With the final round of Super Rugby matches now a thing of the past, it is time for us to work out which players shone over the past weekend.
The Sharks and Brumbies produced the standout results and, as a result, have three players apiece in the side. The South Africans claimed a play-off place by overcoming the Jaguares while the Australians defeated intra-country rivals Waratahs in Sydney, ending the hosts’ chances of finishing second.
Super Rugby: Team of Round 19
15 Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs): Another fine performance by the full-back and, as a result, must surely be in the frame for an All Blacks call-up. There was plenty of competition with Andries Coetzee (Lions), Tom Banks (Brumbies) and Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) all impressing, but Alaimalo was a constant threat to the Hurricanes defence after scoring one try, running for 87 metres and beating three defenders. It wasn’t quite as dominant as two weeks ago but he deservedly claims a place in the XV nonetheless.
14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders): There are few better sights in world rugby than Naholo in full flow and he was instrumental to the New Zealander’s victory over the Rebels. With Aaron Mauger resting several players in preparation for the play-offs, their other experienced individuals needed to step up and the winger did so superbly. While Ruan Combrinck deserves a mention after his effort for the Lions, the Highlanders man ran for an outstanding 130 metres and beat seven defenders.
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies): Like Naholo, the Wallaby centre played a starring role in his team’s victory. It has not been a great season for the Fijian-born back but the 27-year-old was at his best here as Dan McKellar’s men stunned the Waratahs. The hosts were going for second position in the Super Rugby table but they ran into an inspired performance by Kuridrani, who made four clean breaks and beat five defenders. It is unfortunate for the Crusaders’ Jack Goodhue after his outstanding display against the Blues, but the Brumbies back deservedly takes his place in the team.
12 Kyle Godwin (Brumbies): After eulogising Kuridrani, his centre partner wasn’t bad either and we couldn’t break up the midfield which proved so effective on Saturday. Duncan Paia’aua, Teihorangi Walden and Warrick Gelant all did well for the Reds, Highlanders and Bulls respectively but, after clocking up 89 metres and making four clean breaks, Godwin edges his competitors out.
11 George Bridge (Crusaders): The New Zealander rivals the best in the southern hemisphere for his poacher’s instincts and the wing notched his 12th, 13th and 14th tries of the season after scoring a hat-trick against the Blues. He made 123 metres and five clean breaks from nine runs as the Crusaders recorded a comfortable victory at home to the conference’s basement-dwellers. Elsewhere, Eto Nabuli (Reds), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs) and Andy Muirhead (Brumbies) all produced standout performances.
10 Reece Hodge (Rebels): It has not been the easiest transition into the fly-half jersey for the Wallabies’ utility back, who has been solid rather than spectacular, but his performance against the Highlanders was excellent. The pivot scored three tries and kicked a further 14 points from the tee as the Australians came so close to claiming a play-off place. Ultimately, it was not enough following the Sharks’ victory over the Jaguares, but Hodge can hold his head high after his efforts on Saturday.
9 Brad Weber (Chiefs): New Zealand seem to have a plethora of options in every position but their depth at scrum-half is particularly impressive and Weber showed why. Outplayed TJ Perenara with a busy display, running for 114 metres, which included a try, and showing excellent control in the first half. The Hurricanes came back into the contest after the break but Weber deservedly ended up on the winning side, in a performance which edged out the Highlanders’ Kayne Hammington and the Lions’ Ross Cronje.
8 Blade Thomson (Hurricanes): Scarlets-bound Thomson looks in fine fettle ahead of his move north and was unlucky to be on the losing side at the weekend as he carried strongly, beating four defenders from 12 carries for 37 metres, and scoring a top-class try in which he showed powerful leg drive. Just edges out the Chiefs’ Jesse Parete, who made 12 carries, beat three defenders and put in 11 hits with no missed tackles, as well as the Sharks’ Dan du Preez, who beat six defenders and defended strongly.
7 Liam Wright (Reds): The successor to George Smith in the fetcher role for the Reds put in another eye-catching performance at the weekend. Whilst Wright grabbed a try, it was his work on defence that got him in to our team, as he made 18 tackles without missing one in another selfless display from the openside. Beats out the Chiefs’ Mitch Karpik, who battled valiantly against the Canes, and the Waratahs’ Will Miller, who showed impressive pace for his intercept try against the Brumbies.
6 Philip van der Walt (Sharks): Typically industrious performance from Van der Walt who, along with each member of his loose trio, shone on the weekend. The ginger-haired 29-year-old put in 27 hits (one missed), while he also made 10 carries. All Black Jordan Taufua, meanwhile, was instrumental in the Crusaders’ 54 -17 demolition of the Blues and was a close contender.
5 Richie Arnold (Brumbies): Playing next to his identical twin Rory for the first time in Super Rugby, Richie seemed to relish the occasion, running a great line on to Nic Mayhew’s pass to crash over for his side’s second, before turning creator moments later when he beat a defender and got the offload away expertly for Isi Naisarani to grab the third. Elsewhere, Sam Whitelock was talismanic as usual for the Crusaders, scoring a fantastic try, while Lions enforcer Franco Mostert worked hard both on attack and defence.
4 Matt Philip (Rebels): Busy performance from the 24-year-old, who has noticeably stepped up in the absence of regular captain Adam Coleman. Philip made 12 carries and 10 tackles, while he was safe and secure as a lineout jumper. Also made a tackle bust. Comes in ahead of the Lions’ Marvin Orie and Hurricanes’ Michael Fatialofa. Orie made eight carries and 11 tackles, while Fatialofa made 11 tackles and nine carries – both beating a defender.
3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks): The Tank was rock-like on Saturday at scrum-time and on defence. Apart from pulverising Javier Manuel Diaz at the set-piece, Du Toit made 16 tackles – an immense performance – and not difficult to see why he has gained international recognition in recent times. Elsewhere, the Lions’ Ruan Dreyer caught the eye as he gave the Bulls’ Pierre Schoeman a hard time in the scrums and carried strongly.
2 Akker van der Merwe (Sharks): The man they call the Warthog has now firmly established himself as the Springboks’ finisher in the number two jersey. But when he plays from the start, as he does for the Sharks, he can be a menace with ball in hand and hard to bring down as he showed with his 48 metres made and three defenders beaten from six bullocking runs. Meanwhile, the Lions’ Malcolm Marx looks to be returning to his best after injury – ominous signs for Super Rugby’s last eight ahead of the play-offs.
1 JP Smith (Reds): Smith was everywhere on Friday for the Reds. Made one brilliant break in which he ran 50-plus metres up the field, weaving his way past a couple of defenders. Beat three on the day from eight carries. But it was his work on defence that didn’t go unnoticed as he put in 14 hits. Tom Robertson also caught the eye for the Waratahs as he scrummaged strongly and made 12 carries with one tackle bust, as well as making nine tackles.