Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round Three

OPINION: The Stormers and the Chiefs are still unbeaten after three rounds of Super Rugby.

Both teams have three players in our Team of the Week after wins against the Sunwolves and Lions respectively.

The Hurricanes, Highlanders and the Crusaders are the next best-represented teams with two players each in our selection.

RESULTS RD#3@ChiefsRugby and @THESTORMERS win on the road to be the only two unbeaten teams remaining after Round 3…#SuperRugby25years
Full details: https://t.co/1clbgDwp03 pic.twitter.com/lVuPDSFkql

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) February 16, 2020

Team of the Week – Round Three:

15 – Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
He was rampant on attack against the Sunwolves. He scored a try and had a hand in a couple of others in the win.
Bubbling under: David Havili (Crusaders)

14 – Sergeal Petersen (Stormers)
He made good use of the space out wide against the Lions. He was one of his team’s try-scorers and gave the offload at the end to send Ruhan Nel in for the match-winning try.
Bubbling under: Wes Goosen (Hurricanes)

13 – Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs)
He was a handful for the Sunwolves in midfield. He broke through a few tackles when he had the ball and he made plenty of metre in the process.
Bubbling under: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

12 – Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes)
He was a big presence in that Hurricanes’ midfield. He carried the ball with power and got his team over the gain line and he scored a wonderful try.
Bubbling under: Ben Te’o (Sunwolves)

11 – Ben Lam (Hurricanes)
The big wing ran the Sharks ragged out wide, breaking through a couple of tackles and scoring two tries.
Bubbling under: Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs)

10 – Elton Jantijes (Lions)
He was certainly running the show in the No.10 jersey. He was sensational on attack, especially in the final 20 minutes. He scored a try and created another with a neat kick-pass to Courtnall Skosan.
Bubbling under: James O’Connor (Reds)

9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
His quick service and ability to put players into the gap kept the Brumbies’ on the backfoot on a few occasions, especially in the second half.
Bubbling under: Ryan Louwrens (Melbourne Rebels)

8 – Juarno Augustus (Stormers)
The big was powerful in the physical exchanges and did a lot of hard work on defence in Johannesburg.
Bubbling under: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)

7 – Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs)
Another industrious performance from the Chiefs player. He was a menace at the breakdowns once again and a monster on defence. He made some serious metres with ball in hand and scored a try.
Bubbling under: Tom Christie (Crusaders)

6 – Cullen Grace (Crusaders)
The youngster tackled like a man possessed at Eden Park. He also proved to be an effective ball carrier as well.
Bubbling under: Mitchell Jacobson (Sunwolves)

5 – Josh Dickson (Highlanders)
A stalwart in the line-outs this weekend. He had a high work rate around the field on attack and defence.
Bubbling under: Angus Blyth (Reds)

4 – Guido Petti (Jaguares)
His physicality gave the Reds a few problems up front and he was effective in the line-outs.
Bubbling under: Scott Barret (Crusaders)

3 – Michael Ala’alatoa (Crusaders)
He forced several scrum penalties in his team’s win over the Blues. He was also a standout on defence and made some metres with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues)

2 – Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies)
A hat-trick of tries in the win over the Highlanders. But it’s his work rate in open play that gets him into our team. He is a hard man to bring down when he gets going.
Bubbling under: Jaba Bregvadze (Sunwolves)

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
The star of the show for the Stormers in Johannesburg. The Lions gave away a few penalties at scrum time because of the pressure from the Bok prop. He also forced several turnovers at the breakdown.
Bubbling under: Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes)

Our individual selections:

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 David Havili, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Ben Te’o, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Previous selections:

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