Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Six

OPINION: Another round of Super Rugby has come and gone and it’s time for @rugby365com’s famous Team of the Week.

The Crusaders lead the way with four players in the team this week following their hard-fought win over the Reds.

Meanwhile, the team from Brisbane has three players in our selection after their brave performance.

The Sharks also have three players in our team after outplaying the Jaguares in Durban.

RESULTS RD #6
Three away wins this round but @TheSharksZA solid at home over @JaguaresARG and lead the competition, as @BlueBullsRugby record their first win of season
Details: https://t.co/Hm9jEwpqbj#SuperRugby25years pic.twitter.com/ZM7wHYMliu

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) March 8, 2020

Team of the Week – Round Six:

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
He pierced through the Jaguares’ defence with ease on Saturday. One of his moments of brilliance played a big role in the build-up to Andre Esterhuizen’s try.
Bubbling under: Warrick Gelant (Bulls)

14 – Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels)
The 24-year-old is becoming a try-scoring machine. He scored two tries and assisted in another in the win over the Lions.
Bubbling under: Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)

13 – Rieko Ioane (Blues)
He made plenty of metres with ball in hand. He broke through several tackles against the Hurricanes and he has a good eye for the gap in the midfield.
Bubbling under: Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)

12 – André Esterhuizen (Sharks)
The Jaguares found it hard to bring the big man down. He got his team over the advantage line and scored a try as well.
Bubbling under: Billy Meakes (Melbourne Rebels)

11 – Rosko Specman (Bulls)
He showed what a lethal finisher he is with three tries against the Highlanders. He was a constant threat out wide.
Bubbling under: Ben Lam (Hurricanes)

10 – Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
With him at No.10, the Sharks looked deadly on attack once again. He kept the Jaguares’ defenders on their toes with good decision-making.
Bubbling under: Otere Black (Blues)

9 – Brad Weber (Chiefs)
Probably the best scrumhalf in New Zealand at the moment. He ran the Waratahs ragged, scoring two tries and setting up another in the Chiefs’ win.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

8 – Harry Wilson (Reds)
Played out of his skin in Christchurch. He made over 20 carries with over 100 running metres and he scored a great try as well.
Bubbling under: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)

7 – Tom Christie (Crusaders)
The competition’s best defender. He was at it again against the Reds with some big hits.
Bubbling under: Blake Gibson (Blues)

6 – Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs)
He terrorised the breakdowns once again and scored a great try against the Waratahs.
Bubbling under: Rob Valetini (Brumbies)

5 – Mitchell Dunshea (Crusaders)
An important cog in the Crusaders’ physical game against the Reds. He also made his presence felt in the set-pieces.
Bubbling under: Hyron Andrews (Sharks)

4 – Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds)
He gave a good account of himself in open play with some strong carries and breaking through several tackles.
Bubbling under: Gideon Koegelenberg (Melbourne Rebels)

3 – Taniela Tupou (Reds)
The ‘Tongan Thor’ put in a barnstorming performance in open play with some powerful carries and some bone-crunching tackles.
Bubbling under: Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues)

2 – Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
His work rate is always impressive and it was no different in his team’s win over the Reds in Christchurch.
Bubbling under: Anaru Rangi (Melbourne Rebels)

1 – Joe Moody (Crusaders)
He forced a few scrum penalties against the Reds, and he was a handful with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: JP Smith (Reds)

Our individual selections:

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Otere Black, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 JP Smith.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Harry Wilson, 7-Tom Christie, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 2 Taniela Tupou, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Stephen Perofeta (Blues), 14 Kobus van Wyk (Hurricanes), 13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 12 Billy Meakes (Rebels), 11 Mark Telea (Blues), 10 Otere Black (Blues), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Tom Robinson (Blues), 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares), 3 Jermaine Ainsley (Rebels), 2 Kurt Eklund (Blues), 1 Angus Bell (Waratahs).

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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