Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Eight

OPINION: The Sharks surprised many pundits with their performance at Ellis Park in Round Eight.

The team from Durban destroyed the Lions in a 42-5 victory and four of their players have made their way into our Team of the Week.

The Crusaders are also represented by four players after their victory over the Brumbies.

The Blues, Melbourne Rebels, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Reds are also represented this week

* Did we get it right this week? See our team below:

Team of the Week – Round Eight:

15 – Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
He tore the Lions’ defence to pieces on a few occasions and he had a hand in half of his team’s tries at Ellis Park.
Bubbling under: Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels)

14 – Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Another great game with ball in hand and he scored two tries in the win over the Brumbies.
Bubbling under: Matt Faddes (Highlanders)

13 – Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
He had his best game for the Sharks this season. He was a handful with ball in hand and he scored a great try as well.
Bubbling under: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)

12 – Ma’a Nonu (Blues)
He was tough as nails in the midfield against the Waratahs and his distribution to his outside backs was top class.
Bubbling under: Samu Kerevi (Reds)

11 – Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
He was absolutely devasting with ball in hand against the Waratahs. He made over a 100 running metres, scoring two tries in the process.
Bubbling under: Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)

10 – Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
It was another classy display from the flyhalf. He made good decisions and controlled things nicely from the inside channel.
Bubbling under: Domingo Miotti (Jaguares)

9 – Will Genia (Melbourne Rebels)
He gave his team some quality service once again and was a constant threat around the fringes.
Bubbling under: Bryn Hall (Crusaders)

8 – Dan du Preez (Sharks)
He is the hammer in the Sharks’ pack and the Lions suffered a few big blows in Johannesburg.
Bubbling under: Akira Ioane (Blues)

7 – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
He was immense in the win against the Highlanders. He was hard to contain with his pace and power, he won a few turnovers and scored two tries as well.
Bubbling under: Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks)

6 – Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
He just keeps getting better and better and he could be a starter for the All Blacks by the time the World Cup comes around. He was powerful with the ball and he put in some big hits on defence.
Bubbling under: Pablo Matera (Jaguares)

5 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Probably the best lock in the competition at the moment. His work rate was excellent against the Brumbies.
Bubbling under: Adam Coleman (Melbourne Rebels)

4 – Patrick Tuipolotu (Blues)
He was an important cog in the Blues’ pack against the Waratahs. He did a lot of good work in the set-pieces and he carried the ball well.
Bubbling under: Tom Staniforth (Waratahs)

3 – Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders)
He was powerful in the scrums and was a standout on defence against the Hurricanes.
Bubbling under: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

2 – Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Reds)
He stood up well to some strong opponents in the Stormers’ front row and did the basics well around the park.
Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (Lions)

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
He became the most capped South African player in Super Rugby at Ellis Park and he was outstanding in all areas of the game against the Lions.
Bubbling under: Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)

Our individual selections:

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Will Genia, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Patrick Tuipolotu, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Will Genia, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Patrick Tuipolotu, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Matawarira.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Seven: 15 David Havili (Crusaders), 14 Jack Maddocks (Rebels), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Ma’a Nonu (Blues), 11 Semisi Masirewa, (Sunwolves), 10 Hayden Parker (Sunwolves), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Angus Cottrell (Rebels), 6 Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders), 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi (Stormers), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Six: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Sunwolves), 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Nic Groom (Lions), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Ned Hanigan (Waratahs), 5 Rob Simmons (Waratahs), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Billy Meakes (Rebels), 11 Wes Goosen (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies), 7 Liam Wright (Reds), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5 John Schickerling (Stormers), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Carlü Sadie (Lions), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Will Jordan (Crusaders), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 4 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 3 Carlü Sadie (Lions), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Dylan Smith (Lions).

Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Sunwolves), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Michael Little (Sunwolves), 11 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), 5 Uwe Helu (Sunwolves), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Hiroshi Yamashita (Sunwolves), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Tom Banks (Brumbies), 14 Chance Peni (Brumbies), 13 Jordan Petaia (Reds), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 George Bridge (Crusaders), 10 Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), 9 Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares), 8 Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies), 7 Albertus Smith (Lions), 6 Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), 5 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14 Jack Maddocks (Rebels), 13 Braydon Ennor (Crusaders), 12 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 11 Rosko Specman (Bulls), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Lions), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Dylan Smith (Lions).

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