Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round 18
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 – Fletcher Smith (Hurricanes)
Was positive in general play as the Canes found a way back against the flailing and failing Blues, who still find it difficult to finish off games. His biggest influence was the two plays he made from Jackson Bachop-Garden’s deft chip kicks; he scored from the first and the next he laid off to the Walker Leawere Express; these two insightful acts got the momentum back and practically won the game for the Hurricanes. Bryce Hegarty (Reds) has coped well with going back to fullback for the latter part of the season.
14 – Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)
What a rich vein of form the velocious winger is in, with a hat-trick as the Chiefs smashed the Rebels and head to Buenos Aires for an unexpected quarterfinal. Very much a confidence player and after two scintillating performances, its oozing out of him. Some good performances in the 14 jersey this round, Lam, Naholo, Hendricks and Cancelliere all featured strongly.
13 – Peter Umaga Jensen (Hurricanes)
Only his second appearance of the season and showed his immense strength on attack and defence and got into the right place at the right time to pick up two tries. The Hurricanes will face the Bulls at home next week and with Matt Proctor’s injury Umaga-Jensen has put his hand up for selection. Lukanyo Am (Sharks) scored the winning try over the Stormers and played well, but it took 80 minutes for the Stormer’s wall to crack. Rob Thompson (Highlanders) had an awesome battle with Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs) and just shaded him.
12 – Anton Lienert Brown (Chiefs)
Week after week he is churning out quality, international performances. This week named the Chiefs Players’ Player of the Season, ALB is only 24 and is wise and rangatira-like (chiefly) beyond his years. One of his major challengers for a black jersey, Sonny Bill WIlliams (Blues) showed some nice touches on his return.
11 – Tevita Li (Highlanders)
Ironic that Li saved his best outing of the season for the chilly outdoor stadium of Invercargill after playing home games indoors all year. Constantly looked menacing on the left flank; he’ll need to bring all that form to a probable matchup with Sevu Reece in the quarterfinal. After being used as a mid-fielder most of the season the Brumbies’ Tom Wright showed what he could do on the flank; over 140m in running yards, a try and some lovely steps off the left foot.
10 – Handre Pollard (Bulls)
The Pretorians got a shock after 20 seconds as the Lions scored off the kick-off but then got into their work nicely. Pollard concentrated on distribution in the first half but then started running those dangerous diagonal runs off front foot ball in the second. One resulted in a try for him and then minutes later he popped the ball in the tackle to Manie Libbok for another. That put the Lions well out of contention for the knockout phase. The Bulls travel to Wellington and will look to have a tilt at the Canes up front. With Pollard calling the shots at 10 they are certainly in with a shout.
9 Brad Weber (Chiefs)
The Chiefs’ halfback had a ding dong game, out-played Will Genia and surely he must appear in the All Black squad for the test window? In terms of decision making and anticipation on the break he is one of the best, an apt third halfback in World Cup year.
8 – Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies)
His first start since round 9 and he looked voracious. Lachie the loosie is so niggly and annoying at the tackle and looks good with the ball in hand. The enticing match-up between Jaco Coetzee (Stormers) and Dan du Preez (Sharks) was a bit of a fizzer after Coetzee suffered a nasty knock early. Bravely/stubbornly came back but wasn’t his normal storming self.
7 – Tomas Lezana (Jaguares)
Lezana is an outstanding ball player and got the chance to show his wares against the Sunwolves who like to play fast and free. Got a try and his inter-linking between backs and forwards was a stand-out. Just pipped Sam Cane (Chiefs) who was ubiquitous alongside Lachlan Boshier. It was an embarrassing time for Jaco du Toit (Stormers) who obviously was chosen for Man of the Match at Newlands before the end of the match, although he was strong and is a good prospect.
6 – Marco van Staden (Bulls)
With his almost bow-legged stature he is built to fetch and with the Lions without Kwagga Smith and Manus Schoeman not on til late he feasted on loose ball. Also looked good in the open, running some important metres. Liam Squire (Highlanders) continued his path back although his 50 minutes was an illustration of where he is at; big rampaging runs, fierce hit, then cagily walking off looking a little uncomfortable after his over exuberance. Will need more than tape to hold him together until Yokohama.
5 – Guido Petti (Jaguares)
Oh what a difference depth and competition for places brings! With Marcos Kremer forming a good combo with Lavanini lately, Petti needed a big game to state his case and he was bruisingly effective. Some battering runs and contact work.
4 – Ruben van Heerden (Sharks)
In the absence of Ruan Botha, van Heerden continued his good form by being a big immovable plinth in midfield. He defended particularly well and his tackles were venomous. Kane Laupepe had a muscular match as well, interesting rumours that Scott Scrafton (Blues) is off to the Hurricanes next year, he was one of the better players in the first half for the
northerners.
3 – Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders)
Lomax will be at the Hurricanes next year as well, and will be an important cog in the Hurricanes engine room. He looks a shoe-in for higher honours in the next RWC cycle as well.
2 – Julian Montoya (Jaguares)
The Jaguares seem to be sorting out some of the tight forward issues they had earlier in the year; the scrum is looking more settled and the rolling maul was purring. Montoya got himself a five-pointer just after half time and should have had another maul score moments later. Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) did exactly what Dane Coles did the week before; came off the bench and made a vivid difference. He led the Canes in the tight exchanges and imposed himself on the fading Blues.
1 – James Slipper (Brumbies)
Scott Sio got the laurels in his 100th cap but Slipper continued the pain for the Reds as he played with controlled anger against his old franchise. The battle up front in the quarterfinal will be a boomer as the Sharks have a one-two punch at tighthead with Coenie Oosthuizen and Thomas du Toit forming a fruitful job-sharing partnership too.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments