Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: A record-breaking All Black and a ‘sensational’ rookie hat-trick

Dylan Coetzee
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Reds wing Tim Ryan split with Brumby Tamati Tua and Blue Hoskins Sotutu.

Reds wing Tim Ryan split with Brumby Tamati Tua and Blue Hoskins Sotutu.

Another weekend of Super Rugby Pacific is in the books and this year’s edition continues to drop surprising results in one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

With the dust having settled on the action, we put our heads together to come up with our Team of the Week for Round 10.

Team of the Week

15 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders): The Wales international has loved his return to Super Rugby Pacific and was instrumental for the Crusaders in their statement win over the Rebels. The full-back not only scored a try but assisted another, beating five defenders en route to making over 100 metres with ball in hand to pip Brumby Tom Wright to selection.

14 Emoni Narawa (Chiefs): While leading Crusaders all-time try scorer Sevu Reece crossed for another it was the prolific Chief who stood out with a brace of tries at the weekend. Narawa looks so good with ball in hand since returning from injury and a performance like he had against the Waratahs could go a long way in his quest to add to his sole All Blacks cap, as discussed in this week’s Razor Watch.

Razor Watch: A key All Black returns from injury as fresh prospects put their hand up for selection

13 Levi Aumua (Crusaders): The powerhouse centre was crucial for the Crusaders last time out as he consistently carried all game long, making plenty of metres and beating six defenders. His role as a battering ram outside of a ball playing 12 is vital for the balance in the backline for the Christchurch side.

12 Tamati Tua (Brumbies): It was a dream outing for the Brumby who emphatically cut the Hurricanes to pieces, beating a ridiculous 11 players, making over 100 metres with ball in hand and scored a try. Tua’s performance is arguably the best of the round and possibly the competition thus far. His above-and-beyond efforts get in well ahead of Red Hunter Paisami and Hurricane Jordie Barrett.

11 Tim Ryan (Reds): In an evening that dreams are made of, the 20-year-old announced himself with a sensational hat-trick on his starting debut. Ryan made 162 metres, beating five defenders and made three clean breaks in the process. It was the kind of performance that can immediately put a player on watch for the Wallabies and it had a similar energy to Max Jorgensen’s debut that earned him his first call-up for Australia. What is certain is that Ryan is a player to watch and easily got in ahead of Blues powerhouse Caleb Clarke.

Schmidt’s List: The ‘Junkyard Dog’ announces himself while forgotten Wallabies also in the selection mix

10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies): The fly-half has got the bit between his teeth this season and looks so confident and assured in his decision-making. Lolesio scored a try of his own and assisted another as part of a stunning performance that orchestrated the defeat of the Hurricanes with aplomb. The Wallaby’s exploits get him in ahead of Chiefs pivot Damian McKenzie.

9 Cortez Ratima (Chiefs): Some scrum-halves just have that ability to be in the right place at the right time, something Ratima is blessed with. He used it again last time out adding his eighth try of the season. The Chief is absolutely red-hot, and outside of his try-scoring efforts, his partnership with McKenzie is the lifeblood of the Waikato side’s attack. Highlander Folau Fakatava scored the only try in a low-scoring win over the Western Force in Dunedin.

Powerful pack

8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): Probably the player of the tournament so far and the leading try scorer as another score took his tally to nine – more than any other Blues forward in a single season ever. It doesn’t stop there as Sotutu also assisted a try while he ran 128 metres with the ball in hand and, on defence, reached 10 tackles to comprehensively earn selection over Crusaders number eight Christian Lio-Willie and rising star Wallace Sititi of the Chiefs.

7 Kaylum Boshier (Chiefs): The flank was rewarded for his high work-rate when he expertly scooped up a loose ball to score the last try of the game for the Chiefs. Boshier was also very active on defence, making 15 tackles, and edged out Blues star Dalton Papali’i in our side.

6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies): One of those players who will ALWAYS produce big numbers every time he runs out, and Valetini did again. The flank notched up a crazy 18 carries, making metres each time as the Brumbies used him over and again to punch up the middle of the park. Crusader Cullen Grace and Chief Samipeni Finau deserve mentions for solid hit-outs.

Stephen Larkham issues challenge to Brumbies after ending Hurricanes’ streak

5 Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs): The All Black continues to mature into a fine second-row with another complete outing for his side against the Waratahs. Vaa’i was outstanding in the line-out on his own ball and also managed two steals while getting his big frame around the park to make a game-high 17 tackles. With Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick having moved on from the All Blacks it could be the Chief’s time to stake a claim for a starting role.

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues): As mentioned in our weekly feature Razor Watch, the return of the veteran to solid form and fitness comes at a key time for the All Blacks given the departures of Retallick and Whitelock. Despite being in the latter stages of his career, the second-row is a carrying machine for the Aucklanders, with 13 against the Reds, also making 15 tackles in another good effort. Crusaders skipper Scott Barrett was important for his team but did not match up to the Blues man.

3 Angus Ta’avao (Blues): Having only recently traded the Chiefs for the Blues, the All Black looks to be settling into the Auckland set-up and managed to score a try around a good scrummaging effort. He also made 11 tackles in a busy defensive shift, getting him ahead of Crusaders duo Fletcher Newell and Owen Franks, who finally scored again after 4,943 days since last crossing the whitewash.

2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs): The busiest of all the hookers at the weekend on defence with a solid 11 tackles while also holding his own in the set-piece. As usual, the Chief put his hand up to make carries and just edges Crusaders star Brodie McAllister to selection.

1 Xavier Numia (Hurricanes): The Wellington man’s status as the most in-form loosehead in the tournament was strengthened again this week as he managed a brace of tries around some solid scrummaging and eight tackles at 100% success. He certainly is in the mix for the All Blacks set-up. Crusader George Bower was important for his team’s dominance at scrum time.

READ MORE: ‘I have an issue’ – Ex-All Blacks get behind borderline Samipeni Finau hit as Trans-Tasman spat ensues

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