Wellington, Oct 27 NZPA - Canterbury has swept the honours in a poll of Air New Zealand Cup rugby players, with Dan Carter rated best player, Rob Penney top coach and hooker Corey Flynn an outstanding referee.

Multi-tasking All Black Flynn was rated third-best hooker in the Cup, but took the eye when voted the competition's second-best referee, after Vinny Munro.

Not all players shared that positive assessment of the Cantab rake's knowledge of the rules -- Flynn also shared the title of worst ref with Bryce Lawrence.

The poll, published in Skysport The Magazine, saw 40 percent opt for Carter as the best in the game, followed by Richie McCaw (21 percent).

Manawatu first-five Aaron Cruden was rated best new talent; Hawke's Bay prop Clint Newland the worst player to get in a fight with, and Auckland inside back Dan Bowden the most likely to take a dive.

New All Black Mike Delany, Auckland forward Kurtis Haiu, Canterbury centre Casey Laulala and his propping team-mate Wyatt Crockett were the most under-rated players.

Tasman was the most under-rated team in the Cup, with the Chiefs -- finalists this year -- fulfilling that role in the Super 14.

Going on the players' choice the Cup final will be between Canterbury and Southland, as they regarded the other semifinalists Wellington and Hawke's Bay the most over-rated teams in the competition.

The Blues were the most over-rated New Zealand Super 14 team.

Seventy percent thought all 14 teams should remain in the Air NZ Cup, even though the plan is to axe four for 2010.

Best players in each position:

Fullback: Mils Muliaina (34 percent), Colin Slade, Israel Dagg.

Wing: Sean Maitland, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford (20 percent each).

Centre: Laulala (30 percent), Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith.

Second five-eighth: Tim Bateman (25 percent), Benson Stanley.

First five-eighth: Carter (70 percent), Delany.

Halfback: Tyson Keates (20 percent), Taniela Moa, Jimmy Cowan.

No 8: Colin Bourke and Kieran Read (both 20 percent).

Openside flanker: McCaw (68 percent), Karl Lowe.

Blindside flanker: Jerome Kaino (18 percent), Adam Thomson, Haiu.

Lock: Sam Whitelock (15 percent), Brad Thorn.

Prop: Tony Woodcock (35 percent)

Hooker: Keven Mealamu (18 percent), Andrew Hore, Flynn.