Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round 15

Colin Newboult
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With the dust having settled on Round 15 of Super Rugby, we have gone through the action to pick out the best players from the weekend’s games.

The Stormers and Brumbies lead the way this week with three representatives each following victories over the Highlanders and Bulls respectively, while the Jaguares and Chiefs are next best with two apiece.

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round 15

15 Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares): Another excellent display from the full-back, who was a big part of the Argentinians’ impressive victory over the Waratahs. Once again, the 24-year-old made metres in attack – 67 in total – but it is his game awareness and solidity under the high ball which stands out in tight games. Boffelli was consistently involved and helped the Jags move to the top of the South African Conference as he edged out Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels) David Havili (Crusaders) for the position.

14 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares): Played on the left-wing but we moved him to the right as he just had to be in a team following a superb performance against the ‘Tahs. Jack Maddocks and Seabelo Senatla produced impressive efforts for the Rebels and Stormers respectively, but they didn’t quite have the decisive impact of Moyano, who scored the Jaguares’ two tries in their 23-15 victory. The back three player also ran for 66 metres, made three clean breaks and beat six defenders.

13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies): No real contest for this position as the Australian international showed his try-scoring instincts by touching down for three of the Brumbies’ four tries in their triumph over the Bulls. Kuridrani has enjoyed another good season but has started to come to the fore as the Canberra-based side’s attack has started to improve. The Lions’ Lionel Mapoe and the Crusaders’ Jack Goodhue also played well for their respective franchises but they were well behind the Wallaby representative.

12 Damian de Allende (Stormers): Similar to the Brumbies, the Stormers are beginning to become more of a threat with ball in hand and that was shown by their win against the Highlanders. De Allende was a large part of that after he ran for a staggering 117 metres in the 34-22 triumph. The Springbok centre ran hard in his 19 carries and also defended well, making 11 tackles, as he takes his place in the XV over Jeronimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) and Alex Nankivell (Chiefs).

11 Marika Koroibete (Rebels): Plenty of wingers have enjoyed playing against the Sunwolves and the Australian was no different as he tore into the opposition defence. Koroibete made a superb 133 metres, which included seven clean breaks, two tries and an assist, as the Rebels scored over 50 points in Tokyo. Makazole Mapimpi displayed impressive pace to touch down for an important try for the Sharks while Dillyn Leyds was his usual busy self for the Stormers, but the Rebels man is deservedly in the XV.

10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks): In difficult conditions Richie Mo’unga controlled the game well for the Crusaders, while Quade Cooper was typically creative in the Rebels’ dominant victory, but Bosch produced another excellent display for the Durban outfit. Bosch has thrived since coming back into the side and particularly enjoyed his day against Lions pivot Elton Jantjies. He intercepted a Jantjies pass for the first try and was also accurate off the tee, kicking 12 points.

9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers): The scrum-half has improved as the season has gone on and that culminated in Saturday’s performance against the Highlanders, which saw him touch down for their opening try and be a constant threat throughout his 76 minutes on the field. Jantjies thrived around the fringes, running for 57 metres, and controlled play nicely from the base as he edged out the Jaguares’ Tomas Cubelli and the Crusaders’ Bryn Hall.

8 Pita Sowakula (Chiefs): The Sunwolves’ Amanaki Mafi, Javier Ortega Desio of the Jaguares and the Lions’ Kwagga Smith also impressed but Sowakula gets the nod after delivering a huge all-round performance for the Chiefs in their win over the Reds. The big Fijian proved a handful on attack where he made 37 metres from seven runs with two clean breaks, three defenders beaten and he also scored a well-taken try. Also put in a huge defensive shift with 27 tackles.

7 Matt Todd (Crusaders): Stormers captain Siya Kolisi is unlucky to miss out after another fine performance in their win over the Highlanders but we’ve opted for Todd, who shone at the coalface of the Crusaders’ forward effort against the Blues. The All Blacks tearaway got through a mountain of work, especially on defence where he made 15 hits.

6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds): The Reds might have lost to the Chiefs in Hamilton but it wasn’t through a lack of trying from the Wallaby utility forward, who was one of the best players on the field. The 22-year-old gained 47 metres from 15 carries from one clean break, two defenders beaten and he also managed a couple of offloads. Also completed eight tackles and comes in ahead of Pablo Matera of the Jaguares.

5 Rory Arnold (Brumbies): The Wallaby second-row impressed in the forward battle against the Bulls in Canberra and took the fight to his counterparts, who are renowned for their physicality. Arnold was his team’s go-to-man in the lineouts where he won seven balls and he also stole one on the Bulls’ throw-in. He also did his bit on attack, gaining 36 metres from 11 carries which included a clean break, one defender beaten and two offloads. The Stormers’ Pieter-Steph du Toit and Adam Coleman of the Rebels also played well.

4 Cobus Wiese (Stormers): The Stormers backs impressed against the Highlanders and that was down to the quality ball provided by their forwards with Wiese one of the standout players up front. He performed well in the lineouts, winning five balls, but also impressed on attack where he gained 23 metres from eight runs and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. Also made nine tackles and comes in ahead of Jesse Parete of the Chiefs.

3 Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies): Santiago Medrano was superb for the Jaguares in their memorable win over the Waratahs but Alaalatoa’s performance in his side’s triumph over the Bulls could not be ignored. The Wallaby impressed on attack, gaining 29 metres from seven runs with a clean break, one defender beaten as well as an offload. He was also strong on defence and made 10 hits.

2 Liam Coltman (Highlanders): The All Blacks hooker can hold his head high despite finishing on the losing side at Newlands. Coltman did his basics well, especially his throw-ins at the lineouts which was accurate throughout. Also did well on attack where he made 35 metres from five runs including one clean break. Also did his bit on defence with 10 tackles.

1 Atu Moli (Chiefs): The entire Chiefs pack gave a good account of themselves against the Reds and Moli was one his side’s best performers. The 23-year-old stood up well in the scrums, was a willing ball carrier but made his biggest impact on defence and eventually completed 10 tackles. Joe Moody of the Crusaders and the Stormers’ Steven Kitshoff also caught the eye.

Blues