Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Five
OPINION: It was a blues Monday in Cape Town. Not only did they lose one of their key forward to injury, but their unbeaten record lay shattered on the Newlands turf.
The Blues comprehensively upstaged the Stormers and were richly rewarded with six places in the famous @rugby365com Team of the Week starting XV.
The Sharks, Rebels and Waratahs (two each) were next in line.
The Hurricanes, Highlanders and Jaguares (one each) made up the numbers.
The Blues’ dominance was further rewarded with five players in our back-up squad.
The Rebels were also rewarded for their fine win with three players ‘Bubbling Under’.
The Jaguares and Sharks had two each in our back-up squad, while the Hurricanes, Bulls and Waratahs (one each) made up the numbers.
Just two players return from last week – No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks) and lock Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues).
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Team of the Week – Round Five:
15 – Stephen Perofeta (Blues):
Made 50 metres from 11 carries, beat five defenders, busted through the line twice and made all his tackles.
Bubbling under: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
14 – Kobus van Wyk (Hurricanes):
His hat-trick was reward for an outstanding game on attack by the South African wing, who beat defenders almost at will.
Bubbling under: Joe Marchant (Blues)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Sharks):
Again showed his class – 88 metres from eight runs and a superb try.
Bubbling under: Vince Aso (Hurricanes)
12 – Billy Meakes (Rebels):
One of the most consistent inside centres in Super Rugby. Scored a try, made 33 metres off six carries and six tackles.
Bubbling under: Johnny Kotze (Bulls)
11 – Mark Telea (Blues):
Proved a nightmare for the normally reliable Stormers defence – beating nine defenders in a very productive match.
Bubbling under: Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares)
10 – Otere Black (Blues):
His best game for the Blues and was equally effective off the tee (seven from seven) and with the ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Matt Toomua (Rebels)
9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders):
Was in a noisy and joyful mood as he made a valiant attempt to guide his team to victory. Scored a good try, and was a handful for defenders.
Bubbling under: Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares)
8 – Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks):
Took a giant leap towards regaining a spot in the Springbok team – carrying strongly (52 metres from eight carries), beat five defenders, made 10 tackles and won a crucial turnover.
Bubbling under: Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
7 – Michael Hooper (Waratahs):
Has always been known for his high workrate, but with 16 tackles and three turnovers he is the obvious choice.
Bubbling under: Dalton Papali’i (Blues)
6 – Tom Robinson (Blues):
In tandem with Papali’i, Robinson had a very productive match. It included two crucial turnovers.
Bubbling under: Dylan Richardson (Sharks)
5 – Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues):
Was a key figure in the Blues’ convincing and comprehensive demolition of the Stormers at Newlands. Made all his tackles and carried strongly.
Bubbling under: Matt Philip (Rebels)
4 – Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares):
Made all his tackles, carried powerfully and scored a great try.
Bubbling under: Tom Staniforth (Waratahs)
3 – Jermaine Ainsley (Rebels):
Anchored the Rebels scrum and gave them a solid platform in the set pieces. Was very productive around the park, making eight tackles.
Bubbling under: Sione Mafileo (Blues)
2 – Kurt Eklund (Blues):
His basics were near flawless, made 10 carries (for over 40 metres) and nine tackles – without missing one.
Bubbling under: Anaru Rangi (Rebels)
1 – Angus Bell (Waratahs):
For a teenager he had a field day against his more senior counterparts. Apart from his solid scrumming, he score a superb try, made five carries (for more than 50 metres), beat five defenders, had two clean breaks and made nine tackles.
Bubbling under: Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LBmi06lhs
Our individual selections:
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Joe Marchant, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Otere Black, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Matt To’omua , 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Angus Bell.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Otere Black, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Angus Bell.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Tom Banks (Brumbies), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Rob Thompson (Highlanders), 12 Jamie Roberts (Stormers), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), 10 James O’Connor (Reds), 9 Bryn Hall (Crusaders), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks), 7 Tom Christie (Crusaders), 6 Jaco Coetzee (Stormers), 5 Mitch Brown (Chiefs), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Connal McInerney (Brumbies), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Sergeal Petersen (Stormers), 13 Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Juarno Augustus (Stormers), 7 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), 6 Cullen Grace (Crusaders), 5 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares), 3 Michael Ala’alatoa (Crusaders), 2 Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), 5 Mitchell Brown (Chiefs), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Taniela Tupou (Reds), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni (Stormers), 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues).
Team of the Week – Round One: 15 David Havili (Crusaders), 14 Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), 13 Braydon Ennor (Crusaders), 12 Juan Cruz Mallia (Jaguares), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 10 Domingo Miotti (Jaguares), 9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), 8 Harry Wilson (Reds), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), 5 Michael Stolberg (Sunwolves), 4 Darcy Swain (Brumbies), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Samisini Taukei’aho (Chiefs), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
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