Rainbow Cup SA Team of the Week – Round 4

Upsets in Durban and Johannesburg see several fresh faces in our Rainbow Cup SA Team of the Week, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

It was a day of surprises on Saturday as the Stormers eked out a 25-22 win over the Sharks in wet and testing conditions at Kings Park before the gutsy Lions stunned the previously unbeaten Bulls 34-33 at Ellis Park to break their duck.

The Jukskei derby shocker breathes fresh intrigue into the tournament after the rampant Bulls had looked a lock to finish on top following three straight wins. The Lions’ heroics have them leading the way with eight players in our team, with the Bulls having four representatives despite their defeat. There are two Stormers standouts in our side, including the Player of the Week, while just a sole Sharks player made the cut.

15: David Kriel (Bulls)

Aphelele Fassi came on strong in the second hand with good wherewithal and endeavour to score an opportunistic try and added some brilliant kicks. He endured a stuttering start, though, being handed off rather easily by Edwill van der Merwe as the Stormers flyer crossed for his first try and kicking the ball out on the full. Kriel was fundamentally sound aside from his late knock-on and bagged a double.

14: Madosh Tambwe (Bulls)

Electric and elusive. Scored a top try as he hurdled over EW Viljoen as the Lions fullback dove in for the tackle (time-stamped below) and created another with a brilliant counter-attack. Chased extremely well, including from restarts. Lions right-winger Rabz Maxwane also made his mark with a great individual try.

13: Wandisile Simelane (Lions)

Assumed somewhat of a different role. Set off on five runs and made a few enterprising passes but wasn’t as flashy as usual. Instead, he gave a glimpse of his rarely-seen kicking game as he put the Lions in the right areas of the field with a couple of booming touch finders at crucial times. Signs of a maturing player.

12 Burger Odendaal (Lions)

Pure passion. The Lions skipper inspired his troops with one barnstorming ball carry after the other (a team-high 13) and made some big hits as well. So instrumental in what was probably a particularly sweet victory for the veteran midfielder, not only because of the sides’ contrasting streaks but also as a bit of a statement against his former team.

11: Edwill van der Merwe (Stormers)

It was all Sharks in the early going until Van der Merwe turned the tide with a second sensational solo try in as many weeks, blasting off from inside his own half and blitzing three defenders to dot down. Completed his brace minutes later to give the Stormers the half-time lead and maintained a high work rate in the second 40.

Edwill van der Merwe is in the form of his life ?

How special is this try against the Sharks ?

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— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV)

10: Jordan Hendrikse (Lions)

Chris Smith had a solid game with the boot and scored from a darting run. However, he lacked the tactical nous to close out the game. Hendrikse produced another assured performance, landing long-range penalties and kicking excellently out of hand. Got his backline away and looked fantastic on defence, even challenging for a turnover on one occasion. Fred Zeilinga was just as pivotal off the bench, completing the job by winning the territorial battle and scoring the decisive try.

9: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)

Zak Burger made a good break and had two try assists while Herschel Jantjies had his moments. However, Hendrikse was a real livewire and joins his brother in our team. A handful and then some, he was held up over the line after one quick tap and unleashed Siya Kolisi from another, which netted the Sharks a try.

8: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)

Limited to 60 minutes due to an ankle injury but maximised his time on the park. Pressure, pressure and more pressure was the name of the game for Vermeulen this time around. Charged the ball down on one occasion, which led to a turnover, and made a huge hit on Jordan Hendrikse that resulted in Tambwe’s try. Won an important turnover in his own half as well.

7: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – Player of the Week

A freak of nature! A third complete 80-minute performance after a long injury lay-off, this one earning him the Man of the Match award. Led the way in terms of urgency and intensity, from effective counter-rucking to dangerous quick taps. Tireless on defence, making 17 tackles including a try-saving effort on Hendrikse, and showed good pace to canter in for a deserved try just after half-time (time-stamped below). Influential in the lineouts as well. Pipped the red-hot Vincent Tshituka, who was outstanding in his Man of the Match performance in Durban.

6: MJ Pelser (Lions)

Kolisi showed his power when he steamrolled Ruhan Nel to set up Yaw Penxe’s try, Willie Engelbrecht made some crunching hits, the best of the bunch on Fez Mbatha, while Marco van Staden was his pesky self at the breakdown. Pelser, however, was a workhorse par excellence, an unsung hero for the Lions on defence with a team-high 14 tackles. Rewarded with a try and our No.6 jersey.

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

The total package. Not just a pillar of strength in the lineouts but a Trojan in general play. Skillful and calculated, he won two penalties at the breakdown and was a menace in the mauls. Marvin Orie put his hand up for selection as well as he disrupted the Sharks with his lineout prowess and put in a busy defensive shift.

4: Ruben Schoeman (Lions)

The powerhouse of the Lions pack. Willed his way over for a try, made momentum-generating carries throughout (nine in total) and was strong in the lineouts. A destructive force on defence as well with a double-digit tackle count (10) and made some massive clean outs.

3: Carlu Sadie (Lions)

It all starts up front as the cliché goes and Sadie and company set the foundation for the Lions’ much-needed win. Dominated Lizo Gqoboka with a combination of brute strength and supreme technique and made a few impressive tracking tackles.

2: Jaco Visagie (Lions)

Like Burger, he stuck it to his former employers with a rock-solid showing. Started with a skew throw-in but was spot on from there on out. Helped turn the screws in the scrums and driving mauls and was heavily involved in the tight loose. Elsewhere, Bongi Mbonambi had another satisfactory outing highlighted by a peel-off and pass that sparked Du Toit’s try.

1: Sti Sithole (Lions)

A scrummaging titan for the second week in a row. Tormented Trevor Nyakane, something very few players have managed to do, and got through plenty of work across the park. Ox Nche, meanwhile, made a strong case for a Springbok recall with a dominant display of his own at scrum time in the first half, earning three penalties, and did well to stretch over for the opening try.