Siya Kolisi: Unlucky not to be a Bok
Now that the dust has settled in the southern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the players who stole the show in Round 15 of Super Rugby.
15 Andries Coetzee (Lions): Influential in the Lions' first-half blitz, combining his pace and an eye for opportunities against the shell-shocked Sharks.
14 Rene Ranger (Blues): We knew what he was capable of, it's just taken him 15 games to show it. Ranger was simply outstanding on attack, and stole the show with the best individual try of the game - perhaps even the season.
13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes): Mr Consistent simply can't put a foot wrong as he led his team to a crucial win against the Waratahs in Sydney, that keeps their play-off hopes alive and kicking.
12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders): With former Crusaders centre Sonny Bill Williams now plying his trade with the Chiefs, Crotty has taken his chance to shine with both hands. He repeatedly exploited holes in the Highlanders defensive screen, which also led to a deserved try.
11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs): If you didn't know this speedster's name before, you do now. Four of the Chiefs' five-pointers were dotted down via their wing, who equalled the Super Rugby record for most tries scored by a player in one match. He becomes the 10th player to achieve this feat.
10 Dan Carter (Crusaders): Everything he touched, turned to gold. Carter featured prominently in the creation of a number of the Crusaders tries, whilst his kicking game is back on track.
9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders): After a superb performance in which his linking work between the Crusaders forwards and backs was outstanding, Eliis easily finds a place in our team... but unfortunately not Steve Hansen's who preferred the out-of-shape Piri Weepu instead - shame on you All Blacks selectors.
8 Victor Vito (Hurricanes): Continues to play game after game at full throttle - All Blacks fans must be hoping Vito hasn't emptied his tank on the fields of Super Rugby with three Tests against the Irish coming up.
7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders): He's baaaaaaaack!
6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers): Unlucky to miss out on Bok selection following this man-of-the-match performance against the Bulls at their Loftus fortress. But the Springboks' loss is the Stormers' gain, as the flank can now recharge his batteries over the next few weeks.
5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders): His best outing of the season thus far, and just in time for the June Test series. Besides his towering presence in the line-outs, Whitelock is also a terrier in the loose and shows surprising speed for such a big man.
4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers): There was effort, heart and determination in spades from the Stormers lock who was rightly rewarded with a Bok call-up for his efforts this season.
3 Pat Cilliers (Lions): Rock-solid for the Lions at scrum-time, and a physical beast on attack and defence.
2 Quentin MacDonald (Crusaders): An early replacement for Corey Flynn, but made in instant impact off the bench and played the role of 'super sub' to a tee. MacDonald's ball running was outstanding, the Man of the Match proving to have the uncanny knack of providing vital passes at crucial moments.
1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders): His scrumming dominance was coupled with running, drawing and passing as well as a try.
Comments
ruckingkiwi says...
Carpelone, you're welcome, but how'd you know I fkd your father? :)
Posted 21:12 07th June 2012
APV1 says...
(Please don't tell fiwiboy that Haskell's in SA, training with the England squad. I thought most Highlanders fans were glad to see the back of him, but it's good to know he still has one fan over in NZ!)
Posted 14:52 07th June 2012
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - good for you. But I meant a different sort of "out". As in, leave your home and meet people, rather than lock yourself in the back bedroom watching rugby 24:7. It's just not healthy, my friend! ;-)
@ jonesy2 - The NZ, Wallaby and Bok matches are already in the planner to be recorded. I must admit, I'm glad we're playing the Boks, rather than the NZers, as I can't see anyone beating them this year. We have a chance to beat SA and Wales have a good chance to beat Aus, but Ireland will get taught a lesson. Even with their doubtless talent on show (BOD, for one), they just don't have the players to match up to the NZers, although I hope they do.
I'm away all weekend, so don't know when I'll get to see them. I might need to sneak over to JayStarr's for a boys night in and a marathon session. We might watch some rugby too..! ;-)
Posted 10:16 07th June 2012
jonesy2 says...
makemehappy -- come on man he is riddled with sarcasm youre never going to get far in life if you cant tell that!
APV1-- haha brilliant as always. to be fair the scots have to be given a laaaaaarge amount of credit so not a bad start but in all seriousness if you want to watch some rugby and i mean some rugby watch the allblacks this weekend and keep and eye on how read and richie get to the ball then just enjoy the magic of the backline because you will never see a more potent or dynamic lot play the game
Posted 05:49 07th June 2012
fiwiboy says...
APV1, Haskell hasn't left the Highlanders yet. They still have two more games (and a bye) provided they don't make the playoffs!
Posted 01:32 07th June 2012
JayStarr says...
@ APV1: haha - I'm out all the time! And I'm gay. lol
Posted 22:16 06th June 2012
APV1 says...
@ jonesy2 - thank you.
As for who should be considered, I find that a little tough. Especially since Haskell and Cipriani have left, it doesn't leave many good players to choose from.
Posted 16:05 06th June 2012
jonesy2 says...
APV1-- i concur completely. usless the lot of them. just wait till the irish, welsh and english get hold of this lot.
everyone needs to calm down with these selections because yes there are a lot of players who miss out each week and could be in the teams so dont just say "oh there are too many crusaders or not enough saffas wahh wah wahh", actually suggest who you think should have made the cut and why. eg i think sonny bill should have made it because he was spectacular and the try assist he had cant be done by anyone else on the planet, probably.
Posted 14:23 06th June 2012
APV1 says...
@ makemehappy - medicrity personified, those two. We are all well-aware of Richie "King Cheat" McCaw's ability to get away with almost anything he likes, right under the ref's nose. And DC, it's been declared, can do no wrong.
And yet they are so ordinary.
I loved the comment, " Pierre Spies - he looks like Tarzan, he plays like Jane." Perhaps McCaw could be described as, "Looks like Jane, yet plays like Cheetah."
Posted 13:51 06th June 2012
makemehappy says...
@APV1 - does that mean you don't rate Carter or McCaw?
Posted 13:08 06th June 2012
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - you need to get out more, my friend. Or get a girlfriend...
;-)
Posted 13:03 06th June 2012
JayStarr says...
@ kahui: I did watch every game - I watch every game every weekend. And then I watch all the highlights on Re:Union and Boots & All. And then I play 4 Fantasy Rugby games, so I see all the statistics too. I probably see more than you do. And I lived in the UK for 10 years - and the teams I support in Super Rugby is the Stormers, the Cheetahs, the Chiefs, the Highlanders, the Crusaders, the Force and the Brumbies. So don't tell me I'm some Saffa baby - I watch more Super Rugby than any of the idiots who write this column - or you.
Posted 12:44 06th June 2012
Carpelone says...
@ Ruckingkiwi
Thank you, Mummy.
Posted 11:02 06th June 2012
APV1 says...
Not a single player there to worry the NH tourists.
Mediocre is now my catch-word for these "players", but I don't think they even deserve that accolade.
There are a couple of players who might get in a lower-division NH squad, but no-one really world class or to worry the tourists.
Scotland just proved that - they're ranked 12th by the IRB, for Goodness' sake!!
Posted 10:48 06th June 2012
AWEBLAX says...
Hey editor are you a Kiwi from Christchurch, me too, but don't tell Carpelone.
No actually, where the heck are the Aussies, they're in the comp. too I'm sure I've heard that somewhere, lol.
Posted 08:36 06th June 2012
kahui says...
JayStarr - go through and watch every game - PR got it spot on.
Just because ur boys didn't get picked doesn't mean its wrong!! U Saffas r such babies
Posted 08:32 06th June 2012
Mace says...
He's baaaack!!! More like they're baaaack! DC & RM to break Irish hearts this weekend.....
Posted 04:28 06th June 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Carpelone, it's lose, not loose.. :) anyway, don't loose too much sleep over it, I'm not sure anyone takes this selection seriously.
This Kolisi looks like an awesome player. At least Spies and Steyn can tackle better than Quade Cooper, that guys like a revolving door. Speaking of which, not one Aussie in the team this week.
Wombat, wasn't that the week before? Was awesome though.
Posted 00:44 06th June 2012
JayStarr says...
OH COME ON...!!!!! Are you KIDDING me!!? CRUSADERS CRUSADERS CRUSADERS...!!!
I don't know why the hell I still read this column!! You people will never learn.
Posted 22:52 05th June 2012
zambokke says...
Fozza - there is a saying going around. Pierre Spies - he looks like Tarzan, he plays like Jane. Bokavenger speaks the truth. Every so often he tackles like a hero and does some lightening quick breaks because he is so quick, but he does not hit the rucks or tackle hard enough. I much prefer to see modern back row players like Andre Venter, Gary Teichmann, Corne Krige, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, AJ Venter, Joe Van Niekerk, Andre Vos, Rueben Kruger - these guys put their necks on the line week in and week out; you knew when you were hit!! If Spies wants to be remembered he has to start hitting the rucks, cleaning out, putting in the big hits and doing some dirty work. I would prefer to hear that he looks like Tarzan and plays like The Terminator!
Posted 16:33 05th June 2012