Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Crusaders lead the way after win over Blues

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

The Crusaders lead the way with five players in our team after their outstanding triumph over the Blues, who have are next best with two representatives along with the Hurricanes and Brumbies.

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week

15 Sam Gilbert (Highlanders): Firstly, a mention for Shaun Stevenson of the Chiefs who continued his excellent form in his side’s win over the Rebels. However, Gilbert was the standout full-back in action over the weekend as he made a big contribution for the Highlanders in their win against the Western Force in Invercargill. He did well on attack with 114 metres gained from 14 runs which included one clean break, three defenders beaten and a try. Also kicked five conversions and a penalty to finish with an 18-point haul.

14 Emoni Narawa (Chiefs): The 23-year-old hit the ground running for the table-topping Chiefs in their victory against the Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton and his excellence on attack was a sight to behold. From the outset, Narawa provided headaches to the Rebels defence and he eventually finished with 105 metres gained which included 12 carries, one clean break, seven defenders beaten an offload and a try. The Brumbies’ Andy Muirhead and Mark Telea of the Blues were next best.

13 Josh Flook (Reds): His team had to dig deep before holding onto a narrow victory over Fijian Drua in Brisbane and Flook was one of the Reds‘ best players. The 21-year-old was involved in an entertaining battle with Drua outside centre Iosefo Masi but the Red makes our team after an outstanding all-round performance. He eventually gained 41 metres on attack from six runs with one clean break an offload and he was rewarded with a brace of tries. Also shone on defence with nine hits made.

12 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes returned to winning ways against the Waratahs and Barrett was one of his team’s best players as he delivered an outstanding all-round performance. As usual, Barrett’s accurate goal-kicking was one of his strengths and he contributed nine points to his side’s win after slotting three conversions and a penalty. Also looked lively on attack as he gained 47 metres from 11 carries with one clean break, four defenders beaten and two offloads, while he was solid on defence with 10 tackles made.

11 Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders): The All Blacks flyer came to the fore with an outstanding attacking display in the champions’ memorable victory over the Blues at Eden Park. Fainga’anuku made his mark with a match-high 122 metres gained from nine runs which included two clean breaks, five defenders beaten, an offload and a hat-trick of tries. Hurricanes debutant Kini Naholo also looked good while Caleb Clarke and Etene Nanai-Seturo caught the eye for the Blues and Chiefs respectively.

10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders): The 28-year-old went head-to-head with fellow All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett at Eden Park and just like his team, Mo’unga came out on top in a fascinating duel. Mo’unga’s playmaking skills and game management was superb throughout while he also caught the eye with solid goalkicking. Finished with 64 metres gained from 11 runs, including five defenders beaten and contributed nine points courtesy of three conversions and a penalty. Also did well on defence with nine tackles made.

9 Cam Roigard (Hurricanes): Drua’s Frank Lomani and Finlay Christie of the Blues miss out to Roigard who continued his growth with another excellent display against the Waratahs in Wellington. Roigard, who has big shoes to fill as the replacement for injured All Black TJ Perenara, was one of the Hurricanes’ star performers as he delivered a crisp service to his outside backs and was rewarded with two tries thanks to great support play.

8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): Waratahs back-row Langi Gleeson is unlucky to miss out after a courageous effort in a losing cause against the Hurricanes but Sotutu gets the nod as he was arguably the Blues’ best player during their narrow home defeat to the Crusaders. Sotutu did not take a backward step in an attritional affair and kept the Crusaders defence busy for the full 80 minutes. The All Black eventually gained 120 attacking metres after making 21 carries which included two clean breaks, four defenders beaten and a similar number of offloads.

7 Luke Reimer (Brumbies): This was a difficult decision as Tom Christie of the Crusaders and Fraser McReight of the Reds also played well for their respective teams but Reimer gets the nod after impressing for the Brumbies in their triumph over Moana Pasifika in Canberra. Reimer caught the eye with his attacking play and he managed to score a brace of tries. His breakdown work was also superb while he did well on defence as he finished the match with 12 tackles made.

6 Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders): The Crusaders’ forwards deserve plenty of credit for their victory over the Blues and Blackadder was one of their star performers during a busy shift at Eden Park. The All Blacks tearaway was prominent on attack as he was a willing ball carrier, who eventually gained 37 metres from 11 carries with three defenders beaten, a couple of offloads and a well-taken try. Also shone on defence as he made 12 tackles.

5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): Another one of the defending champions’ forwards who make our team after making a big impact up front against the Blues. Whitelock made his mark with excellent play in the lineouts and also shone with ball in hand and on defence. Finished with 42 metres gained from seven carries, with a clean break, three defenders beaten and two offloads. Whitelock was also at the forefront of a superb defensive effort and made 15 hits.

4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders): Like Whitelock, the defending champions’ captain also made his mark with an outstanding display at the coalface of their forward effort at Eden Park. Barrett won his fair share of lineout balls and shone as a ball carrier as he gained 36 metres from 10 carries which included one offload. He also did well on defence as he completed 13 tackles.

3 Nepo Laulala (Blues): The All Blacks tighthead prop came off the replacements bench against the Crusaders and gave a good account of himself despite finishing on the losing side. Made an appearance as early as the 16th minute and caught the eye with solid scrummaging but also made his mark with ball in hand as he finished with 26 metres gained from four carries with one clean break and a defender beaten.

2 Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua): This was a tough call as there were fine efforts from the Hurricanes’ Asafo Aumua and Matt Faessler of the Reds but we’ve opted for Ikanivere, who was one of Drua’s stars as they launched a late fightback in Brisbane. The 23-year-old impressed with his ball carrying ability as he finished with 35 metres gained from seven carries with one clean break and three defenders beaten. Was also lively on defence with 11 tackles made.

1 James Slipper (Brumbies): The experienced Wallaby made his mark with an impressive shift in his side’s victory against Moana Pasifika in Canberra. Slipper did his bit with great physicality as a ball carrier but also did well in the execution of his core duties with his scrummaging particularly impressive while his defence also stood out as he finished with seven tackles made. Tamaiti Williams of the Crusaders was next best.

READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific: Five takeaways from Blues v Crusaders including Richie Mo’unga getting the better of Beauden Barrett again

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