SA European Champions Cup Team Of The Week – Round Of 16

Kurt-Lee Arendse lit up Loftus Versfeld as the Bulls brushed Lyon aside 59-19 to book their place in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Stormers came agonisingly close to knocking out two-time defending champions La Rochelle in a brutal nailbiter in Cape Town, where Manie Libbok missed a last-gasp conversion that saw the visitors emerge with a 22-21 win.

As a result, our South African European Champions Cup Team of the Week is made up of 10 Bulls and five Stormers.

15: Willie le Roux (Bulls)

A master of spatial awareness as highlighted by his try assist for Sebastian de Klerk, scored one himself and was clutch on defence, making two try-saving tackles, one on Thaakir Abrahams and the other on Alfred Parisien.

14: Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls)

The former Pumas player is purring in Pretoria. Scored a try in each half and worked hard across the field.

13: Dan du Plessis (Stormers)

Offered steak and sizzle. Consistently committed more than one defender with his strength and offloaded in contact, while he was excellent on defence.

12: Damian Willemse (Stormers)

A big-name, big-game player who did big-name, big-game things. At the heart of most of the Stormers’ best moments, including his majestic hand in Herschel Jantjies’ try. Made a match-high 109 metres from seven carries.

11: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls) – Player of the Week

Injected himself into the action with aplomb. Alert to create a try for Embrose Papier on transitional play, brilliant counter-attacks sparked two more tries, ran for an unrivalled 118 metres, beat a match-high nine defenders and made a try-saving tackle on Lyon captain Jordan Taufua.

10: Johan Goosen (Bulls)

Played with freedom and thrived because of it. Made a few elusive runs, distributed beautifully and chipped into space. Kicked well out of hand and at goal, slotting 5/6.

9: Embrose Papier (Bulls)

A livewire. Sparked a number of attacks with dangerous darts, scored a brace, was fast and crisp with his service and his exit kicks were good.

Embrose Papier with a fantastic try 🏉

Absolutely brilliant Vodacom Bulls 💪

💻 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup live: https://t.co/bDeiretgWP pic.twitter.com/yxuwqFpTKZ

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 6, 2024

8: Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

A powerful workhorse par excellence. Made a match-high 13 carries for 67 metres (the most by a forward) and a dozen tackles, the second most by a Bulls player. 

7: Reinhardt Ludwig (Bulls)

Made a number of dynamic runs in an energetic showing. Inspired by his fellow loose forwards and raised his game to try to reach their level.

6: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)

Stood out in the physicality department. Broke tackles, made dominant hits and cleaned vigorously. Great support play to be on hand and power his way over for a try and made a telling tackle on Abrahams.

5: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)

Another colossal performance by arguably the most consistent player in the country this season. His motor continues to amaze as he made an unrivalled 17 tackles. 

4: Ruan Vermaak (Bulls)

Played the enforcer role well. Did a lot of donkey work, barged over from five metres out and applied good pressure in the lineouts.

3: Neethling Fouche (Stormers)

Worked over young Louis Penverne at scrum time, featured in the trenches and cleaned with power and purpose.

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

Popped up everywhere with his red scrum cap and was particularly prominent on defence, where he made a team-high 13 hits including a crucial tackle on Monty Ioane. On the money with his lineout throwing.

1: Brok Harris (Stormers)

The veteran had the best of the scrums in the first half and got through a ton of work before he started to run out of gas around the 50-minute mark. Made 13 tackles, second only to Van Heerden, before finally making way in the 70th minute.