Rugby Championship Team of the Week: All Blacks ‘heir’ to Aaron Smith, ‘indispensable’ Springboks rookie and ‘magnificent’ Puma
Planet Rugby's James While selects our Rugby Championship Team of the Week.
After the closest round of the 2024 Rugby Championship where just three points separated two results it’s time for the Planet Rugby Team of the Weekend.
Rugby Championship Team of the Week
15 Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina): An absolute rock under the Bok bombardment, Mallia’s kick returns and solidity just sees off the claims of his opposite number, Aphelele Fassi, who scored one try and was one the better South Africans in defeat. Tom Wright also shone for the Wallabies in a try-scoring display.
14 Sevu Reece (New Zealand): It was his quick thinking pouncing on a loose ball that set up the first-half score for Ardie Savea. Considering he didn’t think he’d been starting he put in a superb shift. Kurt Lee Arendse will be pilloried for the yellow that cost 12 points, but, rather ironically, did well other than that moment of poor timing.
13 Lucio Cinti (Argentina): Absolutely massive in defence hammering 13 tackles, he was part of a brilliant midfield trio. His opposite number Jesse Kriel was once again the most reliable Bok back, nipping over for an early try and his performance was one of the few real plusses for South Africa, giving us a real selection dilemma, but it’s Cinti by a small margin.
12 Santi Chocobares (Argentina): Fast becoming one of the best 12s in the world, Chocobares delivered yet another world-class performance, absolutely shredding the Bok blitz on two occasions, creating a brace of crucial scores. Hunter Paisami had a high-quality outing although he’ll rue the loose pass that led to the Savea try.
11 Mateo Carreras (Argentina): Another Los Pumas flyer in our backline, the little wing scored one and made the killer pass for Pablo Matera to gallop over. New Zealand’s Caleb Clarke had another impressive all-action outing for the All Blacks in their close-fought win.
Halfbacks
10 Tomas Albornoz (Argentina): Magnificent. For the second time this campaign the young left-footer put in the performance of the weekend as he ran himself into the ground in Santiago. He is going to be a special talent and we cannot wait to see how he develops. Damian McKenzie steered the All Blacks home despite the Wallabies onslaught.
9 Cortez Ratima (New Zealand): The young Kiwi tyro is showing he’s heir to the Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara crown that the two veterans have worn with such distinction. Cobus Reinach was solid for the Boks and nipped over for a score before halftime that should have brought South Africa back into contention.
Back-five
8 Joaquin Oviedo (Argentina): He’s good enough to have been selected over the world-class Juan Martin Gonzalez, and with both men putting in massive efforts, the middle of the back row is secure for Los Pumas. Harry Wilson was brilliant for Australia in defeat, whilst Ardie Savea put himself about to answer the recent criticism of his play and his waistline.
7 Pablo Matera (Argentina): Really tough on Fraser McReight who was brilliant for the Wallabies but the Puma warhorse was huge for his team, sliding over for a crucial try and standing up the Bok defence with his power on several occasions.
6 Wallace Sititi (New Zealand): Huge in every aspect, with power carrying that’s been missing from the All Blacks pack for some time now. Marcos Kremer was once again huge playing ‘left and right’ with Matera. Argentina will be hoping his knee injury is short-term as his power is a key component of Los Pumas’ defence. Sititi might just be the man that Scott Robertson needs at six.
5 Ruan Nortje (South Africa): Fast becoming almost indispensable for Rassie Erasmus, the Blue Bull put in a tireless display in intense heat and humidity. Tupou Vaa’i once again impressed our selection panel with a superb all-round display in the Bledisloe encounter, and Pedro Rubiolo was an important part of Los Pumas’ pack.
4 Scott Barrett (New Zealand): Scooter led by example in another all-action display as he pulled his team over the line by a couple of points. Both Franco Molina and Eben Etzebeth in his record-equalling performance also shone in direct opposition to each other, with Etzebeth sorting out a lot of the Boks issues at lineout time.
Rugby Championship: What the Springboks and Argentina need in the final round to win the title
Front rowers
3 Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand): Some stiff competition on the tighthead as both Thomas du Toit and Vincent Koch impressed us, but Lomax went deep into the game and was tireless in defence in a very classy performance on the tighthead.
2 Matt Faessler (Australia): A try-scoring performance, a brilliant defensive effort but a shaky lineout summed up the day for the Wallaby hooker. He sees off Codie Taylor, one of the best around and also Los Pumas magnificent Julian Montoya, another who shone in the Santiago heat.
1 Ox Nche (South Africa): Gave Joel Scalvi his wings in the opening scrum of the game and probably kept South Africa in touching distance of Los Pumas with his power on the loosehead and his barrelling carrying. Thomas Gallo held on in the tight for dear life, but smashed everything in green in the loose, notching up 13 tackles. Angus Bell also impressed us as he demonstrated once again he’s a world-class operator for the Wallabies.
READ MORE: Rugby Championship: What the Springboks and Argentina need in the final round to win the title
