Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round One

David Skippers

With the dust having settled on Round One of Super Rugby, we have gone through the action to pick out the best players from the weekend.

Defending champions the Crusaders, the Stormers and Jaguares lead the way with three representatives apiece while the Sunwolves are next best with two players in our team.

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round One

15 David Havili (Crusaders): The All Black started the 2020 Super Rugby campaign on a high note as he was at the forefront of the champions’ triumph against the Waratahs in Nelson. Surprisingly, Havili was preferred to Richie Mo’unga as his team’s designated goal-kicker and he did not disappoint as he added 13 points courtesy of five conversions and a penalty. He also did well on attack with 111 metres gained and beats out the Brumbies’ Tom Banks and Aphelele Fassi of the Sharks.

14 Will Jordan (Crusaders): Another Crusader who shone in his side victory, Jordan proved a real handful to the Waratahs defence as he crossed the gain-line at will and was eventually rewarded with two tries. This, after gaining a match-high 143 metres from 18 runs with three clean breaks, as many defenders beaten and an offload. The Sharks’ S’busiso Nkosi and Sergeal Petersen of the Stormers were next best.

13 Matias Moroni (Jaguares): Braydon Ennor of the Crusaders is unlucky to miss out as he was very good against the Waratahs, while the Sharks’ Lukhanyo Am and Joe Marchant of the Blues also caught the eye. Moroni gets the nod, however, after a superb effort in his side’s win over the Lions in Buenos Aires. The 28-year-old shone on attack making 64 metres from three runs with seven defenders beaten, two offloads and also scored a couple of tries to boot.

12 Juan Cruz Mallia (Jaguares): The 23-year-old combined brilliantly with Moroni in midfield against the Lions and keeps out the more experienced trio of Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Jamie Roberts (Stormers) and James O’Connor (Reds), who all played well for their respective teams. Mallia finished with 51 attacking metres from eight runs which included three clean breaks and four defenders beaten.

11 Mark Nawaqanitawase (Waratahs): The 19-year-old finished on the losing side on his Super Rugby debut against the champions but will remember the occasion for the rest of his days as he was one of the best players on display. Nawaqanitawase’s direct duel with Jordan was one of that game’s highlights and like the Crusader he too scored a brace of tries. Nawaqanitawase eventually ran 80 metres from 12 runs which included two clean breaks and four defenders beaten. Henry Speight, Rieko Ioane and Emiliano Boffelli also made big impressions for the Reds, Blues and Jaguares respectively.

10 Domingo Miotti (Jaguares): Came on early as an injury replacement for Joaquín Díaz Bonilla but slotted in seamlessly and bossed the game from the pivot position against the Lions. Finished with 42 metres from 12 runs and added 13 points courtesy of a try, five conversions and a penalty. He comes in ahead of Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs, the Sunwolves’ Garth April and Damian Willemse of the Stormers.

9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers): The World Cup winner was in sublime form as his side notched an easy victory against the Hurricanes in Cape Town. Jantjies provided excellent service to his outside backs and kept the ‘Canes defenders on their toes with his sniping breaks. Scored a well-taken try and also set up Petersen’s five-pointer with a perfectly-weighted cross-field kick. Finished with 57 metres gained after two clean breaks and three defenders beaten. The Jaguares’ Tomas Cubelli also played well on the opening weekend.

8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): The 21-year-old made his first start for the Blues and gave a good account of himself as he was one of the best players on display in his side’s defeat to the Chiefs in Auckland. Sotutu took the fight to the men from Hamilton and impressed with his ball carrying skills. He finished with 97 metres gained from 12 carries and managed two clean breaks, five defenders beaten and three offloads. Jake Schatz of the Sunwolves and the Reds’ Harry Wilson also impressed.

7 Jaco Coetzee (Stormers): The 23-year-old was at the forefront of his side’s onslaught in a one-sided affair against the Hurricanes. Impressed with his breakdown work, carried well and eventually made 70 metres from 11 carries which included two clean breaks, three defenders beaten as well as an offload. Comes in ahead of Tony Lamborn of the Blues and the Sharks’ James Venter.

6 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs): The tearaway hit the ground running in his side’s season opener against the Blues and played a leading role as they came from behind to see off their neighbours. Boshier’s breakdown work was outstanding and he won several turnovers especially during the second half. He was a willing ball carrier and did well on defence with 12 tackles. The Reds’ Angus Scott-Young and Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Stormers earn mentions.

5 Michael Stolberg (Sunwolves): Tom Robinson was good in a losing cause for the Blues but Stolberg gets the nod as he was one of the Sunwolves’ star players as they claimed their first ever victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Fukuoka on Saturday. Stolberg impressed as a ball carrier, gaining 22 metres but made his biggest impact on defence where he completed 14 hits.

4 Mitchell Dunshea (Crusaders): Although Guido Petti of the Jaguares and the Brumbies’ Darcy Swain shone in their respective sides’ wins, Dunshea gets into our team after a fine outing against the Waratahs. He did well in the lineouts and on attack where he finished with 43 metres gained from seven carries, which included a couple of line breaks and as many defenders beaten.

3 Alan Alaalatoa (Brumbies): The new Brumbies skipper put in a superb showing as his side came from behind to beat the Reds in Canberra on Friday. Shone in the execution of his core duties particularly his scrummaging which was solid. Made his biggest impact on defence, however, where he completed 13 tackles. The Jaguares’ Santiago Medrano and Frans Malherbe of the Stormers were also impressive.

2 Jaba Bregvadze (Sunwolves): Another Sunwolves player gets the nod after that fine victory over the Rebels. The Georgian international’s set-piece work was top class but he also shone in other areas and scored a deserved try in the first half. His defensive work was just as good and he finished with 11 tackles made. He is preferred to the Crusaders’ Andrew Makalio and Julian Montoya of the Jaguares.

1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers): The Rugby World Cup winner came to the fore with an excellent effort as his side cruised to victory against the Hurricanes. Kitshoff was at the forefront of some dominant scrums from the Stormers forwards which gave their backs a superb attacking launchpad. He did well on attack – especially at close quarters – and finished with 18 metres gained from seven carries and was rewarded with a five-pointer for his efforts. Edges out the Brumbies’ Scott Sio and Aidan Ross of the Chiefs.

Blues