Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Chiefs and Brumbies rewarded after victories over Blues and Waratahs

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

The Chiefs and Brumbies dominate the selection and have three players apiece in the team following their triumphs over the Blues and Waratahs respectively, while the Crusaders, Fijian Drua and Highlanders each contribute two representatives to the XV.

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week

15 Max Jorgensen (Waratahs): The 18-year-old finished on the losing side against the Brumbies but can be proud of his efforts as he delivered a superb attacking display and edges out his direct opponent Tom Wright. Jorgensen finished with 87 metres gained from seven runs which included one clean break, two defenders beaten and an offload. It was a good weekend for the Waratahs teenager as his excellent form was also rewarded with a call-up to the Wallabies squad.

14 Emoni Narawa (Chiefs): This is tough on Fijian Drua speedster Selestino Ravutaumada, who put in a fine attacking display in his side’s win over the Melbourne Rebels but we’ve opted for Narawa, who delivered the goods for the Chiefs in a tight encounter against the Blues in Hamilton. Although the 23-year-old only gained 28 metres from five runs with two clean breaks and four defenders beaten, he made his mark with his superb finishing skills and was rewarded with a brace of tries.

13 Iosefo Masi (Fijian Drua): The 24-year-old has been one of the Drua’s shining lights so far this season and on Saturday he was at the forefront of their attacks in a deserved home win over the Rebels. Masi tested the Rebels’ defence throughout and finished with 101 metres gained after making 13 runs which included two clean breaks, a whopping nine defenders beaten, three offloads and a well-taken try. Moana Pasifika’s Levi Aumua and Bailyn Sullivan of the Hurricanes were next best.

12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Highlanders): In Suva, Kalaveti Ravouvou caught the eye with a fine performance for the Drua in their win over the Rebels, while Jordie Barrett also impressed in the Hurricanes’ triumph against the Western Force. Umaga-Jensen gets the nod, however, as he was in fine form for the Highlanders in their win against Moana. He made 68 metres on attack from seven carries which included a clean break, three defenders beaten and an offload.

11 Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders): The All Blacks flyer continues to shine and makes our team after delivering an outstanding attacking performance in the Crusaders‘ victory over the Reds in Brisbane. Fainga’anuku proved difficult to stop and eventually gained 85 metres from nine runs which included one clean break, six defenders beaten and an offload. He comes in ahead of Manasa Mataele of the Western Force, the Reds’ Jordan Petaia and Corey Toole of the Brumbies.

10 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs): The diminutive All Black is equally at home at full-back but showed why he is best suited to playing at fly-half with a fine all-round performance in the Chiefs’ win over the Blues. McKenzie was superb on attack as his playmaking skills kept the Blues on their toes and his efforts paid off when he set up Narawa for his first try. Also caught the eye with outstanding goal-kicking in atrocious weather conditions and beats out the Crusaders’ Richie Mo’unga.

9 Brad Weber (Chiefs): This was a difficult decision as there were fine performances from the Hurricanes’ Jamie Booth and Tate McDermott of the Reds but Weber makes our team as he was one of the Chiefs’ best players during their hard-fought home victory over the Blues. Despite the unpleasant weather, the 32-year-old delivered an excellent service to his outside backs but made his biggest impact on defence where he made a couple of try-saving tackles.

8 Harry Wilson (Reds): Although he finished on the losing side at home against the Crusaders, Wilson emptied the tank with an outstanding all-round performance. The 23-year-old was the Reds‘ go-to man with ball in hand as he finished with a match-high 102 metres gained from 18 carries which included 18 runs, three clean breaks, as many defenders beaten and an offload. He also shone on defence with 10 tackles made and beats out the Blues’ Hoskins Sotutu.

7 Kitione Salawa (Fijian Drua): All Blacks skipper Sam Cane delivered a strong performance for the Chiefs in their win over the Blues and Du’Plessis Kirifi also played well for the Hurricanes in their narrow triumph over the Western Force, but Salawa could not be ignored after he shone for the Drua in their home win over the Rebels. The 21-year-old gained 75 metres on attack from 11 runs which included one clean break, five defenders beaten and an offload. Also shone on defence with 19 hits.

6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies): Although they had to dig deep for victory against the Waratahs in Canberra, the Brumbies were deserved winners in the end and their forwards earn plenty of praise as they laid the groundwork in that victory. Valetini was at the forefront of those efforts as he put in a big shift on attack and defence. Gained 47 metres from 12 runs with one clean break and a defender beaten, while he finished with 11 tackles made.

5 Dominic Gardiner (Crusaders): With All Blacks veteran Sam Whitelock ruled out through injury, Gardiner came into the defending champions’ second-row to make his first Super Rugby Pacific start and gave a good account of himself. The 21-year-old was solid in the lineouts and also impressed on attack as he gained 39 metres from six carries, after making a clean break with three defenders beaten and also managed two offloads.

4 Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders): There were good performances from the Chiefs’ Brodie Retallick and the Hurricanes’ James Blackwell but Parkinson edges them after a fine display in the Highlanders’ win over Moana. The Maori All Black did what was expected of him in the lineouts and impressed as a ball carrier, with those efforts rewarded when he scored his team’s first try. Also put his body on the line on defence as he made six hits.

3 Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies): The Wallaby front-row was in the thick of the action for just over an hour but he came to the fore with fine all-round performance against the Waratahs. The 29-year-old impressed in the execution of his core duties with his scrummaging solid throughout, while he also caught the eye with some big hits, especially at close quarters. He gets the nod ahead of Santiago Medrano of the Western Force.

2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes are blessed to have two very good All Blacks hookers in their ranks in Coles and Asafo Aumua, who made our team last week, and the former gets the nod this week after a superb display in the Hurricanes’ triumph over the Force. Coles finished with 47 metres gained from 11 carries with one clean break, a defender beaten, a couple offloads and a try. Elsewhere, Samisoni Taukei’aho of the Chiefs also impressed.

1 James Slipper (Brumbies): The veteran Wallaby was one of the Brumbies’ stars as he delivered an outstanding performance in their narrow win over the Waratahs. Slipper proved difficult to stop on attack as he finished with 35 metres gained from eight runs which included a clean break and a defender beaten. Also shone on defence with 12 tackles made. Meanwhile, Joe Moody of the Crusaders also played well.

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