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SA URC Team of the Week – Round 13

Siya Kolisi led the way on a weekend that yielded three wins for the four South African teams in the United Rugby Championship, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Lions were the unfortunate ones left to wonder what could have been as they succumbed 20-17 to Cardiff in the Welsh capital on Friday night.

The rest of the local franchises claimed vital victories on Saturday. The Sharks and the Bulls both needed last-gasp kicks at goal to avoid defeat, the Durbanites edging Zebre 35-34 at Kings Park and the men from Pretoria pipping log leaders Leinster 21-20 at Loftus Versfeld to end the Irish giants’ unbeaten streak. Finally, the Stormers turned it on in Llanelli to score a 29-17 win.

Making up our Team of the Week are five Sharks, four Bulls, four Stormers and a pair of Lions.

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15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

A hit-or-miss player and boy was he on the money. At his playmaking peak with key touches in his team’s first two tries among his attacking contributions, while he did good work on the defensive end as well, including winning three turnovers.

14: Richard Kriel (Lions)

Sebastian de Klerk’s name was pencilled in before he nearly cost the Bulls the game with his senseless red card for taking Tommy O’Brien out in the air, opening the door for the solid Kriel to walk through.

13: David Kriel (Bulls)

The other Kriel brother ran hard, created a try-scoring opportunity with a clean break and was the Bulls’ hero with his clutch match-winning penalty goal.

12: Ethan Hooker (Sharks)

Grew into the game and seized the moment when it mattered most. Blasted would-be tackler Giovanni Montemauri backwards, showed his versatility by moving to the wing seamlessly and finished fantastically at the death.

11: Leolin Zas (Stormers)

Did a lot of work off his wing, scored a ripper of a try from a lineout move and snatched a crucial intercept to relieve pressure with three minutes to go. Finished with a team-high three clean breaks and 70 metres.

10: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

The newly crowned South African Young Player of the Year showed his class as he put on a Man of the Match performance in his first game back from a long injury layoff. 

9: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)

On an underwhelming weekend as far as local scrumhalves were concerned, Hendrikse was the best of the bunch with his balanced effort.

8: Siya Kolisi (Sharks)

A quality Man of the Match performance. Got his team off to the perfect start with a fourth-minute try and provided the spark to get them back in the lead with a superb solo score. Led his team with successful carries (8) and defenders beaten (4), strong on defence and his leadership helped the Durbanites dodge a bullet.

7: Ruan Venter (Lions)

A relentless force with ball in hand, making an unrivalled 11 successful carries. Such power and determined leg drive, it often took more than one defender to take him down. Dominant tackle forced an important turnover in the 55th minute as well.

6: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)

Pure physicality. The Bulls captain provided his team with no-nonsense grunt and go-forward and led by example on defence, making a team-high 11 tackles, including a big hit on Jordie Barrett.

5: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)

The Stormers get so much out of their unsung hero on a weekly basis and Round 13 was no different. The mobile second-rower with his massive motor made an unrivalled 16 tackles and was good in the set pieces.

4: Ruan Vermaak (Bulls)

Solid across the board. A try-saving tackle on Jimmy O’Brien highlighted his busy day in open play while he put a lot of pressure on Leinster’s lineout and poached one on their throw in the 36th minute.

3: Mornay Smith (Bulls)

A super-sub showing the big man will never forget. Scored the try that got the Bulls back into the game and put on a scrummaging masterclass, including earning the penalty that won it for the men from Pretoria.

2: Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)

Accurate and powerful, what every coach wants from their hooker. The Sharks’ lineout ran flawlessly thanks to his pinpoint precision and his power was felt in the scrums and on defence. 

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Awesome all-around. Dominated in the scrums and mightily impressive in general play with his powerful carries and soft touches, including his slick pass in the lead-up to Jurenzo Julius’ try. Also made a good cover tackle that led to a turnover.

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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.

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