Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Four

OPINION: After four rounds there is only one unbeaten team left in the tournament.

With four wins from four matches, the Stormers are sitting pretty at the of the overall standings heading into Round Five.

They are one of three teams with three players in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Four after their victory over the Jaguares. The other two are the Sharks and the Crusaders after their wins over the Melbourne Rebels and Highlanders respectively.

The Brumbies, Highlanders, Reds, Chiefs and Blues are the other teams represented this week.

RESULTS RD#4
Reds win first match and 3 victories on the road this round as @BrumbiesRugby stun @ChiefsRugby in Hamilton; @THESTORMERS remain the only unbeaten team…#SuperRugby25years
Details: https://t.co/1clbgDwp03 pic.twitter.com/GSgsUvH0ST

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) February 23, 2020

Team of the Week – Round Four:

15 – Tom Banks (Brumbies)
His kicking game under pressure was on point in win over the Chiefs. He was dangerous on attack and scored one of his team’s four tries.
Bubbling under: Jock Campbell (Reds)

14 – Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
The Highlanders struggled to contain the big man out wide. He made plenty of running metres going forward, beating several defenders in the process.
Bubbling under: Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)

13 – Rob Thompson (Highlanders)
An exciting ball runner in Christchurch. He gave the Crusaders a few problems with ball in hand and he defended well.
Bubbling under: Braydon Ennor (Crusaders)

12 – Jamie Roberts (Stormers)
Got his team over the advantage line with some big carries in wet conditions and he was a standout on defence as well.
Bubbling under: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks)

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
Scored two tries in the win over the Rebels. He was a constant threat with the ball and he beat several defenders with his speed.
Bubbling under: George Bridge (Crusaders)

10 – James O’Connor (Reds)
Another influential outing in the No.10 jersey from the Wallaby. He ran the Sunwolves ragged on attack.
Bubbling under: Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)

9 – Bryn Hall (Crusaders)
His quick service from the breakdowns kept the Crusaders on the front foot against the Highlanders.
Bubbling under: Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)

8 – Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)
Another barnstorming performance by the loose forward. He was a powerful runner with the ball against the Rebels.
Bubbling under: Pete Samu (Brumbies)

7 – Tom Christie (Crusaders)
He was simply outstanding in the win over the Highlanders. He was a monster on defence and was a hard man to bring down when he had the ball.
Bubbling under: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)

6 – Jaco Coetzee (Stormers)
His work rate against the Jaguares was excellent. He carried the ball with great vigour and tackled with venom.
Bubbling under: Cullen Grace (Crusaders)

5 – Mitch Brown (Chiefs)
Probably the standout performer in a Chiefs side that lost to the Brumbies. He tackled like a man possessed again.
Bubbling under: Juandré Kruger (Bulls)

4 – Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)
The captain led by example at Loftus Versfeld against the Bulls. He carried the ball powerfully and put in some big hits on defence.
Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)

3 – Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
He showed great aggression in all facets of the game in the win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Bubbling under: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

2 – Connal McInerney (Brumbies)
A key part of the Brumbies’ success in the set-pieces and he was certainly in the Chiefs’ faces on defence.
Bubbling under: James Parsons (Blues)

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
He dominated his opponent at scrum time and was a nuisance at the breakdowns once again.
Bubbling under: James Slipper (Brumbies)

Our individual selections:

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Thomas Banks, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Mitch Brown, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Connal McInerney, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 James Parsons, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 George Bridge, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Bryan hall, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Mitch Brown, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 James Slipper.

Previous selections:

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 Jantijes (Lions), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Juarno Augustus (Stormers), 7 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), 6 Cullen Grace (Crusaders), 5 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 4 Guido Petti (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).

@rugby365com