Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round 7
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 David Havili (Crusaders).
Havili’s job is under pressure and that would have ramped up as he saw Will Jordan slot into the right-wing position at the last minute for George Bridge, and then the youngster scored a good opportunistic try to open the Crusaders account. However, Havili jumped on an error himself minutes later and grabbed another just after half time. Interesting in the reshuffles in the second half that Goodhue was preferred at 12 and Havili was kept at the back; he is ranked as the world’s number 9 fullback in RugbyPass Index. Damian Willemse had a classy outing for the Stormers as well.
14 Jack Maddocks (Rebels)
When you are talking about right wings, two in the pantheon of 14s are Jeff Wilson and Doug Howlett. I find Maddocks attributes very similar as all three are great athletes and have a ‘flow’. There’s not much on the field that the Rebels wing can’t do and he is well synched up with the capers that Genia and Cooper are running flat on the advantage line. Two well completed 5 pointers and is currently Super Rugby’s top try- scorer.
13 Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
I don’t know if Lukhanyo Am’s Mum was picking Player of the Day in Durban but sadly I didn’t think he even outplayed his opposite. It was hard to pinpoint how the Bulls beat the Sharks but it is easy to see how the players are happy to go to round-robin from 2021 as local derbies are extremely physical and tense, especially in South Africa where there is so much running at players rather than holes.
12 Ma’a Nonu/Sonny Bill Williams (Blues)
Just as we picked the Sio/Slipper duo at loosehead prop the other week these two have turned into a one-two punch. Nonu was intense in the first half as he obviously knew he was playing limited time. Then on comes SBW to add some line breaking ability and the pop pass for Otere Black’s try will be one that goes into his highlight reel.
11 Semisi Masirewa (Sunwolves)
A hat-trick for the mercurial jack-in-box as the Tokyo franchise on death row beat the Waratahs in Newcastle 31-29. He plays with joy but he gives me the heebie-jeebies the way he precariously holds the ball in one hand. Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) has an amazing first 10-metre acceleration but rarely has any room to move, sad.
10 Hayden Parker (Sunwolves)
There was a real logjam for honours at first five this week. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) got his season back on track, Quade Cooper (Rebels) was skillful AND brave and Handre Pollard led his team to an away victory against the run of play. BUT I love an underdog and there ain’t many like this guy leading his bunch of United Nations strays around the paddock with aplomb and strategic sense. And his goal- kicking, 27 from 27 already this season. I usually just forward through kicks if I am reviewing tape but the inside-out conversion from the sideline was a zany mix of science and art.
9 Will Genia (Rebels)
Returned to Suncorp with his shunned ex-Reds brother Quade Cooper and reduced Brad Thorn to maniacal chuckles in the coaches box by the end of the match. The chemistry they have is such a resource and Michael Cheika would have to consider them the way they are driving the Rebels. Genia has never been delicate but there is real steel to him this year, you can sense his determination in World Cup year.
8 Dan du Preez (Sharks)
His battle with Duane Vermeulen (Bulls) was one of the mini-Springbok trials going on across the field and for me, de Preez edged the incumbent …. just. One might argue that Vermeulen’s two turnovers were the turning point in the Bull’s victory but it was a wake-up call for big Duane if he was getting complacent.
7 Angus Cottrell (Rebels)
Playing in the unfamiliar 7 jersey and having a second outing at captain would have been a challenge for most players but the Super rugby veteran took it in his stride. Managed to negate the fast and athletic Liam Wright (Reds) and added his normal brutal collision work to the mix. Cottrell’s grandfather and Dad had played for Queensland but the emotion was cast aside on the park as the Rebels go to the top of the Aussie Conference.
6 Luke Jacobson (Chiefs)
There is much made of Damian McKenzie’s push to fullback on how the Chiefs got their season back but I would say that Jacobson was the strongest agent. His shoulders must be made of titanium and he has really hurt people, tough people in the last fortnight in Pretoria and Buenos Aires. The Chiefs defence was rickety before he came along; he sets the tone now. As well as physicality Jacobson is blessed with a great rugby brain, he anticipates well and that gives him time fire shots or smother with a blanket. Just what you need at 6 and that shouldn’t be under-estimated.
5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
Started his season last week with a limp loss against the Waratahs. The Crusaders reacted as they usually do, they didn’t panic they just made sure they executed their game plan this week. As with the All Blacks acclaim, Whitelock some times doesn’t get the kudos of a wide-ranging Retallick but if you choose to focus on Whitelock in phase play for a couple of minutes you can genuinely see why he is world class, alongside his set-piece play of course.
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)
What a ding-dong battle he had with Eben Etzebeth. Both captains who lead from the front, incredibly physical and deadly determined. So often we see Etzebeth monstering opposition for fun so the classic dumping he received was kind of satisfying for non-Stormers fans, if not a little humiliating for the great man.
3 Nepo Laulala (Chiefs)
Second week in a row for Laulala. The tighthead got a rare start and is really gaining some momentum in stating his case for RWC inclusion.
2 Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
In a week where Malcolm Marx and the Lions had a bye, it was a chance for the other South African hookers to stake a claim. Mbonambi was inspirational as the Stormers finally gave the ball some air and looked great for many parts of the game. Akker van der Merwe and Schalk Britz, however, did themselves no favours with double reds in Durban. Actually, with Tanielu Tele’a’s sending off that might be a record for reds in a round of Super rugby. Does anyone remember another weekend where it might have been higher?
1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) The Beast equalled the South African record held by Adriaan Strauss of most Super caps at 156 and wound back the clock with some typical forays with ball-in-hand and kept the scrum steady. He has been such a great servant to the game and can’t wait to see him break the record.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments