Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Four
OPINION: The Crusaders again showed why they are fancied to make it as a hat-trick of titles.
Their demolition of the Chiefs showed they are still in a league of their own.
It is not surprising they dominate the famous @rugby365com weekly selection – six Crusaders in our starting XV.
Two South African franchises, the Bulls and Lions, are rewarded for their wins with two players each..
The Hurricanes, Blues, Rebels, Waratahs and Highlanders (one each) make up the numbers.
There is further reward for the Rebels and Bulls in our back-up squad – with three players each Bubbling Under.
The Hurricanes, Lions and Crusaders have two each in our back-up squad. The Waratahs, Blues and Highlanders (one each) make up the numbers.
Four players return from last week – centre Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), flyhalf Handre Pollard (Bulls), scrumhalf Will Genia (Rebels) and No.8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls).
* Did we get it right this week?
Team of the Week – Round Four:
15 – Will Jordan (Crusaders):
He revelled in the dominant performance by the back-to-back defending champions – two tries, his run metres into triple figures and made most of his tackles.
Bubbling under: Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels)
14 – Sevu Reece (Crusaders):
Not bad for a rookie – more than 150 run metres in 16 carries, three defenders beaten, five clean breaks and a try.
Bubbling under: Marika Koroibete (Rebels)
13 – Jack Goodhue (Crusaders):
Busy making the All Black outside centre position his own. Great off-loading and difficult to stop.
Bubbling under: Wandisile Simelane (Lions)
12 – Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes):
Not just the two tries, but he stamped his mark on the game with plenty of run metres, six defenders beaten and three clean breaks.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 – Rieko Ioane (Blues):
only the fourth player to ever score four tries for the Blues in a match.
Bubbling under: Rosko Specman (Bulls)
10 – Handre Pollard (Bulls):
Another flyhalf masterclass, as he controlled the game perfectly and his kicking out of hand was exquisite.
Bubbling under: Quade Cooper (Rebels)
9 – Will Genia (Rebels):
Genia is really thriving playing alongside his old mate Quade Cooper in Melbourne.
Bubbling under: Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Bulls):
The veteran has been instrumental in the Bulls’ rise to the top of the South African conference.
Bubbling under: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
7 – Michael Hooper (Waratahs):
Apart from his amazing work at the breakdown, which included a number of turnovers, he also made 23 tackles.
Bubbling under: Billy Harmon (Crusaders)
6 – Jordan Taufua (Crusaders):
Missed a few tackles, but with the ball in hand he was a menace.
Bubbling under: Marnus Schoeman (Lions)
5 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders):
Not just a physical beast. Twelve carries, a couple of defenders beaten and a clean break thrown in for good measure. His tackle count also went into double figures.
Bubbling under: Rob Simmons (Waratahs)
4 – Josh Dickson (Highlanders):
Another big lump that moves around the field almost effortlessly, making as many metres with the ball in hand as most of his backs.
Bubbling under: Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls)
3 – Carlü Sadie (Lions):
His stocks just keep rising, especially the set-piece play.
Bubbling under: Sione Mafileo (Blues)
2 – Codie Taylor (Crusaders):
He just required 40 to put his mark on the match – two tries, 50-plus metres in five carries and eight tackles.
Bubbling under: Schalk Brits (Bulls)
1 – Dylan Smith (Lions):
A monster in the scrums and not too shabby around the field.
Bubbling under: Ayden Johnstone (Highlanders)
https://youtu.be/s1x6piEk_p8
Our individual selections:
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Will Genia, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jordan Taufua 5 Scott Barrett 4 Hanro Liebenberg, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Dylan Smith.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Will Genia, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Jordan Taufua 5 Scott Barrett 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Will Genia, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith.
https://youtu.be/pLGFi9LAMBk
Previous selections:
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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