SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 2

After coming up empty, local players have to settle for the consolation of being selected for our South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. 

South Africa’s “Big Four” were blacked out in the second round with life in Europe proving tough in these early stages. The Bulls were beaten 34-7 by clinical Connacht in Galway on Friday night, while Highveld neighbors the Lions suffered a similar fate at the same time in Llanelli, where they were lashed 36-13 by Scarlets. 

The coastal sides showed more fight on Saturday, especially the Stormers, who started like a house on fire in Limerick before fizzling out and succumbing 34-18 to Munster. The Sharks, in contrast, got off to a slow start at Scotstoun Stadium, where a late rally wasn’t enough to avoid a 35-24 loss. 

The Stormers and Bulls each have six players in our team, with a pair of Lions and a great white Shark completing our line-up.

15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

An awesome authority figure. On top of executing his primary duties with aplomb, kicking well out of hand, and having a few deft touches, he took over the restarts and goal-kicking roles from a misfiring Manie Libbok to add a penalty goal to the opening try he scored through good finishing. Added a sensational break in the 70th minute.

Warrick Gelant crashes through for a flawless finish on first try of the night! |

— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA)

14: Sergeal Petersen (Stormers)

No clear standout at No.14 it must be said, but you have to feel for the wingers as they were mostly reduced to robots chasing box kicks. Colonel Hendricks had good moments and his size is particularly handy on the heavy pitches. Petersen was the best of the bunch in the aerial battles and combined well with Gelant when the ball did come his way.

13: Ruhan Nel (Stormers)

Strong and skillful, the former Blitzbok brought his A-game to Thomond Park. Gelled well with Dan du Plessis and showed his sevens skills with his stylish try-assist for Leolin Zas (time-stamped below). Wandisile Simelane thrilled with his fancy feet in Llanelli, where he made two memorable runs and beat a match-high five defenders.

12: Harold Vorster (Bulls)

A backline of one. Ate up meters every time he trucked up the ball, pumping his legs in contact to drive well over the advantage line. Great determination, technique, and power. A shame the Bulls couldn’t do anything with the good ball their hard-working No.12 gave them.

11: Leolin Zas (Stormers) – Player of the Week

Precious few chances for the local wings across the board but the Stormers speedster grabbed his. Strong in contact and a lightning bolt in space. Sat down a defender early on and streaked in to score a thrilling try.

10: Jordan Hendrikse (Lions)

An assured all-around contributor. Fearless and confident in his abilities. Took the ball to the line well, making an early break into the 22 and another scything run and offload to Jaco Kriel. Dangerous attacking chip, good as a backstop under the high ball, abrasive on defence, and slotted all three of his kicks, two from long-range.

9: Zak Burger (Bulls)

Excellent show and go from a ruck to slice through and spark the Bulls’ try, got solid distance with his touch-finders, and applied excellent pressure on Connacht’s kickers, an area the men from Pretoria targeted well to force several charge-downs.

8: Evan Roos (Stormers) Player of the week

All over the place was the athletic marauder. Hailed as a “giant” by Warren Brosnihan in the SuperSport studio. Made a key tackle on Keith Earls and a try-saving intervention shortly before and after half-time. Carried like a man possessed, bossing the gain line battle and breaking tackles. With an unrivaled 18 runs and a 100% success rate on his 10 tackles, he’s our Player of the Week.

7: Arno Botha (Bulls)

Supplied sustained physicality and explosiveness as part of a back row that went to war. Got stuck in straight out of the shoot, quickly off to get stitched up, and jumped right back in. As strong as he started, his impact only grew as the minutes ticked away, and made two of his best surges in the second half.

6: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)

One of the “carry kings” of the Bulls (11 hit-ups) as he was called on commentary, his superhuman output is truly remarkable. It’s evident in his efficiency how valuable having experience of playing in the Northern Hemisphere is. As industrious as he was with the ball in hand, his defence was next level as he made a match-high 23 tackles, many of them rib-rattlers.

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

All four No.5s made strong cases but the Bulls workhorse won out based on his tireless endeavor in every aspect. Made nearly a dozen carries, 19 tackles – including a big hit on Jack Carty – and stole two lineouts. Pieter Jansen van Vuren and Ruben van Heerden put in work as well while Salmaan Moerat had a phenomenal first half but his yellow card was the turning point of the match.

4: Ruben Schoeman (Lions)

The iron fist of the tight five. Imposed his will on the Scarlets on both sides of the ball, powered over for a try from a meter out with one of his eight carries, and hit runners back with velocity. Defused danger with a vital breakdown penalty in his 22 in the 34th minute and solid in the lineouts and at the restarts. Pipped Le Roux Roets, who also grabbed a try.

3: Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Showed his Springbok class. Did donkey work, serving as a brick wall in the mauls and around the rucks. Prominent with his powerful ball carries, creating a scoring opportunity with a breakaway run and barging over for try while being a smashing machine in the scrums, where he earned the Sharks three points just before half-time.

2: Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)

A veteran’s innings with a bit of magic mixed in for good measure. Few front-rankers would’ve had the vision to throw the brilliant delayed pass he produced to put Libbok into a gap, which resulted in the opening try. Strong on defence, highlighted by a thudding hit on Mike Haley.

1: Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)

One of the players Jake White couldn’t have asked more from. Made a massive impression, busting through a double tackle to score the Bulls’ first URC try, winning a scrum penalty with a monster shove in the 24th minute and in the thick of the action in the trenches, where he on two turnovers. Edged Brok Harris, who made a cracking comeback for the Stormers.

Lizo Gqoboka needed no time at all to give a dream start against ? |

— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA)