Super Rugby Pacific team of the week for round seven
Super Rugby Pacific has a new top dog after round seven, with the Hurricanes surging up to first on the ladder following their hard-fought win over the Highlanders.
The Hurricanes moved ahead of the undefeated Chiefs on points difference, which sets up a titanic clash between the competitions top two sides in round eight – but one thing at a time.
This is about the week that was, and fans were treated to four quality games across two nights of unmissable action.
Playmaker Richie Mo’unga celebrated his 100th match in Crusaders colours with a tough win over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. Later that night, the Brumbies ended a long-lasting Brisbane hoodoo with an emphatic win over the Reds.
The Hurricanes and Blues made a statement with solid victories as well.
Following every round of Super Rugby Pacific this season, RugbyPass will name its team of the week. Here’s the TOTW for round seven.
- Tom Wright (Brumbies)
In a team full of superstars, fullback Tom Wright continues to stand out for the Brumbies. The Wallaby was one of the Brumbies’ best on Friday night, as the Australian powerhouse recorded an emphatic win over rivals the Reds.
Wright was in the middle of everything throughout the entire 80 minutes – especially on attack. The former NRL playmaker crossed for his first five-pointer of the season in the 15th minute, and also played a role in a number of the Brumbies’ tries.
In the end, the fullback finished with an incredible state line which sees him pip the Crusaders’ Fergus Burke in the race for the No. 15 jersey in the round seven team of the week. Wright ran for 128 metres from 11 carries, beat two defenders and made three line breaks.
- Mark Telea (Blues)
If the opening seven rounds of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign has taught fans anything, it’s that there are three certainties in life. Of course there are death and taxes, but Mark Telea lighting up for the Blues also has to be up there.
The All Black continued his strong form with a two-try blitz against the Rebels in Melbourne. Telea’s first try was especially impressive as he split a couple of defenders – including Italy international Monty Ioane – on his way to the house.
Telea ran for a round-high 150 metres from 13 tackles, beat eight defenders, and didn’t miss any tackles on the night.
- Levi Aumua (Moana)
Moana Pasifika fell short of what would’ve been an incredible upset in round seven, but their efforts were not in vain. While they managed to win over plenty of supporters with their valiant display, one of their superstars has rightfully earnt a place in the team of the week.
Rampaging outside centre Levi Aumua was a man on a mission against the Crusaders. When the underdogs needed someone to stand up, Aumua answered the call – more than once as well. A first half brace spurred Moana Pasifika onto a stunning half-time lead.
Aumua made All Blacks look schoolboys midway through the first half, as he ran over everyone and anyone seemingly at will. The centre carried the ball 11 times for almost 70 metres, and beat six defenders as well. Hurricanes No. 13 Billy Proctor was a very close second, however.
- Dallas McLeod (Crusaders)
Inside centre was one of the most hotly contested positions in round seven. Blues midfielder Harry Plummer was outstanding against the Rebels, and Thomas Umaga-Jensen stood out during the Highlanders’ loss to the Hurricanes. But Dallas McLeod was on another level last weekend.
The No. 12 ran the ball with purpose every time it came as way, but made his mark on the defensive side of the sport – finishing with 15 tackles, which was the second-most out of any Crusaders player.
- Salesi Rayasi (Hurricanes)
I hope All Blacks coach Ian Foster is watching the Hurricanes every week – and I’m sure he is – because Salesi Rayasi continues to score tries for fun. The flying winger scored his fifth and sixth tries of the season during the win in Dunedin.
Rayasi showcased his athleticism, strength and speed with these try-scoring efforts. By the end of the match, the winger had carried the ball 11 times for almost 40 meters.
- Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Milestone man Richie Mo’unga will go down in Super Rugby history as one of the greatest players to have ever worn a Crusaders jersey. The playmaker played his 100th match for the Christchurch-based franchise on Friday, and celebrated the occasion with what was arguably a player of the match display.
Mo’unga had the ball on a string off the kicking tee, but his performance goes well beyond some clutch kicks. The first-five danced his way through the Moana Pasifika defence to setup All Black Codie Taylor for an early try – setting the tone for what was to come. With 13 points to his name, the impact that Mo’unga had on the Crusaders’ round seven thriller cannot be ignored.
Blues pivot Beauden Barrett also silenced some critics with a stunning performance over the Rebels, while his opposite Carter Gordon also impressed.
- Cam Roigard (Hurricanes)
Halfback was the toughest position to pick this week. Scrumhalf Finlay Christie scored two tries during the Blues’ win over the Rebels, and was named player of the match. But Hurricanes No. 9 Cam Roigard gets the nod this week, after the 22-year-old orchestrated a tough win over Kiwi opposition.
Roigard has emerged as a genuine All Blacks bolter ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup. The rising star looked cool, calm and collected throughout his time out in the middle at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and finished with a try assist and one of his own as well.
The scrumhalf intercepted a flick pass from his opposite Folau Fakatava, and ran about 70 metres to the house at a crucial stage in the match. This is a player with plenty of potential, who could end up becoming an All Black by the end of the year.
- Joe Moody (Crusaders)
Super Rugby veteran Joe Moody was outstanding at the set-piece. Moody won a scrum penalty for his side during the first half, and was otherwise impressive. The All Black carried the ball with purpose and was solid in defence as well.
- Ricky Riccitelli (Blues)
Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor was brilliant against Moana Pasifika, and came very close to a team of the week selection – but Ricky Riccitelli was even better. The Blues No. 2 was accurate at the lineout, defended well, and was lively on the attacking side of the ball as well.
Riccitelli scored a try late in the first half after peeling off the back of a maul. In the context of the match, this was a crucial score for the visitors. Around the park, the hooker ran the ball 13 times and finished with 100 per cent tackle accuracy from eight attempts.
- Nepo Laulala (Blues)
Blues prop Nepo Laulala continued to impress in round seven, having scrummed quite well against a physical Melbourne Rebels outfit. But the All Black also made his mark around the field, having run the ball eight times and making four tackles.
- James Blackwell (Hurricanes)
Hurricanes lock James Blackwell is one of the hardest working players in Super Rugby – and that’s been quite clear for a number of years now. Against the Landers on Saturday, the second rower was relentless in both attack and defence. To put it simply, he was everywhere.
Blackwell crossed for a try early in the second half, as he was rewarded for his efforts around the park. The lock was the go-to man at the lineout for the Hurricanes, and also finished with an elite 12 tackles and 13 carries.
- Dominic Gardiner (Crusaders)
Lock Dominic Gardiner was sensational for the Crusaders in round seven. The rising star continued to impress with another try on Friday night, and was otherwise impactful around the field. Gardiner carried the ball six times and making 14 tackles, and beats Brumbies lock Nick Frost into the team of the week as a result.
- Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
Rob Valetini is world-class, not that’s not exactly breaking news but it seems like a good starting point. The backrower is just that good – you can’t ignore it. Playing against the Reds in Brumbies, Valetini made his mark in defence but punished his opponents in attack.
Valetini made nine tackles on the night, but also carried the ball a staggering 12 times – which included a try in the 73rd minute.
- Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
There are two Hurricanes in the round seven team of the week, starting with openside flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi. Right from the get-go, you could tell Kirifi was on song in Dunedin. The loose forward made an impressive burst into the Landers’ 22 early in the match, and continued to impress throughout the contest.
Kirifi carried the ball 11 times, but was especially impressive on the defensive side of the ball. The flanker made an incredible 14 tackles, and was also busy around the breakdown.
- Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
World-class backrower Ardie Savea is the final addition to the round seven team of the week. The Hurricanes captain returned to the run-on side against the Highlanders and certainly didn’t look out of place – not that ever does on a rugby field.
Savea was wreaking havoc with the ball, and also got stuck in on the defensive side of the contest. The No. 8 finished with 100 per cent tackle accuracy from 11 attempts, and also beat one defender from his eight carries.
Comments on RugbyPass
well - they only played against 14 men and had the TMO team on their side - and still should have lost… so actually that makes sense.
28 Go to commentsSouthern hemisphere Rugby is exactly that, boring. Northern Hemisphere Rugby is soooo much more entertaining and better with better players.
2 Go to commentsIf he was to be cited for a dangerous behavior, then it’s natural that he should be. Then NTamack too, yes? And I’ll add a good whataboutism - Yeandle eye-gouging on Richie Arnold: not cited. Eye-gouging. Not high tackle. Eye-gouging. It was on French TV, with French TV directors.
5 Go to commentsReally poorly written rambling piece ..
2 Go to commentsIt was so boring
2 Go to commentspersonally I’d go with : 1. France 2. NZ 3. England 4. Ireland 5. Scotland
28 Go to commentsAndy everything becomes easier with experience therefor counting etc straight after a match becomes easier when you have 100+ caps vs 17 which is the experience you speak from.
160 Go to commentsGetting rid of the Dupont Law is a good thing and ought to have been done months ago! Officially getting rid of the croc roll is a good thing. The law about no scrums from a short arm is well intended in terms of speeding the game up but it’s an overreaction to a clever yet calculated gamble that could have blow up in South Africa’s face if they conceded a penalty from the scrum that was set after Willemse took claimed the mark in the World Cup QF.
53 Go to commentsRassie The GOAT
10 Go to commentsOf their 5 big matches in RWC Scotland and NZ were the easiest. They took a 12-3 lead against NZ and after the red decided it was best to hold the lead and take chances that came. None came and it was tight but they dug a lot deeper in the other two knock out matches. They had trounced NZ in Twickenham in a fixture that NZ must now regret. Psychology was clearly with SA in the final as a result.
28 Go to commentsMy favourite line/exchanges from Chasing the Sun 2. News headline: “SA. The last hurdle in ABs World Cup glory”. Something like that. “You’re all just a hurdle. A hop, skip and a jump”. Coming from Rassie and Jacque. Basically - nobody thinks you’re going to win. You’re just a pushover team. Nobody respects you. When the camera shows the players faces, you can see the effect. You can see the rev meters (die moer metertjies) firing up. Mitchell said he felt it prior to the 19 final. He said to Eddie watching the teams warming up that it was going to be a tough day at the office. Wave a red flag in front of South African, and you can expect a reaction. This is not unique - many teams rev themselves. And Bok teams in particular. With horrific consequences (discipline, poor thinking under pressure) because that’s the drawback to using emotion right? But what this Bok team does better than many since 2007 is channel the emotion and stay on task. Despite the emotion. Why, because while Rassie might play mind games - he talks about creating a safe environment. Listen to his recent honorary doctorate acceptance speech. While he uses psychology he creates psychological safety. He’s a damn fine coach. Can’t wait for Pretoria. It’s going to be a hummer.
10 Go to commentsWhat Rassie does for SA is big. It has helped people to unite and see we can win with the right people in place.
10 Go to commentsTerrible conditions for young players to express themselves just enjoy it guys. As a saffa great to see Ausie youth looking good. Wow SA have some great talent also.
2 Go to commentsYes, another example of French tv directors ensuring that incidents like this are swiftly glossed over for the benefit of their teams…
5 Go to commentsThe prospect of the club match ups across hemispheres is surely appetising for everyone. The reality however, may prove to be slightly different. There are currently two significant driving forces that have delivered to same teams consistently to the latter champions cup stages for years now. The first of those is the yawning gap in finances, albeit delivered by different routes. In France it’s wealthy private owners operating with a higher salary cap by some distance compared to England. In Ireland it’s led by a combination of state tax relief support, private Leinster academy funding and IRFU control - the provincial budgets are not equal! This picture is not going to change anytime soon. The second factor is the EPCR competition rules. You don’t need a PhD. in advanced statistical analysis from oxbridge to see the massive advantage bestowed upon the home team through every ko round of the tournament. The SA teams will gain the opportunity for home ko ties in due course but that could actually polarise the issue even further, just look at their difficulties playing these ties in Europe and then reverse them for the opposition travelling to SA. Other than that, the picture here is unlikely to change either, with heavyweight vested interests controlling the agenda. So what does all this point to for the club world championship? Well the financial differential between the nh and sh teams is pretty clear. And the travel issues and sporting challenge for away teams are significantly exacerbated beyond those already seen in the EPCR tournaments. So while the prospect of those match ups may whet our rugby appetites, I’m very much still to be convinced the reality will live up to expectations…
2 Go to commentsThe manipulative and cynical Erasmus….
10 Go to commentsWe see you World Rugby….we see you🤡😏
53 Go to commentsBoks are lucky to have a player of the calibre of PSDT in their ranks😍
7 Go to commentsI really like what the boks have done with bringing Vermeulen into their coaching setup. Perhaps they would have gone to france anyway, but Lawes and Farrell could at least have been offered assistant coaching roles. Lawes could probably aptly fill the brief (breakdown, contact skills, and handling) just given to Strawbridge; and Farrell could be a pretty good like for like replacement for Sinfield when he leaves. I probably wouldn’t want them in the national team set up just yet, but it would be good to see strings pulled to either get May, Youngs, Cole, & Care player-coaching roles in the premiership, or to move them into the under 20s coaching staff.
3 Go to commentsSo spiteful that the Springboks won again, they just had to change the laws so that they would stand a chance.
53 Go to comments