URC Team of the Week: ‘Simply outstanding’ Springbok shines as young stars take their chance

Dylan Coetzee
Split with Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Luke McGrath (Leinster) and Damian Willemse (Stormers).

Split with Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Luke McGrath (Leinster) and Damian Willemse (Stormers).

Following a thrilling return to action for the United Rugby Championship, Planet Rugby selected the top performers from the round.

There is strong representation across the board, with most winning sides rewarded while two hard-working Cardiff stars feature despite their loss.

URC round 12 Team of the Week

15 Damian Willemse (Stormers): The Springbok was simply outstanding throughout as he ran the backfield with ease, launching counter-attack after counter-attack, beating six defenders and making over 100 metres in the process. Willemse bagged two try assists on the day as he deservedly walked away man of the match. Bulls superstar Willie le Roux’s outing is worthy of mention, as was Ioan Lloyd of the Scarlets.

14 Sean O’Brien (Munster): The wing was on fire for his side against the Ospreys, bagging a brace of tries in a clash where he made metres every time he touched the ball and looked dangerous throughout. Munster had a few opportunities on attack, and his interception try and his kicking chase score – we still don’t know how that stayed in the field – proved pivotal against the Ospreys. His influence on the game is what gets him selected ahead of Stormers hat-trick hero Suleiman Hartzenberg.

13 Wandisile Simelane (Stormers): The centre grabbed his first start for the Capeonians with both hands as he proved to be a handful with ball in hand all game long. His whopping four clean breaks were crucial in the build-up of multiple tries for the Stormers. Glasgow’s Stafford McDowall was also brilliant for his side.

12 Ethan Hooker (Sharks): The energy and exuberance of the Junior Springboks paired nicely with veteran Lukhanyo Am as Hooker well and truly emptied the tank. His work rate to chase a loose ball in the backfield resulted in a try for his side while with ball in hand, he made metres with every carry and was very clean on defence with nine tackles at 100%. The future star was picked ahead of Lions skipper Marius Louw and Leinster’s Jamie Osborne.

11 Edwill van der Merwe (Lions): The first South African to 20 URC tries had an absolute field day in Galway running in a try and assisting two more along with 130 metres made with ball in hand. His exploits were so key to the Lions’ victory that he beats Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Leolin Zas (Stormers) and Kyle Steyn (Glasgow) to the starting spot.

10 Jordan Hendrikse (Lions): The young fly-half was outstanding in tandem with Sanele Nohamba in the half-backs for the Lions. Hendrikse also kicked really well and showed some impressive grunt on defence with 18 tackles – no mean feat for a fly-half. Elsewhere Munster’s Joey Carbery was solid as was Sharks Siya Masuku who has been orchestrating the revival of the Durban side.

9 Luke McGrath (Leinster): The veteran was in the thick of it for a mixed Leinster side as he ran in a try and set another up while pulling the strings from the base. McGrath was one of key elements of a solid five-point haul in Parma. His efforts were enough to get ahead of Paul De Wet (Stormers) and Nohamba of the Lions.

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Forward pack

8 Evan Roos (Stormers): Finally, after an extended period of on and off injuries, we are starting to see the rumbling Roos that won just about every individual award in URC I. The Springbok was commanding in the carry and scored two tries in a very encouraging performance at home. Lions star Francke Horn bagged a double, while Munster’s Gavin Coombes and Leinster’s Max Deegan also shone for their side.

7 Mpilo Gumede (Bulls): The Springbok alignment camp call-up continued his good form with a try scored from a lovely move. Outside of that, he made his presence felt around the park with his physicality. Munster skipper Alex Kendellen and Leinster’s Scott Penny also had great outings in their wins.

6 Ben Donnell (Cardiff): It was always going to take a lot to beat the hard work of Munster’s John Hodnett but a 28-tackle haul cannot be ignored. The flank offered much less on attack but his sheer commitment on the defensive front was exceptional.

5 Teddy Williams (Cardiff): It may been in a losing cause but the second-row certainly was not going to die wondering and made an utterly staggering 30 tackles against Glasgow Warriors. His work rate in the clash was out of this world and is enough to beat Munster’s towering Springbok RG Snyman to selection.

4 Thomas Ahern (Munster): The second-row showed solid work-rate on defence, making 12 tackles and not missing any. In the set-piece, he was clean enough, and even though he did not make many carries, he made good metres when he did. The perfect foil to Snyman in a hard-fought victory over Friday evening.

3 Hanro Jacobs (Sharks): A real up-and-comer and perhaps put in his most complete performance to date in filling Thomas du Toit’s void as he not only held his own against double World Cup-winning loosehead Steven Kitshoff but also eked out a penalty or two while putting in a tidy defensive shift and carried well into contact. A mention for Cardiff tighthead Will Davies-King who also racked up an impressive tackle count.

2 Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks): The veteran led the physical charge for the Sharks inspiring them to a much-needed victory. He scored a try and tried to get his hands on the ball in open pay. Not far behind him was the impact of Bulls star Johan Grobbelaar and Scarlets Eduan Swart – the latter scoring a crucial try in the Welsh side’s first URC win since December.

1 Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors): Easily the busiest loosehead of the weekend with an impressive 14 carries against Cardiff. On defence, he was no slouch either managing 13 tackles at 100% while holding his own in the set-piece. We can’t not mention the impact off the bench from the cake-loving Sharks loosehead Ox Nche, who produced the scrum highlight for the weekend.

READ MORE: URC WRAP: South African clean sweep as ‘grandmaster’ Springbok shines and champions claim ‘massive win’

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