Super Rugby Unlocked Team of the Week – Round 3

The Bulls provide the bulk of our Team of the Week after they dismantled the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.

Jake White’s charges made an emphatic statement as they dominated the Durbanites en route to a 41-14 bonus-point win. As a result, the Pretoria team top the Super Rugby Unlocked table after three rounds and boast six players in our side, while only a solitary Sharks star made the cut.

Super Rugby Unlocked Team of the Week – Round 2

On Friday night, a purring Pumas outfit were unlucky to miss out on a famous victory over the Stormers at home. The Capetonians’ coach John Dobson admitted his team pulled off a “burglary”, one that was aided by a contentious referee call in the lead-up to Warren Gelant’s try, which saw the Stormers snatch a 42-37 win after trailing by 23 points.

Both teams have four players in our side, with the men from Mpumalanga also boasting the Player of the Week. The clash between the Lions and Cheetahs were called off due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Lions’ pride, while Griquas had a bye.

15: Devon Williams (Pumas)

Fantastic on all fronts. Marshalled his team with terrific tactical kicking, consistently finding touch deep inside Stormers territory with his educated left boot. Lethal on attack, both when joining the line at pace and counter-attacking from the back. Evaded four defenders, made three clean breaks and racked up 81 metres in 12 runs.

14: Edwill van der Merwe (Stormers)

Did the Stormers name justice with excellent evasive running. Beat a round-high eight defenders with his lethal blend of speed and footwork, made three clean breaks and an unrivalled 94 metres in six runs. The Cape side’s best defensive back as well with nine tackles and a turnover.

13: Stedman Gans (Bulls)

The Blitzboks captain put on a dazzling display of his sevens skills to score a double. Sevens players are in demand right now and Gans showed why when he danced past a number of Sharks for a sensational solo score. Those are the magic moments that can win a game. Manned up on defence as well, making all four of his tackles.

12: Wayne van der Bank (Pumas) – Player of the Week

Call him the magic man from Mpumalanga. Van der Bank had an absolute blinder, ripping the Stormers defence to shreds all evening. Even though we’re only three rounds in, I doubt we’ll see a better try than the one the Pumas centre set up, collecting a chip, spinning, handing off and offloading to Jeandré Rudolph to score. Sparked a try for Neil Maritz as well with a cracking chicken wing offload and was rewarded with a try of his own. In nine runs, he beat four defenders, made two clean breaks and 56 metres. Immense on defence, too, making a round-high 14 tackles (along with Salmaan Moerat) and won a turnover to cap off a memorable Man of the Match performance.

11: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls)

Full of flair, like fellow Blitzbok Gans, who he put in for his second try with an outstanding offload. White’s found gold in these two. Made 30 metres in four runs, beating three defenders and slicing through the line on two occasions. Flawless on defence, marking the bigger Sbu Nkosi well and making all four of his tackles.

10: Eddie Fouché (Pumas)

That the Pumas pivot cracked the nod after playing just 30 minutes says as much about his performance than it does about those the other flyhalves put forth. Fouché picked up where he left off the previous weekend, running the show with aplomb and maintaining his 100% goal-kicking record before suffering a horrific injury.

9: Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)

A tight call between Jantjies and Ivan van Zyl. The latter caught the Sharks napping around the fringe, sniping into a half gap and offloading to Marco van Staden who coasted in. Executed good touch finders, too, but was guilty of a few unforced errors, including kicking one out on the full. Jantjies’ work rate was top-notch and saw him make two charge downs, the first resulting in the opening try for Rikus Pretorius. Scored one of his own with exemplary support play.

8: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)

The Bulls captain fully activated beast mode to lead the mauling and scoop the Man of the Match award. Damn-near split the Sharks in two with bone-crunching hits (9), which he supplemented with two textbook turnovers (one in each half) on the deck. Made strong carries (four for 12 metres) and a deft offload to Arno Botha that nearly netted the hosts a try. Ex-Bull Jeandré Rudolph had a pearler for the Pumas but his foolish yellow card took much of the shine off it.

7: Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

Picked up by White from the Kings, Louw shone in his first start for his new franchise. No-one worked harder than the former Junior Springbok, who made 10 tackles and latched on to two turnovers. Also stole one of the Sharks’ lineout throws. Led the forwards’ charge with ball in hand as well, making 37 metres from six carries, which saw him break a tackle and make a line break.

6: Marco van Staden (Bulls)

Put his body on the line and bled for the cause. Like a rabid dog at the breakdown – tenacious, relentless and supremely skilful, snagging two turnovers, including a gut-punch of a penalty 5m out from the Bulls’ tryline. Great with ball in hand, beating two defenders, making 31 metres and scoring a brace in three carries.

5: Pieter Jansen van Vuren (Pumas)

A second sterling showing in a row by the Pumas’ captain fantastic. Led from the front in all departments including at ruck time, an area the minnows dominated with brute force. Made a good clean break (beating two defenders) and 29 metres in six carries, while completing all seven of his tackles. Just shaded Ruan Nortje, who was brilliant for the Bulls but slipped three tackles.

4: Jason Jenkins (Bulls)

Up there with Vermeulen as a dominant force that smashed the stuffing out of the Sharks. Excellent as the enforcer, roughing up the visitors in the tight loose and using his strength and hunger to win a maul turnover on the Sharks’ 22. Equally impressive in the lineouts, where he poached two on the Sharks’ throw and secured six takes.

3: Frans Malherbe (Stormers)

On a nightmare night in Nelspruit, the Stormers found solace at scrum time thanks to their World Cup-winning tighthead. The scrum was the only facet of play in which the vaunted visitors had the ascendency, where Malherbe was a battering ram, notably bailing them out of trouble with a powerful penalty 5m out from their line.

2: Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)

Pure class all-round. The Stormers’ busiest and most effective ball-carrying forward, powering his way to 25 metres in eight charges and worked just as hard on defence, making nine tackles. Did exceptionally well to twist and will his way over from a driving maul to score the try that sparked the incredible comeback.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Very few men can say they dominated Marcel van der Merwe at scrum time. Nche is now one of them. Well and truly upended the Bulls tighthead, winning two penalties inside the opening 10 minutes. Trevor Nyakane evened the odds when he came on but the Sharks loosehead continued to make an impact in open play, making seven tackles, one of which, on Travis Ismaiel down the wing, highlighting the work he put in all evening.