Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round 8
As Eric Rush once said, “this is just one man’s opinion”. Please add your picks and your favourites in the feedback box below.
15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks) Bosch was like a scalpel as he repeatedly cut through the Lions defensive line on their way to a 42-5 dismantling of the 2018 runners-up, the Lions, in Durban. Two tries and some real wizardry on attack and then rounded the game off with some good kicks from the tee.
14 Reece Hodge (Rebels) Taking a bit of license here as Hodge played at fullback but with the lack of a stand out in the number 14 jersey we’ll bang him in there. Scored two of his 3 tries from flat in the line and also set up Quade Cooper for his.
13 Lukanyo Am (Sharks) Had a bit of a laugh at his expense last week saying his Mum might have awarded his ‘Man of the Match’ award but this week he was excellent on both sides of the ball. With Kriel and Am firing this is a position of strength for the Springboks.
12 Ma’a Nonu (Blues) This week we had some masterclasses from 12. Samu Kerevi has been a strong leader in a young Reds team this year and was influential in the win over the Stormers. Ryan Crotty was outstanding as he featured in the comeback in Christchurch, the Crusaders were 7-0 down to the Brumbies at halftime but really did change the impetus. Then Ma’a Nonu showed he is a genuine contender for a midfield position at the World Cup with a mature guiding hand over the Blues victory against the Waratahs. Both Crotty and Nonu displayed mastery, distributing to ball carriers in space. Crotty, Nonu, Laumape, Goodhue, ALB, SBW. 6 great players, only four required…
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) Last week I lamented that we don’t get to see Mapimpi in space very often and this week we saw what he can bring to a game with a bit of room and go-forward. He is very exciting to watch and hopefully the Sharks can continue to get him the pill!
10 Domingo Miotti (Jaguares) Ok so I had pencilled in Richie Mo’unga’s name here while watching the final game of the weekend, the Bulls v Jaguares and with 9 minutes to go the South Africans had a 10 point lead and looking as safe as they could without having Handre Pollard playing. In that last 9 minutes, young Domingo came off the bench, scored two tries and a tough conversion from the sideline and conducted play like a veteran. How easy is this Super Rugby? My mates are sick to death of me reminding them that one of the only countries that will field a team with over a thousand caps in RWC 2023 will be Argentina, and the only weakness they will have is at 10. Could this guy be the answer? Incredible start.
9 Bryn Hall (Crusaders) I think there’s still a load of Canterbury supporters who’d prefer Mitchell Drummond as starting 9 at the Crusaders but the import from North Harbour made a real difference in the last 35 mins against the Brumbies. Really concentrated on lifting the tempo, burrowing into rucks like a demented mole to retrieve the ball for another quick phase which eventually broke down the Aussies. Jordan Taufua was the other point of difference who came on around the same time. Will Genia had another blockbuster.
8 Dan du Preez (Sharks) Second week in a row. He has been immense this season and I am sure his performance underlined to the Lions that they desperately need Warren Whitely back in their line-up.
7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) Power and pace like no other loosie at the moment. Sam Cane has the experience but will really have to prove he hasn’t lost any of his strength and courage because Savea is dominating games.
6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares) Matera scored a try and alongside Tomas Lezana gobbled up metres for fun in the first half vs the Bulls. In the battle between AB blindside hopefuls Shannon Frizell and Vaea Fifita, it seemed as though Frizell had the points win but Fifita’s team won the game.
5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders) Definitely the form lock of the NZ conference and the form player of the Barrett family, quite an achievement! His consistency of work rate and accuracy is his best asset.
4 Tom Staniforth (Waratahs) A lot of people would say “the winners take the spoils, why wouldn’t you give this position to Patrick Tuipolotu?”. Well 20 minutes in at Eden Park, the Waratahs were wilting against the home team, down 17-0 and off limps Ned Hannigan. All of a sudden the Waratahs started winning collisions and Staniforth fronted up to the big Blues pack and said “we are here to win”. And boy were they close! If he could continue that form he is just the type of aggressive power player in the second row the Wallabies are missing.
3 Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders) narrowly pips Jermaine Ainsley (Rebels) for the tight head jersey. Solid scrum and some powerful play in the tackle area.
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Reds) The hooker position for the Wallabies is the same as the All Black blindside spot. A pack of hungry youngsters with a real opportunity for a big prize. BPA stepped up to take on some big South Africans and has two more gigantic African packs to take on to state his case in the next fortnight. Anaru Rangi is also played well for the Rebels.
1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) Second week in a row. The Sharks were hoping they could put on a performance for the Beast’s record breaking 157th Super rugby cap and the prop decided to get things going with 5 powerful ball carries in the first 5 minutes. That really put the Shark’s fin on the Lion’s throat and they didn’t let up.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
7 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
7 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
7 Go to comments