URC Team of the Week: Sharks’ Springboks contingent show their class as ‘outstanding Welshman’ also catches the eye

Following another enthralling weekend of United Rugby Championship (URC) action, here is the Planet Rugby Team of the Week for Round Six.

After putting Munster to the sword at Kings Park in Durban, the Sharks lead the way with six players in our side while Leinster are next best with three representatives.

URC Team of the Week, Round Six

15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks): The Springboks full-back continued with his excellent form as he was one of the Sharks’ best players in their demolition of Munster on Saturday. He scored a well-taken try just 45 seconds after the game’s kick off and continued to be a threat as the match played out. He was also safe under the high ball and won a turnover, all of which gets him in ahead of Glasgow Warriors’ Josh McKay.

14 Tom Rogers (Scarlets): Leinster flyer Andrew Osborne and Eduan Keyter of the Sharks had some good moments for their respective sides but Rogers comes in ahead of them after a fine showing in his team’s one-sided home triumph against Zebre Parma. The Wales international looked dangerous on attack and scored one of his side’s tries during a 75-minute stint on the field.

13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks): There were fine performances from Connacht’s Cathal Forde, Benetton’s Tommaso Menoncello, the Scarlets’ Macs Page and Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite but the double World Cup winner gets the nod after shining for the Sharks against Munster. Am’s decision making and distribution skills were of a high standard while he also put in a solid shift on defence.

12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors): Another Springbok, Andre Esterhuizen, impressed for the Sharks in Durban while Eddie James and David Kriel also shone for the Scarlets and Bulls respectively, but it wasn’t enough to keep Tuipulotu out of our team. The newly appointed Scotland skipper led his Glasgow side to a bonus-point win over the Stormers as he impressed on either side of the ball and crossed for a well-taken try.

11 Iwan Stephens (Cardiff): The 22-year-old was one of the Welsh region’s heroes as they clinched a memorable come-from-behind home victory over Ulster. Stephens was brilliant on attack, scoring one of his team’s tries in acrobatic fashion and was named the official man of the match for his efforts. There were fine showings from James Lowe of Leinster and Kyle Rowe of Glasgow Warriors but Stephens beats them out.

10 Sam Prendergast (Leinster): This was a difficult choice as Adam Hastings and Callum Sheedy also caught the eye in victories for Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff respectively but Prendergast pips them for our fly-half berth. This, after he made his mark with excellent game management and playmaking skills while his kicking – out of hand and at goal – was solid in his side’s win over the Lions.

Springboks shine as Sharks ease past Munster while Ospreys claim just second win of season

9 Grant Williams (Sharks): The Springboks star caught the eye with a brilliant attacking performance in the Sharks’ victory against Munster. The 28-year-old showed his class with a fine line break from the kick off in the build-up to Fassi’s try and continued to ask questions of his opponents’ defence as the match progressed. The Scarlets’ Gareth Davies was next best.

Good mix among the forwards

8 Caelan Doris (Leinster): The newly confirmed Ireland captain came to the fore with a brilliant display for Leinster in their top-of-the-table clash with the Lions. Doris was particularly impressive on attack and finished with a match-high 18 carries and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. He also did well on defence and beats out Paul Boyle, who had a good game for the Sharks.

7 Josh van der Flier (Leinster): The 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year combined brilliantly with his skipper as Leinster put the Lions to the sword at the Aviva Stadium. As usual, Van der Flier came to the fore with a busy shift at the breakdowns and on defence with 12 tackles made, but he also shone on attack and crossed for a deserved try.

6 Jac Morgan (Ospreys): The Wales international delivered an outstanding performance as he skippered the Ospreys to a deserved 22-13 triumph over Edinburgh at the Brewery Field in Bridgend. Morgan was excellent in most facets of play as he made 18 tackles, 13 carries and won three crucial turnovers which also earned him the official man-of-the-match award. The Sharks’ Vincent Tshituka was next best.

5 Sam Lousi (Scarlets): The Tonga international beats out Leinster and Ireland star Ryan Baird for this position after catching the eye with a solid all-round performance in the Welsh region’s bonus-point triumph against Zebre Parma. Lousi did what was expected of him in the lineouts, was a willing ball carrier and finished with 13 tackles made.

4 Eben Etzebeth (Sharks): The behemoth Springboks second-row continued with his recent run of excellent form as he was at the forefront of the Sharks’ forward effort against Munster. The men from Durban’s captain did his bit as a ball carrier, was competitive in the lineouts and had a high work-rate on defence during an 80-minute performance. His Boks team-mate, RG Snyman, continued with his fine form for Leinster.

3 Vincent Koch (Sharks): The Springboks front-row was in the thick of the action against Munster as he came to the fore with fine all-round performance. The 34-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 Finlay Bealham of Connacht.

2 Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors): So much is said about his try-scoring ability and he did cross for another five-pointer off the back of a lineout drive in his side’s victory over the Stormers, but the 31-year-old also made his mark in other facets of play with his defensive work and ball carrying impressive during a 72-minute stint on the field. The Ospreys’ Dewi Lake and Sharks’ Bongi Mbonambi also had good games.

1 Ox Nche (Sharks): The Springboks front-rower’s scrummaging was of its usual high standard as he showed his class in the set-piece again but he also did his bit as a ball carrier and on defence where he got through plenty of work. In other matches, there were fine performances from Gareth Thomas of the Ospreys and Alec Hepburn of the Scarlets.

READ MORE: Key Ireland duo cross as Leinster defeat Lions to keep unbeaten record intact