Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round 9
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 Tom Banks (Brumbies)
Banks took the opportunity to remind the Wallaby selectors that life without Izzy Folau might not be as tough as they fear. Having said that I doubt that Banks will wear the 15 jersey in big tests later in the season. He appears to have a light kicking game and showed the annoying penchant of running cross-field, unlike Damian McKenzie. Ben Smith (Highlanders) showed glimpses of his class in his 150th Super game. I have been really impressed with the maturity of Warrick Gelant (Bulls) this season. He seems to have been around for years but he is only 23 and he has shaved the loose edges off his game to have a strong balance of safety and creativity in his game. His return from injury was instrumental in the Bulls improvements as they tickled up the Reds 32-17.
14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
Started on the right wing but caused carnage on the left flank in the second half. Finished with zeal and the empathetic pass to space that Mitchell Drummond caught with glee was world class.
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
The Fijian has struck a rich vein of form with a powerful display for the Brumbies as they dismissed the Lions 31-20. He is one of those players who seems to have sharp edges on his frame, a nightmare to tackle (ask poor stitched up Lionel Mapoe) and a potent defender. For a big man (192cm/ 102kg) he has agile footwork.
12 Anton Lienert Brown (Chiefs)
What a battle royale in Hamilton between the two All Black 12’s Nonu and ALB. Nonu launched himself (literally) to power in for a try at the 59-minute mark to start a Blues comeback, then got another to give them a chance with 2 minutes to go. ALB had to step up as the creator when Damian McKenzie hobbled off and was influential in the style the Chiefs resorted to win the match.
11 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
One of those players that ghosts through gaps and makes the most of his line breaks with good decisions and precision passing at speed. The way he ran in his first try with a solo run from 38 metres just doesn’t happen anymore with defensive systems the way they are. And the try he set up for Damian de Allende from a run off a line out was superb. Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) was prominent as well.
10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Mo’unga has it all. He has the mastermind, a great kicking game and above that he has incredible pace, and exceptional ability to break the line and is a tough little defensive nugget. Rugby Player Index has him at world number 1.
Domingo Miotti (Jaguares) continues his stellar Super rugby career start with a staunch performance as the Jaguares smashed the Sharks 51-17.
9 Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares)
This guy has become such key lynchpin in the Jaguares. Keeps his forward pack focused, kept the heat off his green flyhalf and is everywhere in support. Will play a big part in the Pumas shot at the RWC later this year as well. Depending on Creevy’s fitness it wouldn’t surprise me if they give him the captain’s armband for the tournament. Brad Weber (Chiefs) was electric too and hats off to Herschel Jantjes for his energy.
8 Paul Schoeman (Bulls)
As Duane Vermeulen took a well deserved week off I am sure the Reds weren’t expecting a threat from number 8. Wrong. This guy was everywhere, wading through yards of ball carrying, big tackles and presence in the tackle. Worked well in tandem with another comeback kid, Marco van Staden.
7 Dalton Papalii (Blues)
The 2018 star has been a little understated this season but he underlined what he can bring to the party at the Battle of the Bombays. Prominent at the tackle and on the fringes he was very thirsty for work. His battle with Lachlan Boshier was one of the many mini-battles that went on round the park and made for such an enticing delight.
6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares)
The second week in a row. Has added much more to his game than the raw power and determination we saw at the start of his career. The chip and chase try from 65-metres out against the Sharks was the velvet glove. The Sharks promised to come out and turn things around in the second half but were dealt the iron fist by Matera in the 43rd minute. 28-10 at that stage the fat lady started warming up.
5 RG Snyman (Bulls)
Threw a crazy pass with his first touch but as he said in his Man of the Match interview, he was just throwing off the rust. This guy’s skill set is incredible and I am sure once he gets to top game-play fitness he’ll work on his scrummaging and clean-outs but shapes as a great foil to someone like Etzebeth at the RWC.
4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
The rangy second ranker never lacks for effort but I don’t think I have seen him more animated. Seemed to be trying his luck with the offside line at the end of the game but I think he won the ambassadorial battle with referee Angus Gardiner.
3 Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders)
Has never fully convinced as a scrummager but fits in well with a Crusaders pack flush with All Blacks. Had one of his best games and as a recognition of that didn’t get replaced till very late.
Battle supreme up front with Malcolm Marx and may not have been quite as dynamic as the Lions captain but he had a lower error rate and his team won. Agustin Creevy was enthusiastic off the bench in his comeback as well and certainly won ‘the Barnacle of the Week’ award.
1 Karl Tuinukuafe (Blues)
Everything this guy does is packed with power but what finesse he showed with his double handling in the buildup to Melani Nanai’s try just before halftime! Kept Nepo Laulala under control at scrum time as well. James Slipper is influential as well and upping his game around the field.
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