Big game: Ryan Kankowski
Now that the dust has settled in the southern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the players who stole the show in Round 17 of Super Rugby.
15 Charles Piutau (Blues): Rose to the challenge and was a shining light in what has been an otherwise gloomy Blues season. The promising youngster was electric on debut and bagged a try for his efforts. Makes you wonder why he wasn't picked from the start!
14 JP Pietersen (Sharks): Transfered his form for the Springboks during the June Tests over to the Sharks, in what was another impressive display out wide from the speedster who also got himself on the scoresheet. He can do nothing wrong at the moment.
13 Waylon Murray (Lions): It's been a while since we had a Lion in our XV, but it was pretty hard to leave out the former Bok who showed glimpses of why he was once hailed as a star of the future. He also crossed the chalk in the second minute of the match.
12 Ma'a Nonu (Blues): The All Blacks centre was hungry for work after enjoying a break away from the game and finally gave the Blues' faithful fans reason to cheer with a barnstorming performance that also resulted in his 100th first class try.
11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders): There weren't many stand-out left wingers in the penultimate round, but if we were pushed for a choice then it has to be the in-form Crusaders' flyer who was a menace - not only out wide, but all over the pitch.
10 Frédéric Michalak (Sharks): Arguably his best performance in a black jersey since joining the Super Rugby franchise, the French international razzled and dazzled with ball in hand, never took a step back on defence and was instrumental with the boot.
9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs): Aaron Smith may be the talk of the town at the moment, but the Chiefs scrum-half reminded us why he was selected in the All Blacks squad after producing a performance out of the top drawer.
8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks): He has his critics, but Kankow showed he's still a major force on the big stage and shouldn't be written off for Test duty in the upcoming Rugby Championship after producing a memorable man-of-the-match performance. Wonderful to watch - if you were a Sharks fan or not!
7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders): Led from the front in what was a crucial victory for his team over the Chiefs. In a match when it was needed most, McCaw's all-round influence was evident from start to finish.
6 Derick Minnie (Lions): What's this? Another Lion! It's going to snow! The loose forward got his claws stuck into the Rebels from the outset and put his team into the fast lane with a brace of tries in the first half.
5 Hugh Pyle (Rebels): A towering presence at Coca-Cola Park, Pyle bagged a brace to bring his side back into the game when they were hanging on the ropes at half-time against the Lions.
4 Luke Romano (Crusaders): The line-out proved to be a major Achilles heel for the Chiefs, as they lost at least eight of their own throw-ins - most of them to this guy, who proved to have an eye for the tryline as well.
3 James Slipper (Reds): The Reds needed a big performance to keep their hopes alive and the sight of Slipper coming in to land like a 747 for what proved to be a crucial try had the Brisbane faithful believing a title defence is still possible.
2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): A brutal display from the Sharks rake who was gladiatorial on and attack and defence, knocking ball-carriers back as he tackled the pride of Pretoria into submission.
1 Sona Taumalolo (Chiefs): What is the world coming to? Props aren't supposed to sprint clear like that! For once the Perpignan-bound loosehead didn't score a try but he made a few Crusaders blush with his turn of speed!
Compiled by Dave Morris
Comments
AWEBLAX says...
APV1 Your freakin hilarious....
Posted 10:16 13th July 2012
cantyboy says...
Onya missionary,completely agree with you on Guildford.Folds up like a baby when hitting the line,useless on defense and his madness in trying his little chip kicks have almost cost me a new tv.Not the best winger in NZ at the moment,generally i am positive about Crusader players but Guildford just makes me cringe.
Posted 01:52 13th July 2012
APV1 says...
@ jonesy2, me old mucker, I'm sorry to confuse you. I appreciate that it's easily done, but it's still a little unfair. Most of the 6N teams would win a couple of matches, despite your belief that anything north of the equator is useless in every way. Some might even win most...
He didn't?! Oh yes he did!
@ new_j4a - a most interesting wiki read, thank you. I think I understood at least 5% of it, so pretty good for me! One issue - it's a computer programme and this requires two things - power and broadband. Now if we accept that I could buy a diesel generator to counter the many power cuts, I still have a broadband issue. Again, being in the middle of nowhere, my band is particularly tiny-weeny and narrow.
And I'd be delighted to buy you a proper pint of fine (room temperature, not warm!) English ale - none of that SH fizzy pop, you guys call beer - complete with foaming head and twigs & beetles floating in the top!
Posted 13:41 12th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@APV1, If you buy me a pint, I'll teach you how to bitTorrent....that way you'll always have the games. Or you could look it up in wikipedia. Let me know if you need help and we'll find a way to connect. (I think England would be in the middle of the S15 table....once they got used to proper reffing)
Posted 16:48 11th July 2012
jonesy2 says...
makes me cringe reading people serious responses to APV1 but then when he goes on the say that the 6 nations wouldnt win in s15 it tongue in cheek, confuses me, because they wouldnt.
seriously no nick cummins? hes been a boss for weeks now and one of the most underrated players in the comp. best post match interviewee aswell.
Posted 14:23 11th July 2012
Wallaroo says...
Didn't see al the games but the list seems fair from what I did see and have read.
Taumalolo is a freak, love him or hate him, IMO he is the form prop - strong and agile.
Posted 11:19 11th July 2012
APV1 says...
Genuinely upset that I missed the matches - I usually get to see a few. Unfortunately I live in the ar$e-end of nowhere and, with all these delightful temperate monsoons which seem to focus on my property alone, I had no power. So despite having planned to record 4 matches, no power = no tv.
Having read the match reviews on here (and a couple elsewhere), the selection actually seems about right - the same names coming up in a variety of places is usually a good indicator of a good game.
@ new_j4a - not sure it would be very fair on our lowly NH national teams, such is the prowess of the Super 15. Could we even score a single point against the basement dwellers? Doubt it. But you're right, it'd be nice to be home, albeit for a short while.
And sometimes it's just a little too easy - their mediocre brains can't cope. "mediocre" - now where have I heard that word used before..?
;-)
Posted 09:56 11th July 2012
virginiaf says...
For me, the player of th eeTournament (and I can't see anyone surpassing the guy - he has been consistent - no, make that "sensational" from day 1) is Taumalolo. Such a shame he can't play of a Tier One nation and show his wares on the world's biggest stages.
Posted 04:27 11th July 2012
missionary says...
Guildford showed us why he isn't a long-term prospect as an AB on Friday night. In the "big" games, he doesn't offer that much apart from pace and workrate. Good attributes I know but he isn't a line breaker, let alone a game breaker and other wingers would have scored when he got nailed close to the try-line. And he has this weird running style like he's hunched over in anticipation of getting smashed. Hopefully his days are numbered. Never liked the guy and he more than showed the world what a arsehole he is with his antics in Rarotonga. Anyone else would have been charged and convicted.
Posted 23:58 10th July 2012
Bones7 says...
@APV1, keep up the good work! haha!
I thought that Blues second row, Moli, had an absolute stormer. He chucked himself about and had a touch of quality with everything he seemed to do.
Posted 23:08 10th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@AVP1 I think that expanding the Super 15 to include the national teams from England, Wales, and Ireland would liven up the bottom end of the table....and Scotland in a few years when they have won the RWC2015 as (they have) predicted (to much raucous laughter around the world). The England side is already pretty much already following S15 guidelines for including foreign players and they'd all get a chance to visit their families while on tour?
Posted 22:35 10th July 2012
nefari says...
@nt no I'm a bulls fan, but the sharks on Friday could have beaten anyone.
Just to me the bulls have lacked in strategy this year and Morne Steyn will need to have absolute blinders.
The stormers have been a lot more consistent so far this year and even though with their injuries i doubt it would make much of a difference in the way they play anyway, lucky for them peter grant had his best game of the competition and they would hope he can continue like that. they will NEED a home final though.
Sharks though with a bit of luck, their front row and a bit of Michalak magic is probably the only RSA side that can get victory in New Zealand this year.
Posted 21:43 10th July 2012
noord_transvaal says...
@nefari
the Sharks remain South Africa's best hope ?! you must be a Sharks fan. I bet they fall out in their next away game. If they manage to qualify either the Crusaders or the Brumbies awaits so I reckon they have another two games left at the most
Posted 19:37 10th July 2012
TVaddict says...
@ APV1
They never seem to learn do they. :D
Posted 18:07 10th July 2012
daibok says...
I see APV1 is continuing to reel them in.
Cant really argue with selections but agree that Guildford was not at his best. Derek Minnie has great potential as a fetcher. Has come off second best this year against Pocock but I think with his solid build and tenacity he could learn from the experiences and challenge for a Bok 6 jersey. Perhaps the Lions not the best place to be for next season. Bulls? Stormers/WP?
Posted 17:07 10th July 2012
Kiwikev says...
@ AVP1
Life must suck in the dark little place where you live; is there no DVR in your cave either?
Posted 16:41 10th July 2012
TheRugbyPost says...
APV1 - as you didn't watch any of the games please do not contribute worthless banter. The quality of the rugby was top notch southern hemisphere rugby - if you had watched the Sharks v Bulls and Chiefs v Crusaders games you would understand that.
Posted 15:05 10th July 2012
markpat says...
I thought Guildford had one of his poorer days, to be honest. Especially with his pass from the base of the ruck!!!!
Posted 14:10 10th July 2012
nefari says...
The sharks were absolutely fantastic to watch and was probably the team of the round.
They still remain South Africa's best hope in the tournament.
Posted 13:35 10th July 2012
tweedledee49 says...
agree with most, but i would've picked Tameifuna. i thought he had a monster of a game.
Posted 13:14 10th July 2012