SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week

Competition for places in our South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week was fierce after the local franchises recorded a historic full-house, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. 

The South African teams proved a point as they hosted European opposition for the first time at the weekend. The Sharks weren’t at their best but still managed to secure a 37-20 win over the Scarlets in Durban on Friday night to get the ball rolling. 

The Bulls survived a fightback from Munster to secure a 29-24 victory in a game of two halves in Pretoria on Saturday, which the Lions followed up in the first of Sunday’s two games with a 37-20 triumph over Cardiff in Johannesburg to break their 2022 duck.

The Stormers ensured a clean sweep and put on a show in their first-ever game in Stellenbosch, scoring at will to run out 55-7 winners over Zebre. The Cape Town team led the way with five representatives on our side, the Bulls and Lions each have four and the Sharks three. 

15: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)

Simply sensational! A Man of the Match performance packed with X-factor in every facet. Saved a try by his fingertips and activated his jet shoes after grabbing Jaden Hendrikse’s no-look grubber to outsprint a pair of Scarlets and score the game-changing try. Beat a match-high eight defenders and ran for 93 metres while also ruling the skies to defuse the visitors’ kicking game.

14: Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) – Player Of The Week

Fantastic all around! Got to juke and jive, showed his killer instinct and express pace when he pounced on a loose ball and cantered home, produced a jaw-dropping piece of finishing for his second try, and completed his hat-trick at the death. Racked up 132 metres and saved a try by holding up Massimo Ceciliani over the line to scoop the Man of the Match award and snatch the Player of the Week honours from Fassi.

13: Ruhan Nel (Stormers)

Reminded of the flair that had looked lost for so long, the highlight of his busy evening was seeing him twist out of a tackle after collecting Warrick Gelant’s crosskick and unleash Lionel Zas for a try. Edged Wandisile Simelane, who had a good try-assist of his own and showed maturity with two top-class kicks to pin Cardiff in their half in the final five minutes.

12: Damian Willemse (Stormers)

Celebrated his 50th cap in style. Ran in a brilliant try, showed off his excellent passing game to put runners into space, and kicked well out of hand. Burger Odendaal put in a strong shift as well, setting targets with his hard running, which provided the platform for the Lions’ first try.

11: Madosh Tambwe (Bulls)

Lit up Loftus with his energy, pace, and dancing feet. Great instincts to take a dislodged ball and streak in and waltzed over for a second that was ultimately disallowed due to an earlier knock-on. Stepped nine defenders, racked up 117 metres, and also topped the stats in successful carries (9) and offloads (4) to earn the Man of the Match award.

10: Chris Smith (Bulls)

Cool, calm, and collected on arguably his biggest day, repaying the faith Jake White had in selecting him ahead of Morne Steyn. Good decision-making and execution and scored 19 points as he put the boot into Munster, his perfect place-kicking display proving decisive in the end. Had strong competition in Jordan Hendrikse and Manie Libbok.

9: Morne van den Berg (Lions)

A lethal livewire who caused Cardiff all sorts of problems. Did well to twist out of contact and dot down to draw first blood and was a giant slayer on defence, making vital tackles on James Botham and Owen Lane. Herschel Jantjies also impressed.

8: Evan Roos (Stormers)

Elrigh Louw and Francke Horn made big impressions and led their respective team’s defensive efforts (10 and 11 tackles respectively). However, Roos was like a terminator! Popped up everywhere and blew Zebre away with his power, explosiveness and good hands. Made 16 successful carries, had an early try assist, won a breakdown penalty plus a maul turnover in his 22.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions)

What a baller! A Man of the Match performance that was equal parts X-factor and output. Created a five-pointer with an outrageous offload and scored the bonus-point try in the final play of the game. That complete commitment saw him nearly save a try as well in a defensive display that included harpooned Kirby Myhill.

6: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)

A talismanic 80-minute performance by the Bulls captain, who brought the fire from the get-go. Got his team on the front foot with powerful carries, one of which led to the first try, with a barnstorming run just after half-time also sticking out. Added further purchase with offloads and his underrated legal latching to boost ball carriers and was a Trojan on defence.

5: Reinhard Nothnagel (Lions)

Marvin Orie’s class shone through. However, Nothnagel brought much-needed stability and leadership to the Lions’ lineout upon his return from injury. Was a pest on Cardiff’s throw as well and bled for the cause in an industrious outing.

4: Walt Steenkamp (Bulls)

Must like his steak rare as he sunk his teeth into the men in red. A ruck monster, a collision winner, and a hard grafter, whose work rate saw him mop up to score a try after Kurt-Lee Arendse made a meal of what should’ve been a simple score. Also produced a lineout steal in the 48th minute.

3: Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Not just a dominant force at scrum time but also went above and beyond in general play like his fellow front-rowers. Like an extra loose forward at the breakdown, exacting a vital steal in his 22 carried strongly and made some rib-rattling tackles.

2: Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)

On a weekend that saw the other hookers misfire with their lineout throwing, the reliable veteran was on target and made it look effortless. Showed his experience when he stayed calm and patient at the back of a driving maul to score and doubled up in the second half.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Even more prolific than Du Toit across the board. Extremely active, making a match-high 17 tackles, a sensational start for a prop made that much more impressive by the fact he limped off in the 58th minute. Set the tone for the scrum torture from the first engagement, gained good ground with ball in hand, and won a penalty on the deck.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.