Rainbow Cup SA Team of the Week – Round 2

It should come as no surprise that our Rainbow Cup SA Team of the Week is packed with Sharks and Bulls stars, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Sharks delivered in Durban, where they kicked off the second round of the competition with a convincing 34-26 bonus-point victory on Saturday.

Rainbow Cup SA Team of the Week – Round 1

The spotlight then shifted to Cape Town for the evening encounter between the Stormers and the Bulls, which proved to be a typically intense and physical North-South derby, with the visitors coming away with a 20-16 win.

As a result, there a seven Sharks and six Bulls in our side, with just a lone shining light each from the Lions and Stormers making the cut.

15: Damian Willemse (Stormers)

All four starting fullbacks were fantastic in their own right. Aphelele Fassi was lethal with his hot-stepping, most dazzlingly breaking Wandisile Simelane’s ankle, EW Viljoen sparked a try out of nothing with a nifty break and offload while David Kriel’s positional play was superb. However, with his rookie halfback pairing struggling, Willemse stepped up and took on added responsibility on top of standing strong under the high ball and being dangerous with ball in hand.

14: Madosh Tambwe – Player of the Week

Turned defence into attack with a scorching run, streaking down his wing and stepping two defenders to dive over (time-stamped below) and doubled down when he collected a deft chip from Morné Steyn. Made a try-saving tackle on Paul de Wet and his constant pursuit for work saw him win a turnover just outside his own 22.

Focusing On the Bulls-Eye

13: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

Dished up a display of skillful intelligence. A momentum maker with silky smooth offloads, which he complemented with clever grubbers and even got involved in a driving maul try. Defensively, he won a turnover and made an unrivalled 16 hits. Showed just how effective top-tier tackling technique can be with a dominant hit on Vincent Tshituka and beauties on Morné van den Berg and the gigantic Asenathi Ntlabakanye in quick succession.

12: Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)

Key players make key plays at key moments and that’s exactly what the evergreen Bulls veteran did when he started a wave with a scything break that flowed and flowed until Tambwe touched down for his second try, which gave the visitors the half-time lead. That said, he was a force to be reckoned with throughout and provided more inspiration with a great low tackle on Dan du Plessis.

11: Yaw Penxe (Sharks)

On a day where the ball went twice as much to the right as to the left, Penxe did an exemplary job with his enthusiastic output. Above all, he was outstanding in the air, acrobatically competing for and regaining a couple of kicks after having put himself in perfect positions with determined chasing.

10: Morné Steyn (Bulls)

The wily veteran played a pivotal role in sinking the Stormers with his tactical proficiency. Controlled proceedings while rookie opponent Abner van Reenen endured a baptism of fire on the unforgiving North-South derby stage. Reminded many he still has the most educated boot in the country with pinpoint kick-passes to Tambwe and a brilliant banana kick touch-finder with no angle to work with.

9: Embrose Papier (Bulls)

Helped Steyn steer the ship from the base. Good accuracy and hang time on his box kicks and got solid distance with his clearance kicks. Jaden Hendrikse, meanwhile, injected speed and excitement when he came on off the bench – impact summed up by a brilliant break inside his own 22, interplay with Sbu Nkosi and a classy touch-finder in the Lions’ 22, all in one seamless sequence.

8: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)

A top-class complete performance that’ll particularly bolster his chances of a Springbok return. As a player known for his attacking prowess in free-flowing games, this was a timely all-round display, complete with a maul turnover (holding up PJ Botha) and lineout steal. Evan Roos impressed as well and scored a good try that saw him evade four Bulls.

7: Henco Venter (Sharks)

An ironman effort. A battering ram that hit the stuffing out of the Lions with no letting up. Somehow had the same overwhelming intensity and force in the dying stages as he had at the start. Pieter-Steph du Toit also had an outstanding outing. Relentlessly cleaned out rucks, made big kick-chase plays and almost scored a match-winning try.

6: Siya Kolisi (Sharks)

A howler of a handing error aside, MJ Pelser had a performance to be proud of. Worked hard on both sides of the ball, showing impressive pace to help put André Warner in for a try in one of his seven carries and made 11 tackles. Kolisi was colossal on defence, which would’ve pleased the Springbok brass. Made 13 tackles including stopping Carlu Sadie in his tracks and a crucial hit on Dan Kriel.

South Africans Overseas XV – 2021

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

Reniel Hugo continued his sterling start to the tournament with another immense performance. However, the masterful way the Bulls disrupted the Stormers’ lineout was so instrumental in the flow and outcome of the clash in Cape Town. Nortje spearheaded that charge and with the men from Pretoria down to 14 men and under pressure in their own territory, it was their standout No.5 lock who sealed the deal with one last lineout steal.

4: Ruben Schoeman (Lions)

“Mr Do It All” for the toothless Lions. Took just about every single lineout, carried relentlessly (a pack-high 11 charges) and made good metres with great determination. Showed off his ball skills as well with a chicken-wing offload that sparked Francke Horn’s try. Edged Walt Steenkamp due to the sheer weight he had to carry on his shoulders.

3: Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Frans Malherbe did school young Gerhard Steenekamp in the scrums but it wasn’t the bloodbath many expected. Du Toit was dominant at scrum time and huge in general play as well. Threw his weight around on defence, made some powerful carries and did well to stretch over for a memorable try (time-stamped below).

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

His red scrum cap popped up everywhere…like a laser beam being shone down from the coach’s box. In the middle of the action at the gain line and showed mongrel in the rucks and mauls. Accuracy in the lineout was especially evident due to the Stormers’ waywardness. Fez Mbatha made a good impression, too, especially on defence, despite conceding a yellow card.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Massive in every sense. Built a head of steam with his first scrum penalty in the 14th minute and was a runaway freight train from thereon out, dominating the set-piece and making plenty of barnstorming ball carries. Showed his soft hands as well, most memorably putting Hugo into a hole with a deft offload that resulted in his fellow prop’s try.