Greatest Blues & Highlanders Combined Super Rugby XV

With the Highlanders and Blues clashing this weekend in Super Rugby we have put together the best-combined team in the competition's history. Only players that represented the Highlanders or Blues in Super Rugby have been considered.

1. Tony Woodcock (Blues and Highlanders)

Woodcock played over 130 games for the Blues and 117 All Blacks. The powerful loosehead makes it into the squad relatively unchallenged considering his quality and consistency of his performances.

Woodcock played most of his career with the Blues but spent one season with Highlanders in 2013.

2. Keven Mealamu (Blues)

All Black legend Mealamu edges Sean Fitzpatrick for the starting jersey, purely because is the second most capped Super Rugby player in the competition's history.

Mealamu won two World Cups with the All Blacks and a Super Rugby title with the Blues.

3. Kees Meeuws (Blues and Highlanders)

A powerful scrummager Meeuws made 80 Super Rugby appearances, 47 with the Highlanders and 33 with the Blues.

He also managed 42 test caps for the All Blacks. Meeuws was also part of the 2004 Blues squad that won the competition.

Carl Hayman is a close second for the position. 

4. Filipo Levi (Highlanders)

A powerful second rower who represented the Highlanders 63 times between 2002 and 2007.

Levi was on the cusps of an All Black cap before injury ruled him out, he went on to represnt Samoa 25 times.

5. Ali Williams (Blues)

Williams made over 100 appearances for the Blues and went on to win the World Cup with the All Blacks before heading to France in 2013.

Williams was also part of the 2003 Blues side that won the competition. 

6. Jerome Kaino (Blues)

A true journeyman Kaino has been one of the Blues standout performers since making his debut in 2004 and has made over 100 appearances for the Blues.

He edges out the likes of Josh Kronfeld and Adam Thomson.

7. Sir Michael Jones (Blues)

One of the greatest All Blacks of all time Jones represented the Blues from 1996 and 1999.

The powerful loose forward led the side to two Super Rugby titles and made the final in the third. 

8. Zinzan Brooke (Blues)

Another All Black legend makes the side. Brooke played the first two years of Super Rugby, leading the Blues two Super Rugby titles.

9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

Although there are a number of quality nines that represented both the Highlanders and the Blues, Smith has been sensational for the Highlanders since making his debut in 2011.

Smith was key to the Highlanders triumph during the 2015 Super Rugby season. 

10. Carlos Spencer (Blues)

Dubbed as King Carlos, Spencer is one of the most skilful and creative flyhalves to play the game.

Spencer beats the likes of Lima Sopoaga and Tony Brown to the number 10 jersey.

11. Jonah Lomu (Blues)

One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Lomu enjoyed some of his best form in Super Rugby during his time with the Blues scoring 13 tries in 22 appearances.

During his time with the Blues, he won two Super Rugby titles.

12. Ma'a Nonu (Blues and Highlanders)

Another Super Rugby and All Black centurion makes our team. Nonu had two stints with the Blues in 2012 and 2014 and played for the Highlanders in 2013.

13. Seilala Mapusua (Highlanders)

A hard-hitting Soman centre Mapusua made 51 appearances for the Highlanders scoring 5 tries.

Mapusua edges out a number of quality outside centres including the likes of Pita Alatini, Richard Kahui, Eroni Clarke & Malakai Fekitoa.

14. Doug Howlett (Blues)

An incredibly tough choice on the right wing with Doug Howlett and Jeff Wilson battling it out for a place in the side.

Howlett gets the edge because of his sensational try-scoring record that still stands. Howlett scored 56 tries in 97 appearances for the Blues.

15. Ben Smith (Highlanders)

Another 50/50 call at fullback with Mils Muliaina coming close with no cigar in making the squad.

Ben Smith was crucial for the Highlanders as they went onto claim the title in 2015.