Super Rugby team of the season

Now that the 2017 Super Rugby fixtures have been announced, we take a look back at the 2016 Super Rugby Team of the Season:

1. Dylan Smith (Lions)

Smith only made his Super Rugby appearance off the bench in Round 1 against Sunwolves.

The 22-year-old's perfomance in the 2016 season was more than enough as he totalled 116 metres from 49 carries, beating 10 defenders along the way with 55 tackles completed.

2. Dane Coles (Hurricanes)

Coles' field dominance in the 2016 Super Rugby season saw him make more metres than any other front row forward (473), as well as beating more defenders (31) with more clean breaks (18) of any other front row forward.

He scored 5 tries while assisting 3 more.

There is no denying that he will make as much of an impact in the new Super Rugby season.

4. RG Snyman (Bulls)

His quick hands allowed Snyman to make the most offloads of any lock (15) as well as taking 65 lineouts (including 7 steals) and scoring 2 tries.

The 21-year-old will take the field for the Bulls once again in the 2017 season as he has extended his stay until October 2017.

5. Pieter-Steph Du Toit (Stormers)

With a dangerous blend of power and speed, du Toit stole 14 lineouts in 14 games, the 2nd most of any player.

His destructive hits saw him hammer through the most defenders (22) and made the most carries of any 2nd row (139), scoring 3 tries in the process.

6. Jaco Kriel (Lions)

Metres: 858 (more metres than any other forward)

Defenders beaten: 57

Tries scored: 6 (the 2nd most tries of any forward)

7. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

Metres: 205 (the most tackles in the competition)

Turnovers: 25 (the joint most turnovers)

He is also the only forward to score 5+ (7) tries and assist 5+ tries.

8. Kieran Reid (Crusaders)

Tries scored: 3 with 5 assists. He is one of only two forwards to make 100+ passes.

Offloads: 15 (the joint second most offloads of any forward)

9. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

Perenara is the only player to make 1000+ passes this season. He scored 7 tries and assisted a further 7.

Clean breaks: 20 (more clean breaks than any other scrum-half)

Turnovers: 10 (more turnovers than any other scrum-half)

10. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)

Tries scored: 9 with a further 9 assist. 

Top points scorer with 223 at an average of 12 per game.

Metres: 847 (the most metres of any fly-half).

11. Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders left for Montpellier)

Tries scored: 6 and assisted 7 tries in the competition, kicking all the four shots at goal he had.

Offloads: 26 (the joint 3rd most offloads)

Clean breaks: Nadolo has the most clean breaks per game of anyone to play 10+ games (2.3).

12. Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)

Tries: assisted 6 tries.

Carries: 105 carries for 570 metres

Defenders beaten: 22

Tackles: 81

Offloads: 15 

13. Israel Folau (Waratahs)

Tries scored: 11 (the top try scorer in the competition)

Metres: 1250 (4th most metres gained)

Defenders beaten: 55 (the 5th most defenders beaten)

Offloads: 24 (5th most offloads)

14. Melani Nanai (Blues)

Tries scored: 5

Defenders beaten: 41 (top 10 rank)
Clean breaks: 22 clean breaks in 11 games.

15. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – Player of the Season

Tries: 10 

Defenders beaten: 67 (most of any player in the competition)

Clean breaks: 31 (joint most in the competition)

Tackles: 55

Metres: 1304 (most metres in the competition)