URC Team of the Week: Siya Kolisi back with a bang as ‘sensational’ Irishman turns heads again
Split with Siya Kolisi and Jacob Stockdale.
Round Five of the United Rugby Championship is in the books and with it comes a diverse Team of the Week including Siya Kolisi on his return to the Sharks.
Team of the week
15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks): Continued his outstanding form with a man-of-the-match performance against the defending champions Glasgow Warriors. Fassi topped the running metres in the game and scored a clever quick tap try to match. Suddenly the Springboks have two very good options at 15 in the form Fassi and Damian Willemse, who features at 10 in our team this week.
14 Shayne Bolton (Connacht): Possibly a controversial selection but Bolton looked dangerous with ball in hand against Leinster, beating an impressive seven defenders in the process. Opposite number Liam Turner did score but we felt Bolton was our guy.
13 Ruhan Nel (Stormers): The former Blitzbok was one of the players at the heart of the good form the Stormers showed and scored two crucial tries including the vital inception to hand his team a bonus point. He was also a rock defensively and led the line with aplomb.
12 Jamie Osborne (Leinster): It did not take long for the versatile and talented youngster to get on the scoresheet as he crossed in the first 10 minutes, making him the standout inside centre of the weekend.
11 Jacob Stockdale (Ulster): The Irishman is in some form at the moment and added a brace of tries for Ulster in a game where he completed a sensational aerial finish in the corner. The wing looks like a man oozing confidence and he will be a big player for Ulster going forward.
How did he manage that 😱
The @UlsterRugby backs move it perfectly and Jacob Stockdale flies in the corner 🫳#BKTURC #URC | #ULSvOSP pic.twitter.com/RIHs0g7UXG
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 18, 2024
10 Damian Willemse (Stormers): Silenced any doubts that he can perform at fly-half with a vintage display where he scored 14 points including a cheeky drop goal at a critical stage of the game. Willemse was commanding and took control of the game when it was required most for his team. No doubt Rassie Erasmus will be smiling at his shift in Cape Town.
9 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors): The livewire scrum-half was brilliant for his side and bagged a double thanks to some trademark half-back support running. Elsewhere he was crisp with his service and assured overall, getting him in ahead of rapid Shark Grant Williams.
Forward pack
8 Taine Plumtree (Scarlets): The number eight made a whopping 19 tackles in a memorable win for Scarlets over the Bulls at home. The Wales international worked tirelessly throughout and was one of the key elements on the night.
NB: In South Africa the openside flank wears number six whereas for most other parts of the world the openside wears number seven.
7 Siya Kolisi (Sharks): Unsurprisingly it was a strong return to the Sharks for the inspirational Springboks skipper, who scored in the first half. He was busy elsewhere and underlined that he still has plenty to offer going forward. Marcel Theunissen and Matt Fagerson were also standouts for their sides.
6 Max Deegan (Leinster): The Leinsterman edged out the hard-working James Botham thanks to his try-scoring performance. He also made a ridiculous 19 tackles in a gruelling inter-pro derby.
5 RG Snyman (Leinster): Yes we know we cheated here moving him to five but how could we not make space for a pair of towering Springboks in the second-row? Snyman’s sparkling start to life at Leinster continued with another try. When fit there are few more influential.
4 Eben Etzebeth (Sharks): The most-capped Springbok showed his class yet again with another big shift as he led out a very powerful Sharks side. Etzebeth is absolutely consistent and a coach’s dream.
3 Enzo Avaca (Benetton): The tighthead was brilliant for the Italian side, beating out Vincent Koch. Avaca scored a try, made 10 tackles and beat two defenders in Benetton’s win over the Dragons.
2 James McCormick (Ulster): Like the other Ulsterman in our side, McCormick bagged a brace of tries in an otherwise busy shift where he notched up double digital in both carries and tackles.
1 Ox Nche (Sharks): The Springbok is seemingly a constant selection in every team of the week as he produced yet another good shift. Nche is right up there if not the best loosehead in the business as it stands.
READ MORE: Sharks v Glasgow Warriors: Five takeaways as ‘Bok Squad’ is the difference
