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Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round 12
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 Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares)
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Steady-headed at the back and slipped two great passes that led directly to tries. Always a threat under the attacking high ball as well.
14 Wes Goosen (Hurricanes)
There’s a search on for a right wing for the All Blacks and the Hurricanes has always been a good place to unearth one; think Cory Jane, Jordie Barrett, and Nehe Milner Skudder in the recent past. Goosen has amazing acceleration off the mark and is certainly a great finisher. Gerhard van den Heever stood out again for the Sunwolves.
13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
Alongside his determined school of Sharks showed that he has the goods to lock down a great offensive team like the Crusaders. His battle with Ennor and Goodhue was interrupted by a reshuffle after Will Jordan’s injury but he was willing and with Andre Esterhuizen gave them crumbs all day.
12 Samu Kerevi (Reds)
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It was a slow start for the Reds captain but once he ignited the touch paper midway through the first half, then he was influential churning our metres through the middle of the park.
11 George Bridge (Crusaders)
The gliding winger showed some brilliant touches against the Sharks. You sense his form is ramping up just at the right time. Caleb Clarke seems to be favouring a leg but was all class for the Blues in the absence of Rieko Ioane.
10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks) A mighty kicking effort, 7 penalties from all angles and distances to put some bite in the Sharks for their draw against the Crusaders. Bryce Hegarty (Reds) Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Josh Ioane (Highlanders) and Domingo Miotti (Jagaures) had powerful games at 10 this weekend.
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9 Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares)
Almost plays a French scrum-half role as a ‘petit general’. Has a real leadership and controlling role for the Argentinians and has made Domingo Miotti’s introduction to Super Rugby a relatively easy ride.
8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
The Big Bear was angry in Pretoria and was physically dominant over his Wallaby opposites Michael Hooper and Ned Hannigan. Classic try from a line out intercept where after a 10-metre start, Curtis Rona caught up with the flagging Springbok but decided to talk to the hand instead chopping the tree trunks. Bad idea, big Duane rumbled over.
7 Marco van Staden (Bulls)
This guy his stamped his place as a Bulls starter after returning from injury, what a fantastic player! Turnovers, tackles and rough and tumble is where he is at. There are not too many flankers that out shadow Michael Hooper but he was dominant with a pack going forward. Ardie Savea didn’t stand out as much as usual but the Hurricanes would have been in big trouble without him when the Rebels came home strong.
6 Luke Jacobson (Chiefs)
Battle of the ‘Lukes’ in Dunedin and the Chief had the upper hand over Luke the Whitelock. Was the major agent in the Waikato franchise’s come back showing some good touches with the ball in hand to complement his toxic tackling and work on the ground. At 189cm he is shorter than the standard All Black blindside but he is stating his case; alongside about 6 other contenders!
5 Izack Rodda (Reds)
Rodda is a bit like Sam Whitelock in that he goes under the radar doing all the dirty work in the collision area and sticks to his core role. No wonder Brad Thorn loves him. At only 22 years old this guy has a big future.
4 Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders)
This man is such a workhorse. He burns incandescent for the full 80 and there was a great series of play where he handled three times, each time going to ground but getting to his feet and screaming in to play the ball on consecutive phases.
3 Alan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
There’re not many tightheads who have got the better of Karl Tuinukuafe in a genuine one on one but the stocky front rower dismissed both Alex Hodgeman and Big Karl. Was powerful around the field as well and assisted by Sio and Slipper on the other side.
2 Folau Fainga (Brumbies)
A hat-trick of mauled tries and he has vaulted himself to top try scorer in the competition with 9. Always seems slightly embarrassed when he walks back to halfway; love a humble hooker. Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) is making the pain of missing Dane Coles go away.
1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)
Second week in a row. A rich vein of form for the loosehead prop. Gave Sekope Kepu a bath at scrum time and was his usual energetic self round the paddock. He certainly is a metre eater!
Comments on RugbyPass
A long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to comments