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As Eric Rush once said, “this is just one man’s opinion”. Please add your picks and your favourites in the feedback box below.
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15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks) Bosch was like a scalpel as he repeatedly cut through the Lions defensive line on their way to a 42-5 dismantling of the 2018 runners-up, the Lions, in Durban. Two tries and some real wizardry on attack and then rounded the game off with some good kicks from the tee.
14 Reece Hodge (Rebels) Taking a bit of license here as Hodge played at fullback but with the lack of a stand out in the number 14 jersey we’ll bang him in there. Scored two of his 3 tries from flat in the line and also set up Quade Cooper for his.
13 Lukanyo Am (Sharks) Had a bit of a laugh at his expense last week saying his Mum might have awarded his ‘Man of the Match’ award but this week he was excellent on both sides of the ball. With Kriel and Am firing this is a position of strength for the Springboks.
12 Ma’a Nonu (Blues) This week we had some masterclasses from 12. Samu Kerevi has been a strong leader in a young Reds team this year and was influential in the win over the Stormers. Ryan Crotty was outstanding as he featured in the comeback in Christchurch, the Crusaders were 7-0 down to the Brumbies at halftime but really did change the impetus. Then Ma’a Nonu showed he is a genuine contender for a midfield position at the World Cup with a mature guiding hand over the Blues victory against the Waratahs. Both Crotty and Nonu displayed mastery, distributing to ball carriers in space. Crotty, Nonu, Laumape, Goodhue, ALB, SBW. 6 great players, only four required…
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) Last week I lamented that we don’t get to see Mapimpi in space very often and this week we saw what he can bring to a game with a bit of room and go-forward. He is very exciting to watch and hopefully the Sharks can continue to get him the pill!
10 Domingo Miotti (Jaguares) Ok so I had pencilled in Richie Mo’unga’s name here while watching the final game of the weekend, the Bulls v Jaguares and with 9 minutes to go the South Africans had a 10 point lead and looking as safe as they could without having Handre Pollard playing. In that last 9 minutes, young Domingo came off the bench, scored two tries and a tough conversion from the sideline and conducted play like a veteran. How easy is this Super Rugby? My mates are sick to death of me reminding them that one of the only countries that will field a team with over a thousand caps in RWC 2023 will be Argentina, and the only weakness they will have is at 10. Could this guy be the answer? Incredible start.
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9 Bryn Hall (Crusaders) I think there’s still a load of Canterbury supporters who’d prefer Mitchell Drummond as starting 9 at the Crusaders but the import from North Harbour made a real difference in the last 35 mins against the Brumbies. Really concentrated on lifting the tempo, burrowing into rucks like a demented mole to retrieve the ball for another quick phase which eventually broke down the Aussies. Jordan Taufua was the other point of difference who came on around the same time. Will Genia had another blockbuster.
8 Dan du Preez (Sharks) Second week in a row. He has been immense this season and I am sure his performance underlined to the Lions that they desperately need Warren Whitely back in their line-up.
7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) Power and pace like no other loosie at the moment. Sam Cane has the experience but will really have to prove he hasn’t lost any of his strength and courage because Savea is dominating games.
6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares) Matera scored a try and alongside Tomas Lezana gobbled up metres for fun in the first half vs the Bulls. In the battle between AB blindside hopefuls Shannon Frizell and Vaea Fifita, it seemed as though Frizell had the points win but Fifita’s team won the game.
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5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders) Definitely the form lock of the NZ conference and the form player of the Barrett family, quite an achievement! His consistency of work rate and accuracy is his best asset.
4 Tom Staniforth (Waratahs) A lot of people would say “the winners take the spoils, why wouldn’t you give this position to Patrick Tuipolotu?”. Well 20 minutes in at Eden Park, the Waratahs were wilting against the home team, down 17-0 and off limps Ned Hannigan. All of a sudden the Waratahs started winning collisions and Staniforth fronted up to the big Blues pack and said “we are here to win”. And boy were they close! If he could continue that form he is just the type of aggressive power player in the second row the Wallabies are missing.
3 Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders) narrowly pips Jermaine Ainsley (Rebels) for the tight head jersey. Solid scrum and some powerful play in the tackle area.
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Reds) The hooker position for the Wallabies is the same as the All Black blindside spot. A pack of hungry youngsters with a real opportunity for a big prize. BPA stepped up to take on some big South Africans and has two more gigantic African packs to take on to state his case in the next fortnight. Anaru Rangi is also played well for the Rebels.
1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) Second week in a row. The Sharks were hoping they could put on a performance for the Beast’s record breaking 157th Super rugby cap and the prop decided to get things going with 5 powerful ball carries in the first 5 minutes. That really put the Shark’s fin on the Lion’s throat and they didn’t let up.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
1 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
13 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)
1 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?
1 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.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
16 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
16 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to comments