European Champions Cup
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.
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.
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.