

Try of the Season - 

Game of the Season - The Final hands down. Super Rugby 2013 saved its best for last with the Chiefs' comeback one of the best ever in a Final.