TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT: BEST OF THE BEST; Rugby 365

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: THE 2016 SUPER RUGBY SEASON IS DONE AND DUSTED AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR RUGBY365'S TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT.

It comes as no surprise that players from this year's finalists, the Hurricanes and Lions, make up most of the team. Both teams have been outstanding in this year's competition.

Other teams represented in our selection includes the Highlanders, Crusaders, Chiefs and Stormers.

Ben Smith, Ruan Combrinck and Nemani Nadolo makes up the back three with Ryan Crotty and Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the midfield.

Beauden Barrett is our choice at flyhalf, with Aaron Smith in the No.9 jersey.

In the pack, Warren Whiteley, Ardie Savea and Jaco Kriel are in the back row. In the second row, we have Brodie Retallick and Eben Etzebeth.

Julian Redelinghuys, Dane Coles and Reggie Goodes make up the front row.

Team of the Tournament:

15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders)
He was one of the best players with ball in hand throughout the tournament. He scored and created tries and left plenty of defenders in his wake with his speed and guile.
Bubbling under: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)

14 - Ruan Combrinck (Lions)
The Springbok scored eight tries in this year's campaign and ranks in the top three for clean breaks and defenders beaten in the competition. His power and speed out wide gave teams plenty of problems this year.
Bubbling under: Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders)

13 - Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
The midfield veteran gave 100 percent for his team and he was a much-improved player for the seven-time champions this season. He also led by example in the Crusaders' backline.
Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Lions)

12 - Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions)
He was a revelation for the Lions in this season's campaign. He got his team over the advantage line most of the time with some strong carries. He also scored ten tries.
Bubbling under: David Havili (Crusaders)

11 - Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders)
His offloading abilities in the tackle gave the Crusaders a huge advantage out wide. Teams just struggled to bring this big man to ground when he was in full flight.
Bubbling under: James Lowe (Chiefs)

10 - Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
He finished as the competition's leading points scorer. It has been a remarkable season for the young man. His game management was world class and he was a constant attacking threat with his vision and speed.
Bubbling under: Elton Jantjies (Lions)

9 - Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
He is an exceptional player and probably the best in his position at the moment. He played an important role in quite a few of his team's tries this season and his distribution and kicking game throughout the tournament was phenomenal.
Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

8 - Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Although he did not have a great Final against the Hurricanes, he was one of the most consistent players in terms of performance throughout this year's tournament. He also led by example.
Bubbling under: Michael Leitch (Chiefs)

7 - Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
He is probably the player of the tournament. No player has made more tackles than Savea, while only David Pocock has won more turnover ball than him. His speed and power on attack also caused all sorts of problems for opposition teams this year.
Bubbling under: David Pocock (Brumbies)

6 - Jaco Kriel (Lions)
He epitomised the Lions' spirit on the field with his tenacity on attack and on defence. He has also shown what a good leader he is in Warren Whiteley's absence.
Bubbling under: Sam Cane (Chiefs)

5 - Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
He is one of the best players in the world and he showed it during the tournament. He was brilliant in the line-outs and his physicality in open play helped the Chiefs against stronger opposition.
Bubbling under: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)

4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
No one has stolen more line-out ball than this man. He also did some outstanding work for the Stormers in open play, particularly in defence.
Bubbling under: Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes)

3 - Julian Redelinghuys (Lions)
He dominated most opponents in the scrum in this year's competition and was one of the key players in the Johannesburg team's forward pack.
Bubbling under: Charlie Faumuina (Blues)

2 - Dane Coles (Hurricanes) 
An exceptional player on attack. He is a hooker, but he has displayed better skills than some backline players. He also played an important role for the Hurricanes at the breakdowns and he was solid on defence as well.
Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (Lions)

1 - Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes)
He played out of his skin in almost every game he has played in this season. He was solid in the scrums, but outstanding in open play where he scored a few tries and made plenty of tackles for his team.
Bubbling under: Scott Sio (Brumbies)

Some surprises but Lions and Canes are well represented. 
I was surprised to see Crotty selected, surprised Brad Shields didn't make it. Wee Eben was selected so that shows the selectors have some charity

 Would actually pay good money to see that team play their European counterparts.

 So many Aussies in the mix...

 DB, yes it would be a formidable team.
Faf didn't get a mention as two kiwis took the honors. But neither did Sopoaga at 10 as Jantjies beat him out in the bubbling under selection.
Can't argue with the Ozzie players selected Chippo, there representation seems fair to me

 Actually for once 365's massive pro South African bias is not in evidence. A fabulous team.......go Rohan, is Coetzee taking notes?

 Coetzee obviously did not take note - Janse van Rensburg is not in Coetzee's squad.  Pathetically p oor selection bringing in De Jong and leaving out Rohan. 

 Coetzee obviously did not take note - Janse van Rensburg is not in Coetzee's squad.  Pathetically p oor selection bringing in De Jong and leaving out Rohan. 

 Marx was by some distance the best hooker in the comp as was Faf the best scrummie. In fact Akkers was the second best hooker but was not given sufficient time to show case his huge talent. This is a serious problem. He may even be better than Marx. Extremely mobile and a real  handful.
Coetzee is an anc stooge. Leaving out Van Rensburg vividly illustrates this. Time to make a stand one and all against this political interference in sport. A failure to do so is telling! All genuine rugby fans need to make a stand. 

 Marx was by some distance the best hooker in the comp as was Faf the best scrummie. In fact Akkers was the second best hooker but was not given sufficient time to show case his huge talent. This is a serious problem. He may even be better than Marx. Extremely mobile and a real  handful.
Coetzee is an anc stooge. Leaving out Van Rensburg vividly illustrates this. Time to make a stand one and all against this political interference in sport. A failure to do so is telling! All genuine rugby fans need to make a stand. 

And this my anti Lions reaction to a TOT containing 5 Lions.

What did you add to that lot other than serious crioticism of most of the lions players in a 2016 threat quoted by you.   Dismal to be so stupid - Mozart?

Where is the seious criticism....it's all there for you....copy and paste.