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Super Rugby Team of the Season: Matt Burke calls for changing of the guard as Wallabies No.9
The best in the business
Tate McDermott, Ardie Savea and Carlo Tizzano were three of the best in the business across a wildly unpredictable and entertaining Super Rugby Pacific regular season.
Savea took out the official, inaugural SRP player of the season award after an inspirational debut campaign at the helm of Moana Pasifika.
Read on to see who else made the cut in our Wide World of Sports team of 2025.
15: Tom Wright (Brumbies)
He somehow continues to fly under the radar despite being one of the most electrifying ball runners on the planet.
Something about living in Canberra I guess.
The tries dried up for Wright in 2025 but his overall game remained sparkling.
He edges out Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Will Jordan and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens for the No.15 jersey.
That trio were all superb but had their seasons cruelled by injuries.
14: Harry Potter (Force)
Potter has gone from cute headline option to arguably the form winger in Australia.
He impressed on the end of year tour for the Wallabies and Joe Schmidt continues to sing his praises.
It was notable that his form stayed high even as the Force nose dived at the end of the season.
13: Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
The consistently very good Ikitau wins it by a whisker from Billy Proctor, with the pair set to go head-to-head in a mouthwatering matchup on Saturday.
Proctor missed the start of the season with injury but was devastating as the Hurricanes surged up the table.
Ikitau, meanwhile, will almost certainly rekindle his combination with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii against the Lions if both men are fit.
12: Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders)
A beacon of hope for the wooden spoon Highlanders.
Oval Insights had the powerhouse recording the second most carries (184) in the competition, equal-third most offloads (21), most turnovers won (32) and most defenders beaten (89).
No wonder All Blacks drums are beating for a player described by Justin Marshall as "Ma'a Nonu on steroids."
11: Leroy Carter (Chiefs)
It helps being on the wing of the competition's benchmark team, but Carter went berzerk in his first season of Super Rugby.
The former New Zealand sevens star made a seamless transition and it would not surprise if an All Blacks jersey is on the way.
Carter has a thirst for the dirty work as well as the flashy which will not go unnoticed.
10: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Beauden Barrett deserves to be the starting All Blacks No.10 but there's no better in the Super Rugby environment than McKenzie.
The little Chiefs wizard again bossed the competition with some eyepopping stats.
McKenzie had the most points to go with the second highest goalkick success, second most defenders beaten (53) and most retained kicks (24).
9: Tate McDermott (Reds)
Neck and neck with Cam Roigard but this is an Australian website after all.
McDermott won the coveted 'Golden Posty' award as the best Aussie player in the eyes of the Stan Sport Between Two Posts team.
Matt Burke also believes he should replace Jake Gordon as the first-choice Test No.9.
"I like the way Tate McDermott's playing, he's just everywhere at the moment," Burke said.
"And his delivery from the base of a ruck or a maul or a scrum is great.
"What I'm really liking about him is the way he's running from the breakdown as well, and he's picking his time, he's picking his targets, and he's isolating players and I think it's such a massive strength of his game.
"I reckon he'll be the No.9 for Wallabies. He's playing good footy."
8: Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)
One of the most dominant seasons in Super Rugby history was rewarded with the player of the year gong in Wellington.
Such was Savea's brilliance, he had the players and coaches vote in his pocket with two rounds to go.
"Ardie's passionate leadership and dominant performances for Moana Pasifika this year have made an indelible mark on his teammates, his opponents and our competition as a whole," Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.
7: Carlo Tizzano (Force)
A breakout season for the back-up Wallabies openside.
With 13, Tizzano broke the record for most tries by a forward in a Super Rugby season.
He didn't forget about his core duties, however, registering the third most tackles in the comp. (198)
