Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Blues lead the way after victory over Melbourne Rebels

David Skippers
Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week image Round 7 2023.jpg

After the seventh round’s Super Rugby Pacific action, Planet Rugby breaks down the star performers from a thrilling weekend of rugby.

The Blues lead the way with five players in our team after their victory over the Melbourne Rebels, while the Crusaders are next best with four representatives after they beat Moana Pasifika.

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week

15 Tom Wright (Brumbies): Made a telling contribution in his team’s one-sided triumph over the Reds in Brisbane and is preferred to Fergus Burke and William Havili, who impressed for the Crusaders and Moana Pasifika respectively in Christchurch. Wright proved to be a real threat from the back for the Brumbies as he crossed the gain line at will and finished with 128 metres gained. This, after he made 11 runs which included three clean breaks, two defenders beaten and a try for his efforts.

14 Mark Telea (Blues): The 26-year-old has hit the ground running in this year’s tournament and was a real handful to the Rebels defence as the Blues won in Melbourne. The All Blacks flyer scored a couple of tries and gained a whopping 150 metres from 13 runs which included two clean breaks, eight defenders beaten and four offloads. In other action, Moana Pasifika’s Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jordan Petaia of the Reds also had good games.

13 Billy Proctor (Hurricanes): Came to the fore with a strong attacking display in his team’s victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin and edges out Len Ikitau of the Brumbies, the Blues’ Rieko Ioane and Levi Aumua of Moana Pasifika. Proctor proved a real handful with ball in hand as he finished with 87 metres gained from 10 runs with two clean breaks and seven defenders beaten.

12 Harry Plummer (Blues): Thomas Umaga-Jensen of the Highlanders and Jordie Barrett of the Hurricanes were involved in an exciting battle in Dunedin but Plummer makes our team as he shone for the Blues in Melbourne. The 24-year-old had a strong game on attack as he gained 110 metres from 13 runs and beat two defenders and also managed an offload. He also looked good on defence and finished with eight tackles made.

11 Salesi Rayasi (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes flyer is one of the best finishers in the competition and scored a brace of tries after another strong attacking display in his side’s victory over the Highlanders. The former New Zealand Sevens representative was rewarded with his five-pointers after gaining 38 metres on attack from 11 runs which included two offloads. Other players who impressed were Caleb Clarke of the Blues and the CrusadersMacca Springer.

10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders): Fellow All Black Beauden Barrett turned on the style during the second half for the Blues in their win over the Rebels and Wallaby playmaker Noah Lolesio also impressed for the Brumbies against the Reds, but Mo’unga gets the nod after an outstanding shift in his 100th game for the Crusaders in their triumph over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. Mo’unga impressed on attack as he made 63 metres from 11 runs with two clean breaks and seven defenders beaten.

9 Cam Roigard (Hurricanes): The young scrum-half continues to impress as the Hurricanes’ first choice number nine and he caught the eye with a polished display in a crucial away win for his side. The 22-year-old’s service to his outside backs was excellent while he proved a handful on attack with 89 metres gained from 12 runs which included a clean break, four defenders beaten an offload and a try. The Reds’ Tate McDermott and Finlay Christie of the Blues were next best.

8 Anton Segner (Blues): A difficult decision as there were good performances from Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika stand-in captain Solomone Funaki but Segner gets the nod after he put in a fine performance in the Blues’ win over the Rebels. The German-born back-row was a lively option on attack as he finished with 48 metres gained.

7 Alamanda Motuga (Moana Pasifika): Although Moana came off second best to the Crusaders, they were competitive for long periods and Motuga was one of their better players. The 28-year-old did his bit as a ball carrier and finished with 49 metres gained from three runs with one defender beaten. He also put his body on the line in defence with eight tackles made and is preferred to Du’Plessis Kirifi of the Hurricanes.

6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies): The Wallaby tearaway delivered another outstanding all-round performance as the Brumbies sealed an emphatic win over the Reds and is rewarded with a spot in our team for the second successive week. Valetini was prominent as a ball carrier as he finished with 38 metres gained after making 12 carries. He was also lively on defence with nine tackles made.

5 Dominic Gardiner (Crusaders): Another player in our team for the second week in a row after he put in another polished performance in his side’s triumph over Moana. Scored his second successive try after gaining 24 metres with ball in hand from six carries but also delivered a strong defensive display as he completed 14 tackles. Gardiner comes in ahead of Nick Frost of the Brumbies and the Hurricanes’ James Blackwell.

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues): The 30-year-old was at the forefront of the Blues’ forward effort against the Rebels especially during the second half when his team took control of proceedings. The All Black second-row was prominent in the lineouts but also did well on attack. Finished with 36 metres gained after completing 10 carries with one clean break, a defender beaten and an offload. He also did well on defence as he completed six hits.

3 Ofa Tuʻungafasi (Blues): Came off the replacements bench midway through the second half against the Rebels and made a big impact during his time on the field. Did what was expected of him in the tight phases, especially the scrums where looked solid throughout, but also caught the eye with ball in hand as he gained 17 metres from three carries which included one clean break, an offload and a try.

2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders): The All Blacks hooker delivered a superb all-round performance as the defending champions continued their fine recent form with a home victory over Moana. Taylor was in the thick of the action as he shone on attack with 27 metres gained from six carries which included one defender beaten and he was rewarded with a brace of tries for his efforts. The Blues’ Ricky Riccitelli was next best.

1 Joe Moody (Crusaders): The third All Black in our front-row, Moody’s experience came in handy for the defending champions in their home victory against Moana. The 34-year-old delivered a strong scrummaging display but also put in a powerful defensive shift – especially around the fringes of the rucks – and finished with eight tackles made. Elsewhere, Jordan Lay of the Blues and the Brumbies’ James Slipper also impressed.

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