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Another round of Super Rugby has drawn to a close after providing a showcase of exhilarating running rugby when the Highlanders hosted the Crusaders under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium, a near upset when the Sunwolves took on the Lions in Johannesburg, and a record winning streak come to an abrupt halt when the Waratahs put 50 on the Rebels in Sydney.
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With all seven matches completed, it’s now time for Alex McLeod to run through his Super Rugby Team of the Week.
1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
With Tendai Mtwarira (Sharks) ruled out of action in the lead up to his side’s 24-17 defeat at the hands of the Brumbies in Canberra, the loosehead prop spot was up for grabs for the first time this season, and Steven Kitshoff took the opportunity with both hands.
The Stormers prop could stake a strong claim to be the best ginger front rower in the world, and his performance during his team’s 37-20 victory over the Blues in Cape Town provided sustainable evidence for that statement.
Kitshoff was constantly used as an attacking outlet with the tight channels for the home side, carrying the ball 10 times to make 20 metres. His undeniable work ethic and hunger to gets his hands on the pill allowed him to make a clean break and beat five Blues defenders.
The 26-year-old Springbok was just as solid on defence, completing all seven of his tackle attempts, as well as managing to win his side a turnover, while he conceded no penalties to put the icing on the proverbial cake.
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Elsewhere across the league, Aki Seiuli (Highlanders) and Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders) put on a show as they went head to head in Dunedin, while Aidan Ross (Chiefs) and Craig Millar (Sunwolves) both impressed in their respective matches.
2 – Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Hooker was a tightly contested position this week, with a bunch of candidates making names for themselves with a series of compelling performances across the southern hemisphere.
However, it is Malcolm Marx who earns his place in this team for the first time this season after a standout effort against the Sunwolves at Ellis Park. The reigning South African Player of the Year proved why he’s the best player on the continent, making himself a menace both with ball in hand, and as a defender at the breakdown.
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On offence, the 23-year-old was his usual explosive self, busting through the Sunwolves defence on two occasions, beating four defenders in the process. It was his ability to break the defensive line by running good angles onto the ball at pace that allowed him to breach the opposition defence, which saw him set up one try, as well as picking up two of his own.
His two turnovers were indicative of his outstanding capabilities at the breakdown, while his 10 tackles and 100% success rate at the lineout from 16 throws acts as further evidence of him being arguably the best hooker on the planet.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) was probably Marx’s biggest challenger, with the Kiwi continuing to stamp his authority over the All Blacks’ hooker jersey while Dane Coles remains on the sideline during his side’s 25-17 loss to the Highlanders. Augustine Creevy (Jaguares), Ramone Samuels (Stormers), and Damian Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) also made cases for inclusion.
3 – Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs)
A late call up to the Chiefs squad after a raft of injuries plagued Colin Cooper’s side early in the season, the out-of-contract Angus Ta’avao has added a plethora of quality to the two-time champions since being drafted in.
The former Blues and Waratahs tighthead prop brings with him a ton of experience, which has made Nepo Laulala’s injury absence all the less worrisome. The 27-year-old provided his new side a mix of stability and x-factor during the Chiefs’ 41-28 comeback victory over the Bulls in Hamilton.
This is reflected in his match stats, which saw him make 25 metres from just five carries – not a bad shift for a prop. With a clean break, two defenders beaten and a try assist also to his name, Ta’avao was unafraid to rip into the less glamourous work required of him, making 11 tackles and forming part of a Chiefs front row that maintained a 100%-win ratio at scrum time.
His main challenger for this week was Wilco Louw (Stormers), who rounded out an impressive Stormers front row that took down the Blues at Newlands.
4 – Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
Brodie Retallick was an absolute freak on Friday night. There is simply no other way to describe how he played.
The 2014 World Player of the Year returned from an eye injury to show why he is quite possibly the best lock New Zealand has ever produced. His work rate and hunger to strive for excellence across the park was unrivalled, and he is a key reason as to why the Chiefs managed to beat the Bulls against all odds at Waikato Stadium.
For a lock to make three line breaks, throw a trio of offloads, and carry the ball for 59 metres is ridiculous, and his ability to either dart around, swat off, or plough through the six defenders that couldn’t bring him down was rewarded with the 68-test All Black going over for two tries.
The 2.04 metre giant also won three of his side’s nine lineouts and made six of his seven tackle attempts, making him possibly the best player in Super Rugby over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Rory Arnold (Brumbies) led by example during his side’s 24-17 win over the Sharks, and Izack Rodda (Reds) made a nuisance of himself during the Reds’ victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires. Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) and Matt Philip (Rebels) both battled hard during their team’s defeats.
5 – Tom Franklin (Highlanders)
The slugfest between Tom Franklin and his opposite Scott Barrett (Crusaders) was one that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen certainly would have watched over keenly, as the two locks emerged from the South Island derby as key performers for their respective forward packs.
Only one of the two could make the cut though, and it is Franklin who wins the number five jersey because of his extraordinary defence for the entirety of the 80 minutes. The Maori All Black made a whopping 18 tackles in the thrilling affair, missing none of his tackle attempts.
He was also a focal point of the Highlanders’ attack around the fringes of the ruck, with the 27-year-old carrying the ball on 10 occasions. Additionally, an appreciation needs to be made of how well he executed his role as the caller of the Highlanders’ lineouts, with his side winning all but one of their throws from the sideline.
Barrett put in a notable shift away from home, with the 16-test All Black running for 20 metres from a solitary clean break, completing all 10 of his tackle attempts, and contributing to a Crusaders lineout that won all 12 of their throw-ins.
6 – Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
The word ‘immense’ springs to mind when trying to describe Siya Kolisi’s performance against the Blues in South Africa over the weekend.
The Stormers captain did everything within his power to ensure that his injury-hit and illness-stricken side would emerge victorious in front of their home fans, and that is exactly what they did, with Kolisi playing a significant role in making that happen.
The Springboks flanker was powerful on attack, beating ne defender and making three clean breaks to travel 60 metres with ball in hand. He was just as effective on defence, as his tackle on Sonny Bill Williams – one of six he made throughout the match – was forceful enough to drop the heavy-hitting midfielder to the deck with ease.
That piece of play by Kolisi was exemplary of the effort that he put into this match, which is why he takes the number six jersey for this week.
Kwagga Smith (Lions) comes in as a close runner-up, with the South African sevens star making a similar impact during his side’s tight 40-38 win over the Sunwolves, while Elliot Dixon (Highlanders) came off the bench late in the first half and played with the sort of form that made him an All Black in 2016.
7 – Franco Mostert (Lions)
If Siya Kolisi was immense for the Stormers, then Franco Mostert was irreplaceable for the Lions in Johannesburg over the weekend, and without him, they probably would have come up short against a lowly Sunwolves outfit on their home turf.
The lock-turned-openside flanker has revolutionised his game this season, attaining the skills required of a seven at the breakdown, as well complying with the aerobic demands that an openside flanker needs to have if they are to be successful in the position.
He has achieved all of this, and has still retained the nuances that made him one of the Springboks’ standout locks when he made his debut for the national side two years ago. Captaining his side at Ellis Park in the absence of Warren Whiteley, Mostert was devastating on attack, making a pair of clean breaks and getting past three defenders to run for 59 metres.
While he was impressive on defence, making 11 of his 12 tackle attempts, he flourished at the lineout. Not only did he win four of Malcolm Marx’s throw-ins, but he also stole not one, not two, but three of the Sunwolves’ throws to gift his side with valuable possession.
Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), and Dillon Hunt (Highlanders) went close to making the cut, but none of them were quite as prominent in their matches as Mostert was against the winless Japanese franchise.
8 – Amanaki Mafi (Rebels)
When the Super Rugby Team of the Year is named at the end of the season, the No. 8 spot will be filled by one of either two players – Amanaki Mafi, or Akira Ioane (Blues).
The duo are locked in a two-horse race to be named the competition’s premier No. 8, and it will be intriguing to see them go head-to-head with each other when the Blues host the Rebels on 2 June.
For the meantime, it is Mafi who takes the spoils this week, with his display against the Waratahs enough for the Japanese international to retain his jersey in the team of the week.
The 28-year-old is a human wrecking ball, as shown by his stat sheet that shows he blasted open the Waratahs defence to run 116 metres from three clean breaks which allowed him plough past three unfortunate defenders.
It comes as no surprise then that Mafi managed to dot down for his third try in an effort that saw him sprint 60-odd metres down the middle of the park. He proved to be a threat defensively as well, making seven tackles, and winning his Rebels side a turnover.
Ioane fought hard in a losing effort as the Blues went down to the Stormers in the final match of their South African tour, and was one of the few players that stood out for the visitors. With a bye coming up next week, he should be set and ready to force himself into round seven’s team of the week when the Blues face off against the Sharks at Eden Park.
If Mafi and Ioane are the top two No. 8’s in the competition, then Luke Whitelock (Highlanders) would sit in a not-too-distant third. The two-test All Black put in a massive defensive shift for a second successive week, with his 16 tackles all made with a vigour and a sense of aggression that no statistic could measure.
9 – Joe Powell (Brumbies)
The Brumbies didn’t exactly put on a clinic as they overcame the Sharks in their first home match of the new season, but Joe Powell was certainly one of the stars of the show on Saturday.
Powell was all over the show, distributing the ball well when he needed to, while also showing a decent running game when the opportunity to take the ball to the opposition arose.
This is highlighted in his match statistics, where he made a pair of line breaks, running for a total of 28 metres. For a small bloke, he was also defensively sound as well, making the majority of his tackles against a team stacked with big, tall, heavy-hitting South Africans, proving that the three-test Wallaby is no slouch.
Mitch Short (Waratahs) and Embrose Papier provided the main competition for the number 9 spot, but neither of them could oust Powell in this week’s side.
10 – Damian Willemse (Stormers)
Damian Willemse is going to go a long way with his rugby career, if the 19-year-old’s impressive Super Rugby form for the Stormers is anything to go by this season.
The teenager has stood out in all his outings so far, with his performance against the Blues probably his best at this level. He has a balanced combination of genuine attacking spark, with his pace and agility making him a threat every time he takes the defensive line on, while he remains composed enough to conduct his side around the turf.
His twinkle-toed ability to get out of three tackles and go on to make two clean breaks showcased his ability to breach the opposition’s defence. He also proved to be defensively stable as well, making nine tackles against a hefty Blues side that didn’t lack in size.
It is showings like these that are going to make Willemse a tough customer to handle for the remainder of the season, and it should surprise nobody that a Springboks call-up beckons for the youngster later in the year.
His compatriot Handre Pollard (Bulls) played well in a losing effort in Hamilton, while Bernard Foley (Waratahs) and Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) made significant contributions to their club’s wins.
11 – Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves)
In just two Super Rugby appearances, Hosea Saumaki has shown that is a force to be reckoned with, and will be a key factor as to how well the Sunwolves perform for the remainder of the season.
After recovering from an injury that ruled him out of the past two matches, Saumaki returned with an explosive performance on the left wing at Ellis Park, running around, through, or over the top of any Lions defenders that stood in his way.
The Tongan-born winger made an incredible 168 metres – the most of any player this round – as he beat 11 tacklers from two line breaks off just 10 carries with the ball. For any Fantasy Super Rugby manager out there, Saumaki would be your dream wing, with the 25-year-old also dotting down once for good measure.
An additional 100% tackling percentage and a turnover won for the Japanese franchise proved Saumaki’s all-round worth, and, should he stay injury-free, could well be the difference between the Sunwolves winning or losing matches if they find themselves in tight encounters similar to the one that they were in on the weekend.
Saumaki’s outing against the Lions was enough to push Tevita Li (Highlanders) out of this side, which is huge considering how well the 22-year-old played against the Crusaders on Saturday. Other standouts included Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs) and Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs).
12 – Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
It’s taken him a while to get back into form at Super Rugby level after such compelling displays for the Wallabies last year, but Kurtley Beale is finally back after his outstanding match against the Rebels in Sydney on Sunday.
The 71-test veteran was one of the main reasons as to why the Waratahs managed to spring an upset win over the previously undefeated Rebels at Allianz Stadium, with the 29-year-old executing the role of a second playmaker from second-five-eighth to perfection.
Beale distributed extremely well, making a total of 23 passes and two offloads, which eventually led to two try assists for his side. He wasn’t afraid to take the ball to the opposition either, as his 44 metres made, two defenders beaten, and solitary line break suggests.
While Beale’s efforts to dethrone the Rebels of their unbeaten status was admirable, not much more would have been required of Johnny Fa’auli (Chiefs) to have made this week’s side. The 22-year-old played his best match in Chiefs colours since debuting for them last year, scoring one try and setting up another en route to side’s win over the Bulls.
Michael Little (Sunwolves) continued to impress in his brief Super Rugby career, while Billy Meakes (Rebels) came off the bench and made a statement as his side went down in New South Wales. Meanwhile, Samu Kerevi (Reds) captained his side to a third straight win in Argentina.
13 – Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
Jesse Kriel was basically uncontested in claiming the number 13 jersey for this week’s side, with the Bulls midfielder firing on all cylinders as his side gave up a 14-point advantage to go down by 13 points in New Zealand.
While his team may have choked in the second half, Kriel was brilliant for the entirety of the clash, constantly making himself an attacking weapon that the Chiefs struggled to deal with. His outstanding running lines and exceptional timing when running onto the ball resulted in the 29-test Springbok beating four defenders to make just as many clean breaks as he ripped the host’s defence apart all night long.
Chewing through 51 metres, Kriel set up his teammates for tries on two occasions, while on defence, he managed to win a pair of turnovers to exemplify his all-round ability.
While no other centre came close to taking Kriel on for this week’s spot, EW Viljoen (Stormers) made a decent appearance in Cape Town, scoring twice as his side registered just their second win in five outings this season.
14 – JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers)
The right wing spot was highly-contested throughout the weekend, with a variety of players all standing out in the number 14 jersey across the competition.
However, it is JJ Engelbrecht who wins this week’s spot, with the Stormers flyer making an impact during his side’s dominant victory against the Blues. The former Springboks wing was in the sort of form that got himself called up to the national squad six years ago, making a massive 126 metres with ball in hand, beating four defenders and making two clean breaks in order to do so.
While he missed out on adding his name to the scoresheet, Engelbrecht threw a trio offloads to set up his teammates for tries twice. All in all, it was a comprehensive showing from a player who had spent three years out of the Super Rugby system and is looking to get himself back into the green and gold of South Africa.
Jack Maddocks (Rebels) was Engelbrecht’s biggest threat for this week’s spot, with the young Australian continuing to surprise in his sophomore Super Rugby campaign. Filipo Daugunu (Reds) and Henry Speight (Brumbies) both did well for their respective sides.
15 – David Havili (Crusaders)
He may only be considered the fourth-choice All Blacks fullback behind Ben Smith (Highlanders), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), and Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), but if he stays in the sort of form he is currently in with the Crusaders, then David Havili could well get regular game time for Steve Hansen’s side.
Havili has worked his way back into the team of the week after missing out last round thanks to his above average showing against the Highlanders in Dunedin. When teams prepare to face the Crusaders in the upcoming rounds of Super Rugby, they will be weary of kicking as little as possible, such is the counter-attacking threat that Havili possesses.
The 23-year-old showed how much of a threat he is in broken play and under the high ball countlessly at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with one counter-attacking play from a Lima Sopoaga kick that travelled deep into the Crusaders’ 22 highlighting Havili’s ability to spark something from nothing.
His jinking 25 metre carry from that kick instigated a sequence of plays that eventually led to Manasa Mataele’s try, and without that momentum provided by Havili, we can never be sure if that try would ever have been scored.
Statistically, the three-test All Black made a very solid 103 metres, which is even more impressive considering he made just one clean break throughout the entire 80 minutes. Additionally, he made six tackles to wrap up a display that Hansen no doubt would have taken note of as he watches over his talent pool ahead of the three-match test series against France in June.
Smith did a good job of countering Havili’s attacking threat as his opposite, while McKenzie played at his frenetic best against the Bulls in Hamilton. Warrick Gelant (Bulls) and Michael Collins (Blues) were the best of the rest.
