SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 7

Apex predators reign supreme in our South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. 

In the first of the local derbies, a Springbok-laden Sharks side turned on the heat in the second half to record a 30-16 win over the Bulls in the first-ever United Rugby Championship match on South African soil in Durban on Friday night. 

The Lions caused an upset in Cape Town on Saturday, mauling the error-strewn Stormers 37-19 in a game that produced five yellow cards and seven tries (four to three in favour of the victorious visitors).

As a result, there are six Lions and five Sharks stars on our side. A trio of Bulls cut, with a solitary Stormer completing our team.

15: David Kriel (Bulls)

Did exceedingly well every time he touched the ball. Case in point, the determined Bulls fullback somehow managing to dot down with three Sharks trying to stop him. It was his try that gave the visitors the lead at half-time. Made two clean breaks, showed hot hands to whisk the ball to his brother Richard and maintained that infectious energy throughout.

14: Madosh Tambwe (Bulls)

Super dangerous. Injected lightning bolt-like energy into the Bulls attack with his remarkable acceleration off the mark, which allowed him to breach the gain line and tie up more than one defender in confined spaces. Made telling contributions on defence as well, particularly as a sweeping kick covered.

13: Wandisile Simelane (Lions)

Must’ve forgotten his AirPods in as he danced the afternoon away. Served as a recurring nightmare for Ruhan Nel, whom he waltzed past and set off on a surging break in the 17th minute and did him dirty again with a wicked try-assist for Andre Warner.

12: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

His unrivalled ability to read the game was invaluable, from the deft chip that nearly created a try and the great scrumhalf-like break down the blindside from the base to his intercept try. That 52nd-minute score, in which he showed his underappreciated speed, was the turning point of the game. Proved he can punch over the gain line at No.12 with a match-high six successful carries and made an unrivalled 116 meters en route to the Man of the Match award. Edged talismanic Burger Odendaal.

11: Seabelo Senatla (Stormers)

The best and damn-near only attacking weapon the stuttering Stormers had. Scored a try, pin-balled off defenders, and launched a dangerous counter in which he beat would-be tacklers and linked up with Manie Libbok. Started a good solo showing by winning a textbook breakdown penalty in the third minute and chased hard.

10: Fred Zeilinga (Lions)

His goal-kicking in the swirling wind was something to behold. A perfect seven-from-seven for a personal tally of 17 points.

Good in general play as well, two terrific passes in the build-up to Francke Horn’s first try, a dangerous kick into space, and a try-saving tackle on Nel among his handy work.

9: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)

Tom Brady-like in the way he steered the ship. Delivered subtle touches of class and a couple of crafty tricks as well. Great vision and skill to beat Richard Kriel with a perfect pass to Sbu Nkosi that should’ve netted the Sharks a try, made a good break just before half-time, and pinned the Bulls in their 22 with a clever late chip. For a 37-year-old, he showed an impressive pace to wrap around and chase down Kriel.

8: Francke Horn (Lions)

Often a silent assassin, the brace he scored shone a spotlight on his work rate and stamina as he scored the Lions’ first and final tries. Getting taken out in the air early on only fuelled his fire more. Influential on both sides of the ball, an important tackle on Tristan Leyds was one of an unrivaled 22 hits by the busy No.8.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions) – Player of the Week

Dynamic, dazzling, and dominant. At his brilliant best, delivering a supremely athletic and skillful performance reminiscent of All Blacks star Ardie Savea. Brought power – shrugging off Neethling Fouche and nearly cutting Leyds in half with a hard hit – and flash – breaking the line before throwing a top pass to put Horn in and scoring one himself, which he finished and celebrated in style to cap a Man of the Match performance.

6: Jaco Kriel (Lions)

The forgotten Springbok needed a big game to get his name back out there and while he was shown up by his fellow back-rowers, he offered a timely reminder of his honey badger-like tenacity and strong base, which saw him break a few tackles and gain solid ground.

5: Reinhard Nothnagel (Lions)

Ruan Nortje had a field day in the lineouts, causing the Sharks all sorts of trouble while one of his excellent tackles led to a turnover. Nothnagel, though, operated on another plane. He worked his tail off, making 16 tackles, and his endurance and awareness landed the Lions their bonus-point try as he pounced on a loose ball from a restart, spun, and offloaded to Horn.

4: Walt Steenkamp (Bulls)

Salmaan Moerat put in a big shift, which included a team-leading 12 hits, but the yellow card he conceded for tackling Horn in the air cost him. Instead, it was Steenkamp who cracked the nod for his lower error rate and the pressure he put on the Sharks at lineout time, which saw Ruben van Heerden spill the pill from five meters out.

3: Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Set the tone for the Durbanites’ forward dominance by smashing over the advantage line and pumping his legs for a few extra meters in the first carry of the game. Did the donkey work, including earning a turnover with a solo counter-rucking effort, made a match-high seven tackles, and helped power the mighty scrum.

2: Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)

Had a great, feisty battle against Bismarck du Plessis. The veteran had the edge in the lineouts and at the breakdown, where he won an early penalty just outside his 22, while Mbonambi held the hammer in the scrums and with the ball in hand. Outworked and outlasted the 37-year-old in a solid debut for his new franchise.

1: Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)

An insatiable beast. Annihilated Robert Hunt at scrum time, winning four penalties in the first half and another in the second against Lizo Gqoboka. As if the set-piece hammering wasn’t enough, he rubbed salt in the wounds by sitting Hunt down with one of his bashing carries. Must’ve been a strong contender for the Man of the Match honors.

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.