SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 1

Young guns Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cameron Hanekom stole the show in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship from a South African perspective, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Saturday’s matches involving local sides saw the Stormers hold off a spirited fightback from the Lions to leave Ellis Park with a 35-33 win and the Sharks go down 34-21 to defending champions Munster in Limerick.

The Bulls got their campaign off to a perfect start on Sunday with a 63-21 win over the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld and lead the way with eight players in our Team of the Week.

The Stormers have four representatives, while a pair of Lions and a Sharks star also made the grade.

15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

Back with a bang. Made a match-high 103 metres, showed his broken play genius to set up Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s second try in spectacular fashion, varied his play well and got massive distance with his kicks off both feet on the Highveld.

14: Werner Kok (Sharks)

Robust, physical and a ball of energy. Great back-tracking tackle on Jack O’Donoghue and immediately popped back up to his feet to win a turnover, vital tackle on Shane Daly, good stepping and offloading, broke tackles and scored a well-earned try.

13: David Kriel (Bulls)

Had a busy, influential afternoon on both sides of the ball. Played with a great degree of confidence and scored the pick of the Bulls’ nine tries.

12: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers) – Player of the Week

Showed why he’s a future Springbok with a magnificent Man of the Match performance. Great soccer skills as he stabbed through a loose ball, dribbled and popped the pill up to score the first of his two tries, landed two long-range penalty goals and his classy chip and re-gather led to Herschel Jantjies’ try.

11: Wandisile Simelane (Bulls)

A late inclusion after Stravino Jacobs was forced out, Simelane made the most of the opportunity. In the thick of the action from the start, good tackle fight in the build-up to the Bulls’ opening try and scored one of his own.

10: Clayton Blommetjies (Stormers)

Looked like a lifelong flyhalf in how comfortable and clinical he was in the role. Delivered in every aspect – taking the ball to the line, creating opportunities, getting his backline away, kicking well out of hand and slotting all his shots at goal.

9: Embrose Papier (Bulls)

Quick and crisp with his service, executed a classy 50:22 and showed his speed to slice through and tee up Stedman Gans for his first try.

8: Cameron Hanekom (Bulls)

A dream debut for the 21-year-old, scoring a brace and earning the Man of the Match award. Did well to stay in and score an early try and showed his power and desire to rumble over for his second from the back of a scrum.

7: Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

Physically dominant. Busted a number of tackles, steamrolled Scottish international Dan Davis, came close to scoring a few times and had a try assist for Grobbelaar.

6: Ruan Venter (Lions)

The blue-chipper led the Lions’ fightback off the bench, scoring a try and charging for a team-high 55 metres.

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

The Bulls co-captain was prominent from the get-go, getting onto the scoresheet after just three minutes. Provided deft touches, had a hand in Johan Grobbelaar’s try, made a try-saving tackle on Dan Davis and poached a lineout on his 5m line.

4: Ruan Vermaak (Bulls)

Dominated the lineout, including picking off a Scarlets’ ball in his 22 in the first half and a second in the 54th minute, delivered a great chicken-wing offload to Kriel for his try and single-handedly turned the ball over with strong counter-rucking.

3: Ruan Dreyer (Lions)

Blew away Kwenzo Blose at scrum time, winning a string of penalties. His replacement Asenathi Ntlabakanye was huge as well and one of the key men in the fightback effort.

2 Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

Ate TomRogers for lunch and immediately got back up to win a turnover, broke from the ensuing lineout drive and put Hanekom in for his first tryHanH, scored one himself, polished in the set pieces, offloaded and made a rib-rattling hit on Shaun Evans.

1: Lizo Gqoboka (Stormers)

A game changer on debut for his new team. Coming on after just 24 minutes, he not only shored up but turned the tables at scrum time, which provided the platform for the Stormers to pull away in the second and third quarters.

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.