Super Rugby Team of the Week - Round Three

Round three of the 2018 Super Rugby season has drawn to a close, and a variety of players stood out amongst the crowd with some polished performances across the seven fixtures played throughout the southern hemisphere over the weekend.

We’ve gone out to commemorate these players by naming them in round three’s edition of the Super Rugby Team of the Week.

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

The Beast was at his usual best during the weekend during the Sharks’ 24-all draw with the Waratahs in Durban. Not only did the 32-year-old scrum efficiently – he was part of a front row that won 100% of their scrum feeds, and claimed three scrums against the head – but he got himself around the park and made himself a constant attacking option in the tight channels, carrying the ball 10 times. This tidy display gets him selected ahead of the likes of Jacques van Rooyen (Lions) and Pauliasi Manu (Blues), who both impressed in the number one jersey over the weekend.

2 – Codie Taylor (Crusaders)

Codie Taylor ousts the barnstorming Malcolm Marx (Lions) and James Parsons (Blues) to cement his spot in the number two jersey for this week’s side. A stunning display of attacking rugby from the Crusaders rake saw him notch up 26 metres and a try from a clean break during his team’s 45-28 win over the Stormers in Christchurch. Add in a solid nine tackles and a solitary turnover for his side, the rampaging 26-year-old made an impressive all-round appearance, one that will keep the injured All Blacks’ incumbent hooker Dane Coles (Hurricanes) on his toes.

3 – Jermaine Ainsley (Rebels)

Jermaine Ainsley is one of unsung heroes from the Rebels’ Australian conference-topping 37-17 win against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday. The son of former All Blacks prop Joe McDonnell quietly went about his business at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, running 22 metres from just three carries – not bad figures for a prop. Constantly making his presence felt as a support player at the breakdown, Ainsley also made four tackles, won his side a turnover, and helped the Rebels maintain a 100% scrum win percentage. Special mention should also be made of Taniela Tupou (Reds), who performed admirably in his club’s dour 18-10 victory over the Brumbies in Brisbane.

4 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders)

The tallest of the three Barrett brothers put in a huge defensive shift in Christchurch, one that helped restrict the Stormers as they threatened to come back from a hefty 31-7 half-time deficit.  If his 15 tackles weren’t enough to win you over, then maybe his outstanding work at the lineout will, as he contributed to two of the Crusaders’ five lineout steals that made a mockery of the Stormers forward pack. Despite his team’s inability at the set piece, Barrett’s opposite JD Schickerling (Stormers) performed well in a losing effort on Saturday night, making him a runner-up for the number four jersey.

5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)

Whatever Scott Barrett did against the Stormers on Saturday night, his locking partner Sam Whitelock did better. The Crusaders captain was an absolute workhorse at AMI Stadium, making a mammoth 22 tackles – the most by any player over the weekend – to supplement two lineouts stolen from the opposition, as well as securing the ball on four occasions during his own team’s lineouts. This classic lead by example attitude from Whitelock has earned him the second lock position ahead of the likes of Adam Coleman (Rebels), who played solidly against the Sunwolves.

6 – Brad Shields (Hurricanes)

The defensive persistence from Hurricanes captain Brad Shields edges the Wasps-bound flanker into this week’s XV. A whopping 15 tackles was the equal-most made in their 34-9 win over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, with only teammate Ricky Riccitelli able to keep up with his skipper on the defensive front. Liam Messam (Chiefs) wasn’t too far off selection with his contribution to the Chiefs’ unlikely 27-21 win against the Blues in Auckland, while Cyle Brink (Lions) and Pete Samu (Crusaders) also caught the eye.

7 – Billy Harmon (Crusaders)

Openside flanker was one of the most heavily contested positions for this week’s team, with at least five players worthy playing to a standard worthy of selection. However, Billy Harmon stood out in his Super Rugby starting debut for the Crusaders, playing well enough to earn himself the number seven jersey for round three. The 23-year-old rookie covered almost every blade of grass on the AMI Stadium turf, making two clean breaks to run 25 metres, beating three defenders, and scoring his first Super Rugby try.

On defence, he made a staggering 19 tackles, the league’s second-most tackles made during round three, while also managing to snare a turnover. To appreciate how well Harmon played, the Cantabrian wins his place in this week’s team ahead of the likes of Sam Cane (Chiefs), Cobus Wiese (Stormers), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), and Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), all of whom put in exceptional performances for their sides.

8 – Akira Ioane (Blues)

Perhaps the only bright spot for the Blues going into their tour of South Africa is the ever-growing form of the blockbusting Akira Ioane. Ioane outshone his younger brother Rieko in the opening week of the competition, and that is a trend that is yet to buck following their loss at the hands of the Chiefs at Eden Park.

Running for 42 metres, which saw him get past five defenders and make two clean breaks, the powerhouse No. 8 scored his third try in two games, making him by far the most in-form player that the Blues have available to face the Lions and Stormers in the upcoming fortnight. Amanaki Mafi (Rebels) and Warren Whiteley (Lions) were unlucky not to make the cut, and warrant shout outs following their supercharged performances for their respective sides over the weekend.

9 – Brad Weber (Chiefs)

Livewire Chiefs halfback Brad Weber made the most of Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s recent departure from the franchise with an emphatic display in his side’s victory over the Blues on Friday night. The one-test All Black made three clean breaks, ran 84 metres, and scored a runaway try to cap off a colossal evening. An additional tally of nine tackles won’t hurt his chances for further national honours, as Steve Hansen continues his search for a third-choice halfback.

Weber’s opposite Augustine Pulu (Blues) put in an equally monstrous effort, which will remind Tana Umaga’s men of how much they will miss them on their South African tour thanks to a foot injury. Meanwhile, Will Genia (Rebels) and Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares) were both tactically astute in their respective fixtures.

10 – Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)

The Crusaders will be frustrated with Richie Mo’unga’s broken jaw that is set to rule the composed first-five-eighth out for the next few months. And rightly so, given how well he performed against the Stormers. Mo’unga sliced and diced his South African opponents apart with ease, guiding the Crusaders backline around the park with authority as the reigning champions ran in seven tries.

Mo’unga scored one of them, in addition to the two he set up, the two clean breaks he made, and the 10 points he kicked. Elton Jantjies’ (Lions) performance against the Bulls in his side’s 49-35 win in Johannesburg was also exemplary, given the way in which he orchestrated his team around the paddock en route to scoring nearly half a century of points.

11 – Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs)

The left wing spot was arguably the most difficult position to choose in this week’s XV, but Solomon Alaimalo just edges it after his outstanding run against the Blues. The way in which the 22-year-old glided across the Eden Park turf with ease made him the best player on the park in a faultless display during the Chiefs’ win in Auckland.

His performance is reflected in the 131 metres he ran from the five clean breaks he made, where he beat four defenders. Such an outing puts him ahead of George Bridge (Crusaders), Sefa Naivalu (Rebels), and Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), all of whom played exceptionally well for their sides.

12 – Damian de Allende (Stormers)

At last a non-Kiwi makes the cut, and it comes in the form of Damian de Allende, who was probably the best player in a faulty Stormers side. The Springboks midfielder ran an impressive 88 metres in his team’s loss to the Crusaders, beating eight defenders from a pair of clean breaks.

All in all, his jinking runs through the middle of the field allowed him to stamp his authority on a Stormers outfit that needs improvement by the time they face the Highlanders in Dunedin this upcoming Friday. Fellow South Africans Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), and Handre Pollard (Bulls) ran smoothly in the midfield in their matches, while Australian Kyle Godwin (Brumbies) didn’t look too shabby either.

13 – Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)

While Lukhanyo Am (Sharks) ran rings around the Waratahs to pick up a pair of tries in Durban, the all-round game of Jack Goodhue was enough to see him crack the side. Unlike Am, Goodhue didn’t eat up a ton of metres, nor did he manage to dot down at any stage in the game. Instead, his awareness and execution allowed him to assist three of the Crusaders’ seven tries against the Stormers.

The youngster also proved his worth without the ball, making 15 tackles – the most made by any back in Super Rugby during round three. Am can feel unfortunate not to make the XV, as his show of free-flowing footy did not go unnoticed.

14 – Jack Maddocks (Rebels)

Playing in just his second Super Rugby match, Jack Maddocks certainly put himself on the map with his efforts against the Sunwolves in Tokyo. Three clean breaks is all it took for the 21-year-old to score a hat-trick of tries, with 132 metres of pasture covered while dotting down for his trio of five pointers. For good measure, Maddocks bagged himself a try assist, meaning he played a part in four of the Rebels’ five tries at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

Whether he will retain his place in Melbourne’s starting XV is questionable with the return of Wallabies flyer Marika Koroibete, but for now, Maddocks can enjoy what he has achieved. Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) and Sylvan Mahuza (Lions) both did well on the right wing for their respective franchises.

15 – David Havili (Crusaders)

David Havili becomes the seventh Crusaders player to make this week’s team following his top notch showing in the number 15 jersey at AMI Stadium. With his ability to counter attack from deep within his own territory and spot holes in the defensive line, combined with his nimble and fleet-footed offensive capabilities, the three test All Black chewed up some big metres in Christchurch.

He ran 112 metres, beating five defenders from a duo of clean breaks, while on defence, he made five tackle and won his side a turnover – one of only two backs in the Crusaders to do so. These figures hold the likes of Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), and Israel Folau (Waratahs) – who all shone in their round three clashes – out of the side until next week.