Put in a shift: Richie McCaw
Now that the dust has settled in the southern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the players who stole the show in the Rugby Championship
15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand) - The star full-back caused havoc whenever he touched the ball and scored a try before setting up the other. Class act.
14 Bryan Habana (South Africa) - Playing in the unfamiliar position of right wing, the player on 'home' soil rose highest to snaffle Morne Steyn's cross-field tester and grounded well for what was a key moment in the game. Add in that he made the most running metres and we had our pick.
13 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand) - Excellent running lines from Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams played a major role in deciding the result. The former also demonstrated how to run a fine decoy on several occasions to keep the defenders guessing. A mention for a typically solid Jean de Villiers.
12 Santiago Fernández (Argentina) - No doubt a contentious selection but cast one's mind back to Newlands and try to remember Francois Steyn having a typical line-breaking impact. Indeed the Shark was well contained by Fernández, who will want to continue that trend in Mendoza.
11 Digby Ioane (Australia) - Still he waits for that drought-breaking score but for what he has been lacking in five-pointers, Ioane made up for in hard graft. The wing was arguably Australia's standout back and caused the All Blacks problems when in possession.
10 Morne Steyn (South Africa) - What better way to answer your critics than with a flawless record off the tee? Heyneke Meyer's faith was rewarded as the fly-half controlled things well.
9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand) - The baby of the All Blacks' XV once again played with the know-how of someone possessing 30 caps and not his measly four. A major positive from Smith's arrival in the Test setup is his brisk service and it seems to be aiding Dan Carter.
8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina) - Led from the front for the new-boys. Lobbe made the most tackles (eleven) and also claimed six line-outs at the tail. He most definitely got the better of Keegan Daniel and just about shades Kieran Read to our eight position.
7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand) - One of the first names on the Planet Rugby teamsheet. Tackles galore and an all-round captain's performance from the veteran openside flank.
6 Marcell Coetzee (South Africa) - Going off jersey number and not position this week we continue to marvel at the form of young Coetzee. Unflappable from the ball-carrying flanker.
5 Andries Bekker (South Africa) - Coach Meyer went with franchise combinations over the weekend and while we thought it would be Eben Etzebeth taking South Africa's engine room by the scruff of the neck, it turned out to be his senior. An impressive ten line-outs from him.
4 Nathan Sharpe (Australia) - One word comes to mind about Sharpe at the moment and that is evergreen. A try for the 34-year-old in a workmanlike shift that belied his ageing body.
3 Owen Franks (New Zealand) - His workrate for a tighthead prop needs to be applauded. This weekend he is set to be alongside his brother Ben so it is double trouble for Australia.
2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa) - Talk about taking your chance. Strauss is poised for an extended run in the XV and judging by Saturday, he won't disappoint. There was a spell in the second-half when he seemed to be carrying more than his forward mates combined.
1 Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa) - The least contested position in our line-up has been saved until last. Rodrigo Roncero was unusually quiet, Tony Woodcock came off after 64 minutes while Benn Robinson had a tough evening against a certain Mr Franks. Net result, we go with an industrious Mtawarira, who enjoyed a solid game up front in Cape Town.
By Adam Kyriacou
@PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
APV1 says...
Mediocre.
That is all.
Posted 16:52 29th August 2012
tha_mai says...
Owen Franks workrate - top-equal with McCaw on 15 for individual tackles. Aged 24 and 35 tests already, if he doesn't get injured should be around in 2015 and beyond.
Posted 01:08 24th August 2012
Voice says...
Quite a few cracks at the Boks! always expected from some of the one eyed trollips that blog here! Firstly the Argentinians are a very good side but spolit the breakdown and were lucky not to have a few boys in the bin! Young bok side trying to get their combo`s right. The Aussie v AB game wasn`t much of a spectacle either with the Wallabies looking shocking and without any substance.
Lets wait and see when averyone has played the Puma`s and the chat again.
Posted 23:00 22nd August 2012
paulynz says...
@ hobo - Despite his try drought I've seen nothing to change my view that Digby Ioane is the best left wing in the world. Alarm bells start ringing every time he touches the ball. One can only drool at what he might achieve on the end of an All Black back-line. It would be raining tries...
@ Trinats2 - Yes, Kurtley had a shocker but he will come again, he has too much talent not to. Appalling to turn on your own when they're down and need your support. The All Blacks are showing him more respect.
@ hayj05 - Not complaining about the picks but I thought Kevin Mealamu was immense for someone who hasn't played much this year.
@ new_j4a - At an age when his form should be winding down and in a position with one of the highest attrition in the game Richie McCaw's game continues to scale new heights. Must be one of the best forwards that the game has ever seen. All hail King Richie.
@ PTplayer - Luke Romano learned his trade at the boots of the master, Brad Thorn.
@ The_Claw - Have to agree that Adam Ashley-Cooper is wasted on the wing. He's a talented player who always gives 110% in every game. An Aussie back-line of Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Barnes, Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor and Beale looks far more dynamic and dangerous on attack. Oh, hang on...
Posted 20:43 21st August 2012
new_j4a says...
Too many Boks for sure...but NZ merely played brilliant rugby and we have come to expect more....so wake up you worthless kiwis and put a proper 50 points on Oz this weekend.
Before the game, there was a lot of talk about Poptop vs. McCaw in the 7 spot and as a captain.....did anyone else start to doubt that he has the talent to even come close to equaling McCaw? I rated them 9 vs 3 out of 10...in McCaw's favour (at 7...I didn't notice any leadership at all from from the smiling Zimbabwian, just a couple of free 3 pointers for amateurish cheating at the ruck). Oz views?
Posted 17:55 21st August 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@georgesmith, you are an idiot. on another article you were praying that 3 of the wallabies get injured. I guess its ok to dislike a player or any team you want but wishing harm on someone is pretty pathetic
@the_claw, agreed about him being wasted on the wing. I am not sure why I wanna see him in his preferred position as that will probably make life harder for the All Blacks, but i guess I just enjoy watching him play.
Posted 12:00 21st August 2012
jonesy2 says...
payve -- absolutely lost it when i saw that! brilliant.
Posted 07:15 21st August 2012
KiwiLad says...
All hail King Richie
Posted 07:10 21st August 2012
PREEST says...
Morne Steyn kicked well but apart from that I didn't think he was exceptional. The two tries that the boks scored in the first half were soft. Zane kirchner shouldn't have been able to crash over that easily. The second half was a lot tighter. Pumas at home will be a different ask...Let's hope they can knock over one of the big three.
Posted 07:06 21st August 2012
sandal says...
@The_Claw
I agree with you about Adam Ashley-Cooper. He is a high-quality player who is being wasted on the wing. When he retires he may look back on his career with frustration.
He would definitely have more impact at fullback, but Beale rightly holds that position. AAC ought therefore to be played at centre. I guess Robbie Deans wants him somewhere in the team and his all-round skills mean he plays out of position.
Posted 06:41 21st August 2012
passtheball says...
Apart from kicking the ball into the air and at goals what did M Steyn do? Both Barnes and Carter tried, at least, to get their backlines moving, ran with conviction and did a mountain of tackling.
Mealamu was the best player on the weekend, let alone at 2.
Posted 02:53 21st August 2012
georgesmith says...
A. Strauss is the next big thing. He is good and great. What about N.Sharpe. Jesus! How many balls did he lose in the first 20minutes. A player who gets tackled and put to ground so easily, loses the ball in contact is in the dream team. To put it into context, do you guys remember a fine young player by the name of R. Simmons. He won the Super Rugby lately with Reds and is a future Wallabies captain. I'm disappointed that a veteran player like N.Sharpe, who past his prime, is depriving R. Simmons quality game time. S. Whitelock should be in the dream team.
Posted 02:06 21st August 2012
turmeric says...
you clearly didnt watch Mealamu tear the OZies up!! Nor did you see how many times Sharpe turned the ball over to the ABs - Romano for Sharpe mate!!
Posted 21:45 20th August 2012
jmanngod says...
Steyn? Lobbe? Beast? ...snigger!!!
Posted 20:17 20th August 2012
rolf says...
Hmmm, unfortunately, i have to agree with the US-Bok:
I only watched the second half of the newlands game and must say, i was worried for the bokke!
The pumas were at least equal in the forwards - all rucks, all mauls and pretty much every turnover in open game went their way!
Nothing wrong with picking Andries for his line out and overall game. BUT if the boks are overpowered in the forwards....
the opposition sure deserves a mention.
Posted 18:52 20th August 2012
Rosbif says...
No mention for Camacho at 14? thought he looked pretty good, despite not getting any front foot ball, or anything decent off first phase to work with.
Posted 18:25 20th August 2012
new_j4a says...
Does anyone else think that maybe Quade has been coaching Kurtley on defense (ehm, by that I mean tackling, not his other area of expertise)?
Posted 17:37 20th August 2012
PTplayer says...
Not necessarily on the first team but I was impressed with Luke Romano's work rate and line out work. He will become one of those unsung heroes if he continues developing the way he has over the last 24 months.
Posted 17:21 20th August 2012
Terry_English says...
s15rules makes a good point: "You give mealamu a 9 rating,straus an 8 rating,but then pick straus in team of week?"
I thought South Africa were poor against one of the weaker sides in the world and yet you pick mostly South African players. New Zealand comprehensively beat the number two ranked side in the world and yet have fewer players selected. I think that you got the balance of this team wrong.
Posted 16:40 20th August 2012
usaBok says...
I don't know, but I was not happy at all with the Bok performance. Everywhere, I read about the Boks teaching the Pumas a lesson...blah blah blah. I think it was the opposite. The second half was pretty even, to me. So, there should not have been so many Boks in this team of the week. Barnes at 10 was more deadly than M. Steyn. Mealamu had 80 minutes of pure class. C'mon Bokke! Start playing to your potential.
Posted 16:25 20th August 2012