Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Seven

With the seventh round of Super Rugby now a thing of the past, it is time for us to work out which players shone over the weekend.

Ben Lam of course made the XV after his four-try showing while there was a hat-trick for milestone man Adriaan Strauss as he gets in.

Super Rugby: Team of Round Seven

15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks): The youngster showed his abilities as a running full-back and thrived as the Sharks adopted an expansive game. Bosch beat six defenders for 107 metres with three clean breaks. He capped his performance with a beautifully-taken try, having timed his run to perfection to latch on to Robert du Preez’s pass at full speed.

14 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs): We move the burly Fijian flyer to the right wing after he took his tally to four for the season with a magnificent brace. He scored his first with a powerful fend off on Speight and the second with a silky smooth finish, doing well to stay in the field of play to dot down after running an excellent support line to receive the offload. A mention goes to Crusaders’ wing Manasa Mataele.

13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs): ALB made six tackle busts, two clean breaks and 65 metres from 15 carries, punching holes in the Highlanders’ defence with regularity. Is already a leader within this Chiefs side and only 22. Elsewhere, Lukhanyo Am impressed for the Sharks, setting up a try, beating two defenders and making 11 hits on defence.

12 Damian de Allende (Stormers): Desperately unfortunate to be on the losing side. Beat five defenders, made four clean breaks and showed why he comfortably tops the charts for most carries in Super Rugby this season. Topped it off with a sensational solo try. Meanwhile, the Highlanders’ Rob Thompson and Sharks’ Andre Esterhuizen also shone and deserve mentions.

11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes): Having been touted as a possible All Black bolter during the week, Lam did his cause in that regard absolutely no harm whatsoever, as he notched up an incredible four tries in the ‘Canes’ demolition of the Rebels, taking his tally to eight from five games so far this season. This Hurricanes side have an embarrassment of riches on the wing.

10 Robert du Preez (Sharks): A magnificent display from the fly-half after he scored 38 points against the Blues. Made good decisions with the ball and took it to the line well, helping his team cross the whitewash six times on Saturday. It was a performance which saw him edge out New Zealand duo Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) and Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) and, on this form, Du Preez is very much putting himself in line for South African selection. He has plenty of competition in the form of Elton Jantjies and Handre Pollard but few fly-halves are playing as well as the Sharks man in Super Rugby.

9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes): Outstanding again for the ‘Canes. After a difficult start, where they found themselves 19-8 down to the Rebels, he helped get them back into contest and eventually dominate the Melbourne-based outfit. All Blacks’ rival Aaron Smith (Highlanders) also played well, while Smith’s opposite number Brad Weber put his hand up after a good display for the Chiefs but, with 45 metres run and three clean breaks made, Perenara takes the position.

8 Gareth Evans (Hurricanes): Linked up well with Perenara and scored a fine try. Evans is not a natural number eight but is a very skilful player and has a good passing game, while maintaining a threat at the breakdown. In fairness, the individual directly opposite the Hurricanes’ man in the first half, Amanaki Mafi, would probably have been selected had he stayed on the field, but his withdrawal allowed the New Zealander to thrive. Mafi made 107 metres in 40 minutes and his absence was a huge blow for the Australian outfit, who were powerless to stop the visitors in the second period.

7 David Pocock (Brumbies): An excellent return for the Wallaby back-rower, albeit in a losing cause. The flanker displayed typical nous at the breakdown and was strong over the ball, which kept the Brumbies in the game. In a battle between two fine players, Michael Hooper also impressed as the Waratahs secured the victory, but Pocock edged the individual duel. After getting this game under his belt, the Brumbies’ openside should improve which is a frightening prospect for the rest of the world.

6 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks): Alongside his brother, they were the two standout performers at the weekend. Jean-Luc has a huge work ethic – shown by the 16 tackles he made – and he also makes metres with ball in hand due to his immense power. Du Preez is a great athlete too and, as a result, is an exciting prospect for South Africa. Michael Wells showed up well for the Waratahs but the Sharks’ flanker was simply outstanding against the Blues.

5 Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders): A hugely underrated player but his stock continues to rise in New Zealand, especially after his most recent performance. He has skills aplenty in possession and showed against the Chiefs he does the dirty work too, making a huge 18 tackles in defeat. Such a solid work ethic.

4 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): Ellis Park is never an easy place to go and win but Whitelock led the Crusaders to victory once again in Johannesburg. He was a workhorse on Sunday and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. A team high 12 carries from the captain.

3 Ben May (Hurricanes): The ‘Canes were a different class all over the field against the Rebels and that started up front as May and company dominated their opposite numbers. A solid set-piece that was backed up by tireless work in the loose sees him selected, despite leaving the field early in the second-half. A mention must also go to the Lions’ tighthead Ruan Dreyer, who had Tim Perry’s number at scrum time.

2 Adriaan Strauss (Bulls): On the day he became the most-capped South African Super Rugby player of all time (149 games), if you had have told Strauss before kick-off that he would be celebrating it with a hat-trick he probably would have laughed. But yes, it was the perfect game for the Bulls’ hooker as he crossed three times in a victory over the Stormers, ending a four-match losing streak to boot.

1 Chris Eves (Hurricanes): Another underrated forward in New Zealand is Eves. Such a livewire in open play, he helped put the Hurricanes on the right path in Melbourne with six carries in another busy showing at the coalface. All Black call-up not far away? Maybe.