The RugbyPass Spherical Desk writers reply the massive questions on the mid-point of the Super Rugby Pacific 2025 season. Finn Morton (FM), Henry Lee (HL), Ben Smith (BS), and Ned Lester (NL) weigh in on who the MVP is on the midway level, in addition to the competitors’s breakout participant for 2025.
Who’s the MVP on the half-way stage of the competitors?
FM: After 9 rounds, fan favorite Ardie Savea is forward within the official Tremendous Rugby Participant of the 12 months race with 24 votes. Savea has been an inspirational chief for Moana Pasifika, with the backrower serving to that workforce rise to new heights in 2025.
However let’s not overlook about Western Force openside Carlo Tizzano, who has accomplished nothing improper this season. Tizzano sits atop of the try-scoring charts with 11 five-pointers so far, with the Wallaby surprisingly near the all-time file.
Tizzano placed on some measurement through the low season and it’s already paid off. Any individual get Joe Schmidt some Panadol as a result of the Wallabies coach has a variety headache to cope with, with Tizzano and Fraser McReight each battling for a similar No. 7 jersey.
In defence, Tizzano is equal-second with Du’Plessis Kirifi from the Hurricanes with 125 tackles, whereas Highlanders lock Fabian Holland is barely forward with 131. However the level is that this: Tizzano has been prolific on either side of the ball.
The Pressure wouldn’t be a top-six facet with out Tizzano, and that makes the 25-year-old so worthwhile to that facet. No different participant in Tremendous Rugby Pacific has had extra influence on a workforce than Carlo Tizzano on the Western Pressure.
HL: The present MVP voting doesn’t lie, and All Blacks star Ardie Savea is the present chief on the midway stage. Savea’s influence on and off the sphere for Moana Pasifika has utterly modified the way in which they compete within the competitors.
Off the sphere, the All Blacks unfastened ahead has added his expertise to the robust tradition that Moana Pasifika has, motivating gamers not solely to be higher on the sphere however off it too. Savea’s means on the sphere matches his presence off it and infrequently has put Moana Pasifika on his again, and carried them to victory. If you watch Savea play, he’s in all places, whether or not he’s in a breakdown or carrying the ball relentlessly, he’ll by no means hand over.
Most Helpful Participant is commonly mistaken for a lot of issues in a lot of these discussions, however in case you take Savea out of the Moana Pasifika franchise, 2025 appears very completely different for the North Shore-based facet.
BS: The official MVP because it stands based mostly on the participant’s vote is Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika, who leads with 24 factors. In shut pursuit behind him is Highlanders dynamo Timoci Tavatavanawai with 22.
Whereas Savea has been sensible as normal, Moana are combating their approach out of wood spoon rivalry. There needs to be extra weight on wins on this dialog, which is what issues. An NFL or NBA celebrity on a shedding facet that doesn’t make the playoffs isn’t going to win MVP, and this needs to be the case in Tremendous Rugby Pacific.
My unofficial MVP on the half-way stage is none apart from Damian McKenzie.
Criticisms except for the Tahs recreation, the Chiefs have the equal-best file within the competitors on the half-way stage and D-Mac has been central to these wins. The competitors’s main point-scorer is greater than a aim kicker, regardless of holding the third-best aim kicking share with 81.4%.
He sits second in defenders overwhelmed with 39 highlighting his elusive game-breaking means both from the again or at No.10. It was his double in opposition to at Eden Park in opposition to the Blues that sunk the defending champs early within the season, whereas within the return derby his aim kicking proved the distinction in a 32-31 win.
In a demolition of Moana Pasifika he was at his greatest, making a attempt with a line break help on the Chiefs’ first, a attempt help on a protracted ball to Stevenson, whereas slicing them up for one in every of his personal all earlier than half-time.
One dangerous recreation doesn’t low cost the season that McKenzie is having. Nonetheless, the proof shall be within the pudding. If the Chiefs win the title, McKenzie is the MVP.
NL: There’s one man in Tremendous Rugby who’s twice as more likely to make a dominant sort out as he’s to overlook a sort out. That man, after all, is Ardie Savea.
No particular person has as a lot affect on his workforce as Savea, each on and off the sphere.
Moana Pasifika could also be battling away on the backside of the desk, however they’ve pretty much as good a file as any workforce exterior the playoffs and boast the most effective assault within the comp.
Savea makes massive performs at massive moments greater than anybody in Tremendous Rugby, whether or not it’s turnovers, damaging runs, or massive hits.
The title of the award is Most Helpful Participant, and whereas others could argue Moana are usually not profitable sufficient to validate Savea profitable the award, he merely matches the invoice too properly to disregard.
Who’s the breakout participant of the 12 months on the half-way stage?
FM: Caleb Tangitau has been sensational since making the transfer to the deep south with the Highlanders. As a former All Blacks Sevens star and New Zealand U20s flyer, Tangitau at all times had the potential to succeed, and the Highlanders are reaping these rewards.
Tangitau was the primary identify that got here to thoughts, and chances are high, most of you studying would’ve had the identical thought. The 2022 Commonwealth Video games bronze medallist began the season with a double on debut and hasn’t appeared again.
In spherical 5 in opposition to the Hurricanes, Tangitau was clearly the most effective participant on the sphere despite the fact that the Landers went down swinging in a dramatic derby. With a shocking intercept attempt to another telling involvements, the winger had himself a recreation.
After 9 rounds, Tangitau sits within the high 10 for tries scored, is equal-second for clear breaks with 13, and is properly forward of the competitors for many metres gained with 676, which is 73 metres greater than second-place Tom Wright from the Brumbies.
Whereas most followers would nonetheless contemplate Tangitau a possible All Blacks bolter versus a probable member of Scott Robertson’s instant plans, there’s little question the speedster from the deep south must be on the radar for nationwide choice.
HL: Ioane Moananu. The younger Crusaders hooker went into pre-season because the third hooker for Rob Penney’s facet, and doubtless anticipated to be on the surface of the squad the entire 12 months.
He’s battled away for a few years within the coaching squad, behind George Bell, Brodie McAlister and Codie Taylor. When Bell obtained injured at first of the season, McAlister moved to the Chiefs, and Taylor got here again late after a heavy workload with the All Blacks and the Crusaders in 2024. Moananu was thrown into the deep finish and was compelled to play enormous minutes within the opening weeks.
Moananu has taken this chance with each arms and has harmful ball-carrying talents like Asafo Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho. The 24-year-old has essentially the most lineouts received within the competitors (71) in addition to 4 tries, 9 extra lineout wins than the subsequent greatest, Billy Pollard from the Brumbies.
Moananu’s scrummaging has slowly improved over the course of the season and is nailing his core roles most of the time all through the sport.
If there’s one other damage within the All Blacks hooker shares within the subsequent couple of months, I wouldn’t be stunned to see the younger barnstorming Crusaders hooker be part of Scott Robertson’s squad.
BS: This 12 months has seen many gamers emerge on the Tremendous Rugby scene as breakout stars, younger Highlanders fullback Finn Hurley, wing Caleb Tangitau, Moana Pasifika winger Kyren Taumoefolau to call a couple of. There are many worthy candidates on the market.
Maybe essentially the most intriguing story is Moana Pasifika playmaker Patrick Pellegrini who has come from relative obscurity to carry out on the Tremendous Rugby stage.
The Sydney-born Tongan worldwide was enjoying within the English Championship with Coventry for the final three seasons earlier than being picked up by Moana for this 12 months.
Pellegrini’s kicking recreation has been excellent, offering the route they should lead the robust Moana pack across the park. Off the tee he’s kicking at a competition-best 83.3%.
The 26-year-old has 4 begins and two bench appearances but it surely appears like Moana has discovered a gem at No.10 that nobody noticed coming.
NL: There isn’t any scarcity of candidates for this award, as this text attests.
One participant, although, who’s head and shoulders above all others in Tremendous Rugby Pacific in his respective subject is none apart from Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa.
No participant comes near Moana Pasifika’s bruising No. 8 with regards to carrying the ball, in each whole variety of carries on the season and in common carries per recreation, which isn’t usually the case.
The monster 21-year-old wasn’t even named in Moana Pasifika’s official 2025 squad final November, however managed to earn the belief of Tana Umaga and firm whereas with the workforce in preseason, and had received the beginning No. 8 jersey by spherical two.
To go from being exterior the squad simply months in the past to main the competitors in one in every of rugby’s most consequential metrics is the definition of a breakout participant.
