Five of the best: Top performers from round three of Super Rugby AU
Round three of Super Rugby AU is in the books, with both the Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies finishing the round first and second respectively after winning their matches against valiant opposition.
The Reds have gone four matches without losing for the first time since 2013, but had to do it tough after surviving a scare from an exciting Western Force outfit.
Just like last week, it was a game of two halves for the Force who finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard after struggling to control a lead.
It was a similar tale for the New South Wales Waratahs, who blew a once 15-point lead against their rivals in the Brumbies, losing at the death.
Replacement halfback Issak Fines found a gap in the Waratahs defence, running through from five metres out to score next to the posts with mere minutes to run on the clock.
Another substitute in Bayley Kuenzle then slotted a relatively routine conversion to win the match for his side.
Was another great weekend of competitive rugby on Australian shores, with players from all teams impressing over the weekend. Let’s see who stood out as the five players of week three.
Andy Muirhead (Brumbies)
Let’s start off with the bad before we get to the good: a yellow card mid-way through the first half put his team in a pretty bad place, but the electric winger made up for it later.
With an abundance of energy, Muirhead was actively looking to get involved. At the death, he was arguably their standout player, looking the most dangerous and likely to break the Waratahs defensive line.
Finished just seven-metres short of the match-high tally for metres run, having run 91 metres off 10 carries despite his 10-minutes in the sin bin.
It was his hunger to make up for lost time that really impressed me.
Tom Banks deserves an honourable mention, in what was his first match back from injury. Banks had a key matchup against the in-form Jack Maddocks heading into the match, and the Brumbies fullback stood up when it counted.
He ran 98 metres, but looked dangerous whenever he had the ball. Stood up after Noah Lolesio went off injured, but still could’ve done more.
Byron Ralston (Force)
20-year-old Byron Ralston couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to his Super Rugby career. After making his debut last weekend against the Waratahs in Sydney, where he scored the Force’s first Super Rugby try in almost three years, Ralston made it three tries in two games with a double on Friday night.
The product of the Queensland rugby pathway shone in front of family and friends, with his standout moment being a 90-metre intercept try that brought the Force to within two points of the Reds on the stroke of half-time.
It's been long road to professional rugby for Byron Ralston, but the Western Force star flourished in his #SuperRugbyAU debut last week.https://t.co/gC21o1gdKH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 17, 2020
The winger ran the most metres of any player in one Super Rugby AU match so far, totalling 141 metres off 8 carries. He also held his own in defence and around the breakdown.
Definitely a rising star, and a player to look out for throughout the rest of the competition and beyond.
Fullback Jack McGregor also deserves mention after impressing against the Reds. He showed plenty of leadership from the back, and impressed with ball-in-hand – crossing over for the first try of the match.
Filipo Daugunu (Reds)
Daugunu might just be the most exciting winger to watch in Super Rugby AU at the moment, constantly running with purpose whenever he gets the ball. He’s always looking to get involved too, finishing with the equal most carries of any Reds player with 13.
Scored his third try in as many weeks last Friday against the Western Force, showing brilliant footwork once again. His left foot is simply dangerous, cutting inside to beat not one but two Force defenders on his way to the chalk.
But his standout moment came on the stroke of half-time, charging down a Jono Lance conversion from just in front. Kept the Force behind by two at the break, and brought momentum back to his side. Very similar to what was seen in the Crusaders v Blues a couple of weeks ago.
Otherwise had an impressive game in defence and around the breakdown. With both pundits and fans calling for his Wallabies selection, Dave Rennie will be very tempted if he can keep this form up.
Chris Feauai-Sautia also impressed on the other wing for the Reds, running for a team high 78-metres off nine carries. With Jock Campbell also finding his feet back at fullback, Brad Thorn might’ve found his go-to back three.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds)
After a solid performance last week against the Rebels, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has backed it up with another impressive showing.
He mainly made his mark with ball-in-hand against the Force, having 13 carries which was equal most for the Reds alongside Filipo Daugunu and James O’Connor. The second rower also impressed on defence, coming in equal second for tackles made with 12.
It’s his work rate which should catch Dave Rennie’s eye if he can maintain some consistency. The Reds need him to be consistent, but heck, so do the Wallabies.
Taniela Tupou was also a standout, helping Salakaia-Loto drive the Queensland Reds tight five.
Tupou carried three Force players with him on his way to the line from only a few metres out, but with one of those players being 198cm former All Black Jeremy Thrush, you’d be a harsh critic not to be impressed.
Discipline is still a bit of an issue for the 24-year-old, giving away two penalties. But the Reds were in control with their scrums, with Tupou a big part of that.
When it comes to effectiveness, the Reds wouldn’t be the same team without the Tongan Thor.
Will Harrison (Waratahs)
Harrison is showing poise simply beyond his years playing in the Tahs 10 jersey, impressing again against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
Coming up against Noah Lolesio in a battle for potential Wallabies honours, the Waratahs flyhalf showed both leadership and creativity that set him apart.
In the 28th minute, the 20-year-old took a quick tap before finding James Ramm with a nicely weighted near 40 metre kick across the field. It’s having the courage, skill and self-confidence to pull that off in a big match that surely impressed Dave Rennie.
His goalkicking was also relatively impressive, but he did miss one late that ultimately cost his side. Was unlucky but it certainly didn’t cancel out all the good work he did around the park.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper 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?
11 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.
11 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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 comments