Team of the Week: Super Rugby
Now the dust has settled after Round Six of Super Rugby our writers sat down and put our heads together to select our Team of the Week.
Plenty of Stormers make our side this week following their impressive win over the Cheetahs in which a certain number eight scored three.
Without further do, let’s see who made our selection.
Super Rugby Team of the Week, Round 6
15 SP Marais (Stormers): A quite outstanding performance as he continues to impress in the early-season. Marais set up four tries against the Cheetahs and was a threat throughout, seeing off Damian McKenzie, Michael Collins and Dane Haylett-Petty of the Chiefs, Blues and Western Force respectively. Marais made 98 metres from his 16 runs, beating six defenders and making seven offloads.
14 Tevita Li (Highlanders): The youngster gets the nod over in-form Sharks winger Kobus van Wyk after a sensational kicking performance that showed maturity beyond his years. He showed quick foot work as he seemingly broke the Rebels line at will while offloading well to keep his team on the front foot throughout. Van Wyk gets a shout for his try as well as assisting Coenie Oosthuizen's.
13 Matt Proctor (Hurricanes): The number 13 expertly dodged the Reds defence in their match-up, with Proctor beating seven defenders with ball in hand while making three clean breaks. He also ran a solid 103 metres. Crusaders' Tim Bateman and the Lions' Harold Vorster also get mentions after the New Zealander nabbed a brace while a busy Vorster put in a great attacking performance.
12 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): The All Black finally got back into the form we're used to seeing him in after scoring two tries against the Rebels. The evasive midfielder tore the Melbourne team apart after busting the line three times as well as beating seven defenders. Stormers back Dan du Plessis gets a mention after scoring a five pointer as well as a great attacking display in general.
11 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers): Another player knocking on the Springbok door at the moment is Leyds. Consistent performances in the blue and white jersey at either wing or full-back have been a joy to watch. On Saturday he claimed two tries and made 115 metres with ball in hand which was enough to edge out Chiefs favourite James Lowe and lethal Lions finisher Courtnall Skosan as our 11.
10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks): Another 19 points to his personal tally as the 19-year-old's stock continues to rise. Another top performance over the weekend saw him show maturity beyond his years as he sees off Hurricanes star Beauden Barrett for our 10 spot.
9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes): Tough on Lions workhorse Faf de Klerk, who was a constant nuisance to the Sharks while a mention also goes to Jake Gordon of the Waratahs. But Perenara gets the nod here as a try-scoring showing that included 87 metres from eight runs and six tackles was a cut above. The maturing leader even had time to correct the referee on the rules during their win.
8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers): What a performance from the 23-year-old back-row as he claimed a hat-trick of tries against the Cheetahs, meaning there was only one real occupier of this jersey. Luke Whitelock and Isi Naisarani of the Highlanders and Force impressed but Notshe starred with 85 metres from 11 runs, with his only blemish being four missed tackles during the victory.
7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes): We move Savea out to his usual position as he shone in Brisbane. He set up a try and also made over 100 metres with ball in hand before injury struck. Super Rugby hopes it is nothing serious. A mention goes to Ruan Steenkamp.
6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers): Alongside Notshe, Kolisi enjoyed his outing against the Cheetahs as he made a whopping 20 tackles in a try-scoring performance. Liam Messam and Jaco Kriel get mentions for their shifts for the Chiefs and Lions respectively.
5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs): Another accomplished effort at the coalface of the Chiefs' forward effort in a tough battle against a physical Bulls side. Retallick carried 11 times and made his biggest impact on defence with 13 hits. Pieter-Steph du Toit was also impressive for the Stormers in their rout against the Cheetahs.
4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (Blues): The rookie second-row was one of the unsung heroes during his side's win over the Force at Eden Park and makes the side primarily on his defensive effort. Cowley-Tuioti finished with 13 tackles but also impressed when cleaning out the rucks and took the fight to his opponents with seven carries. Stormers enforcer Eben Etzebeth was also in fine form.
3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks): Delivered a busy shift in an entertaining clash against the Lions in Johannesburg and was rewarded with a try after superb support play. The burly Bok carried well and eventually gained a handy 27 metres from four carries with one clean break and an offload.
2 Malcolm Marx (Lions): The dynamic hooker is a shoo-in at two after another inspiring performance and not just because he contributed a try to his side's tally. But rather for performing his positional play so well after scrummaging superbly while winning an extraordinary 13 line outs.
1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers): Delivered another strong scrummaging display and also did his bit with ball in hand, but it is his busy shift on defence which gets him into our team. Finished with 12 tackles made and beats out the Hurricanes' Chris Eves and Joe Moody of the Crusaders.