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Round Five sees the Hurricanes and Chiefs with the bye, providing the perfect opportunity for some lesser known players to shine in your team. Those two teams make up half of the Team of the Tournament so far with seven players. Whilst you may be forced into subs without the Barretts’ and Saveas, have no fear there is talent spread all throughout the Super Rugby competition.
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Africa 1 Conference (Stormers, Cheetahs, Bulls, Sunwolves)
W – Kenki Fukuoka – Sunwolves – $4.9m
Featured in our focus on backs last week, Fukuoka once again shone against the Bulls with a try scoring appearance. He is one of only two players from the Africa 1 Conference to make the Scout’s Team of the Tournament after five Rounds of Super Rugby action. An impressive feat from a winger in a Sunwolves side that are yet to win a match. They face another stern test this weekend as they host the Stormers but expect to see plenty from Fukuoka still.
Africa 2 Conference (Jaguares, Lions, Sharks, Kings)
F – Jean-Luc Du Preez – Sharks – $4.4m
Africa 2 is hotting up as a close-run contest as the Jaguares have shown they can contend with both the Sharks and Lions. It is, however, the Sharks flanker Du Preez who leads the way after five Rounds with a personal score of 59.70, the second highest of any flankers in the tournament. Topped only by Ardie Savea of the Hurricanes. It is his consistency that has seen him rise into the Team of the Tournament at this stage.
Australian Conference (Brumbies, Reds, Force, Waratahs, Rebels)
W – Henry Speight – Brumbies – $6m
In a reflection of the sorry state of affairs that the Australian Conference is in right now, there are no players in the starting XV of the Team of the Tournament. In fact, only three make the 25-man squad. Speight is a man returning to form for the Brumbies with four tries to his name this season. He only just misses out on the starting XV with a total points score of 49.10 compared to Fukuoka’s 50.00. There is plenty more to come from Speight this season if his side can start to match his own work rate.
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New Zealand Conference (Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Blues, Highlanders)
N8 – Blake Gibson – Blues – $4.8m
Once you remove the Hurricanes and Chiefs players from the Team of the Tournament there aren’t many options left from the New Zealand Conference. Although the Blues who have once again struggled to turn good performances into wins have the sole remaining Kiwis in the 25-man squad. Gibson tops his team mate Pauliasi Manu for the best ranked player with a total score throughout the season of 26.80. His defensive efforts have seen the Blues push many sides close as his own personal tackle count continues to rise. Gibson ranks third of the competitions tacklers making 50 and only missing three.
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Christoper Duffy
