Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round 2

With the second round of Super Rugby’s matches now a thing of the past, it’s time to work out which players excelled over the weekend.

The Highlanders lead the way with five representatives in our team after their win over the Blues while the Rebels are next best with three players and the rest of our XV has a healthy spread from various teams.

15 Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels): Haylett-Petty grabbed a brace on his debut. He beat three defenders, made two clean breaks and 146 metres from his 13 carries. Edges out the Highlanders’ Ben Smith who was a constant threat with ball in hand against the Blues and the Waratahs’ Israel Folau, who has continued the form that saw him win a record third John Eales medal last season, notching up yet another try agains the Stormers.

14 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions): The man from the Eastern Cape is producing magic up on the Highveld with three tries in his first two starts for the Lions. Dyantyi absolutely terrorised the Jaguares defence on the weekend, beating 11 defenders for his 158 metres. Meanwhile, Matt Duffie impressed for the Blues, making a team-high 96 metres and grabbing a try.

13 Rob Thompson (Highlanders): New Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, himself a former centre, will undoubtedly be delighted with the performance of his midfield combination. Thompson pipped his partner Teihorangi Walden to the man-of-the-match award, however, with two tries and an assist from a beautifully crafted offload. Punctured the opposition defence regularly. Lionel Mapoe also impressed for the Lions.

12 Teihorangi Walden (Highlanders): The 24-year-old has had to spend much of time at the Otago outfit kicking his heels on the touchline. But getting his chance on Friday after an impressive pre-season, Walden was superb, grabbing two tries and forming a telepathic understanding with his inside man. Meanwhile, Ryan Crotty gets a mention for his role in the Crusaders’ win over the Chiefs.

11 Sefa Naivalu (Rebels): Outstanding performance from the finisher. Given the ball just thrice, Naivalu scored twice. Had to wait patiently for chances, but took them clinically. Sneaks in to our team ahead of Sunwolves winger Hosea Saumaki, who was unlucky to be on the losing side as he beat seven defenders and made 111 metres from his 16 carries against the Brumbies.

10 Jack Debreczeni (Rebels): Debreczeni ran the show and was at the heart of almost everything good the Rebels did on Friday, racking up twenty points including two tries and a conversion. He took the ball to the line brilliantly as witnessed in his two tries. Meanwhile, Lima Sopoaga was the spark that ignited a dangerous Highlanders backline against the Blues and he just misses out on our team.

9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders): Excellent option taking from Smith as usual. Got to the breakdown in lightning quick fashion throughout. Distribution was superb. Just edges out Will Genia, who was his old side the Reds’ nemesis as he ran the show for his new side, the Rebels. The Wallabies scrum-half came away with three try assists with his trademark vision on show for everyone to see.

8 Akira Ioane (Blues): The older of the Blues’ Ioane siblings was at the forefront of his side’s cause against the Highlanders and was rewarded with a brace of tries for his efforts. Ioane proved a handful on attack, gaining 51 metres from nine runs with one clean break and two defenders beaten. Amanaki Mafi and Isi Naisarani also played well for the Rebels and Brumbies respectively.

7 Sam Cane (Chiefs): He might have finished on the losing side against the Crusaders in Christchurch, but Cane was one of the Chiefs’ standout performers and he delivered a superb all-round effort. Cane gained 52 metres with ball in hand from 12 runs with one clean break, four defenders beaten and he also managed two offloads. Also did his bit on defence with eight hits.

6 Liam Squire (Highlanders): The All Black back-row hit the ground running against the Blues and put in a workmanlike performance in a tightly contested encounter. Squire carried well and eventually finished with 45 metres gained from 10 runs with one defender beaten. Also did his bit in defence with eight tackles. The Bulls’ Thembelani Bholi also caught the eye.

5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): The Crusaders captain led from the front in his side’s victory over the Chiefs. Whitelock delivered a polished display and scored one of his side’s tries, won a handful of lineouts, did well in defence with 11 tackles and also won a crucial turnover. Springbok lock Lood de Jager also impressed for the Bulls.

4 RG Snyman (Bulls): The Bulls enforcer was superb in a memorable win over the Hurricanes in Pretoria. Snyman was one of the Bulls’ go-to men as a ball carrier and finished the match with 82 metres gained from 10 runs with two clean breaks, four defenders beaten and an offload. Snyman edges out Rebels debutant Matt Phillip who shone against the Reds.

3 Siate Tokolahi (Highlanders): The Highlanders prop delivered a busy shift and was at the forefront of their forward effort against the Blues. Tokolahi was solid in the scrums and showed great determination and leg drive when crossing for a deserved try. He also defended well, making eight tackles and comes in ahead of Michael Alaalatoa of the Crusaders.

2 Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies): The men from Canberra were made to graft for their win over the Sunwolves and Mann-Rea was one of their players who grafted particularly hard up front. Mann-Rea’s efforts were rewarded with a deserved try and he also shone in the tight exchanges. He comes in ahead of the Lions’ Malcolm Marx and Ash Dixon of the Highlanders.

1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers): The Stormers suffered a narrow defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney but Kitshoff was one of the best forwards on display. The Springbok front-row impressed in executing his core duties especially his scrummaging which was superb throughout. Also looked lively with ball in hand and crossed for his first ever Super Rugby try.