Super Rugby: Team of Round One
With the opening weekend of Super Rugby behind us, we take a look at who starred!
With the opening weekend of Super Rugby behind us, we take a look at who razzled and dazzled in Round One!
The Waratahs opened their 2011 account by walking all over the Rebels and it's no surprise then that the bulk of our XV is made up of last year's semi-finalists with four in all.
The Brumbies (two), Bulls (two), Highlanders (one) and Blues (one) also get the nod following their respective opening round victories. But there's also place for the losers, with the brave Lions (two), Crusaders (one) and Chiefs (one) doing enough to find some space in this year's first installment.
15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs): He wasn't happy with just one try against the Rebels, so picked up two.
14 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs): Ok, he may have fluffed a try-scoring opportunity with the line at his mercy but he did everything else right. The way he bounced off random tacklers with ease showed some real game-breaking qualities. Was unlucky not to get that final kick of the match to salvage his side a losing bonus point.
13 Rob Horne (Waratahs): A solid return to the playing field for the Waratahs centre who showed superb vision on attack which played a big part in setting up tries for his team-mates as well as bagging one himself.
12 Robbie Coleman (Brumbies): The Aussie U20 star ensured he will hold the Brumbies number twelve jersey for a long time after a memorable starting debut at Canberra Stadium against the Chiefs, which saw him get the better of legends and veterans in the form of Tana Umaga and Mils Muliaina respectively with a stand-out performance.
11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs): Every time Mitchell gets the ball, he scores! Crossed over twice against the Rebels and is without a doubt the in-form winger in Australia at the moment.
10 James O'Connor (Force): A brilliant performance from the Wallabies youngster, who scored every point for the Force against the Reds and showed he can add fly-half to inside centre, full-back and wing on his list of skills.
9 Jano Vermaak (Lions): The quick-thinking Lions number nine was a thorn in the Bulls side throughout the match as his sniping runs had the huge Springbok-laden Bulls pack gasping for air.
8 Kieran Read (Crusaders): His side may have lost, but the Crusaders number eight didn't do his reputation any harm.
7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs): He was everywhere for the Waratahs, added his name to the scoresheet and led from the front with aplomb.
6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders): The discarded All Black really put his hand up against the Hurricanes and was the heartbeat in a resurgent Highlanders side that pulled off the first upset of the round in Wellington.
5 Franco van der Merwe (Lions): Tireless to watch as the new Lions skipper threw his massive frame all over the Johannesburg pitch. Showed brilliant leadership skills in the Lions second-half revival, but couldn't finish off with a win.
4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls): While his opposite number was trying desperately to save his pride from defeat, the Bok lock was causing damage the only way he knows how.
3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks): Hooker Bismarck du Plessis may have crossed the whitewash, but his older brother did a lot of work getting him there.
2 Keven Mealamu (Blues): The stout Blues skipper showed composure, coolness and some clinical finishing when the game went on the line.
1 Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls): When he wasn't rumbling his way past Lions' defenders, he was stopping them. The Bok prop put in an unbelievable seventeen tackles for his team!