Saffas populate the TOW

JP, Kolbe, de Jongh ...again, Bismarck, Beast, Brussouw, Prinsloo all make the team. But most significant may be Jannie bubbling under.....I thought he really was a warrior at tighthead in a reduced pack.

 

15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders):

Even though their points all came from kicking, Smith's running and attack from the back tested the 'Canes on multiple occasions. Bubbling under: Israel Folau (Waratahs)  14 - JP Pietersen (Sharks): Fronted up manfully on defense when there was acres of space around him to contend with.Bubbling under: Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs)  13 - Juan de Jongh (Stormers): A potent force running off the shoulder of his bruising inside centre partner.Bubbling under: Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)  12 - Kurtley Beale (Waratahs): Back to his crisp, clean play-making best as he ran the game that devastated the Lions.Bubbling under: Damian de Allende (Stormers)  11 - Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers): A small man with a lion-heart that caused problems when he went forward as well as sent attackers packing. Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (Cheetahs)  10 - Bernard Foley (Waratahs): A faultless display from the flyhalf who might have had the door opened for Wallaby selection thanks to Cooper's injury. Bubbling under: Hayden Parker (Highlanders)  9 - Aaron Smith (Highlanders):  The All Black incumbent is maintaining his high standard of play often linking up with fellow Smith (Ben) to devistating effect.Bubbling under: Luke Burgess (Rebels)  8 - Johannes Prinsloo (Cheetahs): They call him Boom for a reason, absolute wrecking ball.Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)  7 - Michael Hooper (Waratahs): By far one of the purest openside flanks in the game at the moment.Bubbling under: Matt Hodgson (Force)  6 - Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs): The Brumbies were not ready for his influence on the game, was like having an extra player with all his energy.Bubbling under: Angus Cottrell (Force)  5 - Luke Jones (Rebels): Week in and week out he keeps giving Ewen McKenzie food for thought.Bubbling under: Kane Douglas (Waratahs)  4 - Will Skelton (Waratahs): The big man is becoming more valuable as his work rate increases around the park.Bubbling under: Etienne Oosthuizen (Sharks)  3 - Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes): He was all over the place, and for a big man it's even more impressive.Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)  2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): For a new captain, galvanizing his team in that situation deserves heaps of praise.Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)  1 - Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks): 100th game and one to remember for the Beast, not just the result but also his own set piece play as well as in the tight phases.Bubbling under: Ben Franks (Hurricanes)  

 That team of the week with de Jongh in it is an insult.....here is a far better reflection on reality.....de Jongh was not even the best SA 13......Sithole was

Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round 14

15 Israel Folau (Waratahs): Just because Folau didn't score a try doesn't mean he wasn't impressive. His hunger for work was enormous and he made 107 metres, beating four defenders and making two clean breaks and three offloads. He also laid Horne's second try on a platter. Credit to Mike Harris.

14 Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs): The former Blitzbokke star received a call-up to the Springboks training camp on Monday and it's easy to see why. His pace caused the Brumbies problems as Hendricks topped 50 metres. A mention for the excellent Tom Kingston of the Rebels.

13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): The soon-to-be All Blacks centre had another fine game in a tight contest against the Hurricanes. Fekitoa did the work in defence making 12 tackles but also beat five defenders going forward. Credit to Adam Ashley-Cooper after getting his first try of the season for the Waratahs.

12 Mitch Inman (Rebels): Underrated in the Rebels midfield, Inman was a workhorse on both sides of the ball as the Rebels defeated the Reds for the first time. Inman made ten tackles and 11 carries, beating a couple of defenders and supplying key offloads.

11 Rob Horne (Waratahs): Two tries for the Waratahs back in Sydney continued Horne's fine run of form, the first an absolutely beauty as he cut in and scythed through the defence. Four clean breaks, six defenders beaten and 106 metres made plus ten tackles; Horne was a machine.

10 Francois Steyn (Sharks): Tough to keep out Bernard Foley here but the enormity of Steyn's performance given the circumstances in Christchurch deserves praise. Down to 14-men for 50 minutes, Steyn kicked ten points, provided a brilliant assist and beat three defenders in a gritty outing.

9 Luke Burgess (Rebels): Was replaced after injuring his knee midway through the second half against the Reds in Brisbane but by then he had done enough to win his personal duel with Wallaby incumbent Will Genia. Burgess proved a handful on attack, gained 66 metres in the process and was rewarded with two tries, of which the first is a contender for the best five-pointer of the round. A mention for the Hurricanes' TJ Perenara.

8 Boom Prinsloo (Cheetahs): Victories against the Brumbies don't come cheap and Prinsloo's work rate was phenomenal, making a phenomenal 20 carries, beating five defenders in the process. A shout out too for Duan Vermulen.

7 Nizaam Carr (Stormers): Won the man-of-the-match award in the win over the Western Force after another hard-working display. Carr linked well with his back-line, made an impact at the breakdowns and was one of the Stormers' top defenders with 14 tackles made. A good allround display. A mention for Force tackle machine, Matt Hodgson, who made a whopping 17 hits! 

6 Tera Mtembu (Sharks): He started at openside in Christchurch but we're not too fussed about switching Mtembu since he essentially had play the role of both flankers in Jean Deysel's absence. And when Willem Alberts spent ten minutes in the bin, became a one-man back row! 

5 Stephan Lewies (Sharks): Perhaps the toughest pick of the week with a number of standout candidates. But possession was everything for the 14-Sharks and Lewies was a reliable line-out target, taking nine clean catches at line-out time. Mentions too for Michael Rhodes who made 16 tackles and took 10 line-outs as well as Joe Wheeler who made 18 hits. 

4  Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes): What a season Thrush is having for the 'Canes! We counted 12 times that he had his team going forward after carrying the ball. He also won six line-outs. A mention too for Ruan Botha.

3 Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes): Possesses the full skill-set. Toomaga-Allen made 30 metres from seven carries and produced 13 tackles, beating a couple of defenders along the way. 

2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies): First-rate as ever, Moore's late try gave the Brumbies hope of a fightback but it was too late. Still, Moore worked tirelessly and the Brumbies line-out was on song.

1 Toby Smith (Rebels): Narrowly edging out Ben Franks for this spot is his fellow Kiwi, who made 20 metres on the run in Brisbane and provided an as

 Francois Steyn at 10 is certainly a better call....he was immense. But de Jongh was good value....he was closely watched

Yep Frans was very good, loved his break and offload.......de Jongh was a non factor apart from the simple try.......for the rest he added little value. At least he only missed 1 tackle this week......not 50% of them

 Not selecting Tera Mtembu in that first team is a laugh. Also Aaron Smith was dominated by Perenara. Perenara was all over him and often caught him in position around the rucks and made his life hell at times. T he one occasion produced a try...No way can Aaron Smith be TOW scrummie in any team!

 This team of the week scenario is a farce.   It is done by journalists without regard to actual comprehensive performance analysis.   It is normally based on one incident in a latch - a player can bugger up badly for the rest, but that incident remains the deciding factor.  
One can look at all the games and they come up every week with the one-incident story.    That is why it is hard to believe the real value of the so-called TOW selections.
      

 Mike there are so often appaLling choices. Carr and Kolbe (Above Willie!!!!!!!) Also Carr man of the match! Extraordinary.

 Ha ha Mikey just say it bro..Your only issue is Frans at 10 ;-) That is what you speak of..Please, do spare a thought for Fransie and think of him as a Quarterback without his blockers. Fransie had to direct his team around the park without the insurance of his loosies..Not an easy thing to do but he stood up and made some damn fine decisions.
Look, he never beat the Lions with 14 men..He beat the Crusaders in Christchurch...That is more impressive than clowncunt remembering his logon password everyday!