SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 12

The Bulls provide the bulk of our local United Rugby Championship Team of the Week after flying the South African flag in Round 12, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Pretoria franchise were the only local side to register a win over the weekend, a 29-14 bonus-point triumph over the Dragons in Newport at the same time the Lions were mauled 33-3 by Munster in Cork on Friday night.

A second-string Sharks side went down 24-12 to Connacht in Galway on Saturday while the Stormers suffered a heart-breaking 24-17 loss to the Warriors in Glasgow on Sunday.

Bulls players make up two-thirds of our team, with four Stormers and a Lions ace also earning selection.  

15: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls)

A source of danger. Showed his speed to finish off the first try, continued to stretch the defence, and made a crucial tackle on Sam Davies. Should’ve passed when the Pretoria side had an overlap but still the best fullback on show.

14: Edwill van der Merwe (Lions)

The lone attacking threat for the Lions on the night, he made a cracking line break and ran for a team-high 54 metres in all. With no standout right winger, we rewarded Van der Merwe with a move to No 14.

13: Damian Willemse (Stormers)

Made the odd mistake but took initiative as the leader of the Stormers backline. Made a great early line break and offload and led the Cade side in defenders beaten (4) and carrying metres (62). Switched to No 13 to accommodate…

12: Harold Vorster (Bulls)

The hard-running Bulls midfielder drove the dagger deeper and deeper into the Dragons’ heart and finally pierced the skin when he powered over for their third try that took the life out of the hosts. Strong on defence as well and seized a top turnover.

11: Leolin Zas (Stormers)

Really good before his outing was worryingly cut short by injury, seemingly brought about by the 4G pitch. Made a few punchy runs and won two turnovers.

10: Johan Goosen (Bulls)

The best of an underwhelming bunch. Even with his dreadful kicking out of hand, the late replacement sparked the opening try with one of his two line breaks and had an unrivalled 109 running metres. Manie Libbok kicked one dead and his three missed kicks at goal ended up costing the Stormers dearly, while the rest failed to make an impact.

9: Zak Burger (Bulls)

Pulled the strings from the base, particularly with his educated boot. It was his chip that forced the penalty try and yellow card and he created two more scoring opportunities, one from a quick tap and another from a dangerous dink.

8: Elrigh Louw (Bulls) – Player Of The Week

“The Sheriff” laid down the law at Rodney Parade. Phenomenal in every facet, he made a match-high six successful carries, put in crushing tackles (Sio Tomkinson will still be hurting), and won three turnovers to secure the Man of the Match award.

7: Cyle Brink (Bulls)

Came to the fore in a big way. Stayed in the Dragons’ faces, won collisions with his prolific power and poached two turnovers, the first from a maul inside his 22.

6: Marco van Staden (Bulls)

Ultra-intense and fired up. Relentlessly charged at the Dragons like a raging bull, mowed down ball carriers and outgunned the hosts at the breakdown like his fellow back-rowers. 

5: Marvin Orie (Stormers)

Machine-like. Instrumental with his experience and exceptional motor, running the lineout with aplomb and outworking everyone with a match-high 19 tackles.

4: Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers)

Orie’s young lock partner stepped up as an enforcer. Brought bone-crunching physicality, the huge hit on Tom Jordan just before halftime sticking out, and his dogged counter-rucking produced a turnover.

3: Mornay Smith (Bulls)

Beastly at scrum time. It was like men against boys in the set piece with the Bulls scrummaging the Dragons into the dirt every chance they got.

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

At his absolute best. World-class in the set pieces, very strong in contact – driving for extra metres – made a team-high 12 tackles, and was like a fourth loose forward on the deck, producing a turnover in his 22.

1: Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)

Helped power the penalty machine that was the Bulls scrum and also got through a solid amount of work in general play.