With the eighth round of Super Rugby now a thing of the past, it is time for us to work out which players shone over the weekend.
Lions wing Madosh Tambwe is our standout performer after his try-scoring heroics in his side's win over the Stormers while the Brumbies are the best represented team with four players in our side.
Super Rugby: Team of Round Eight
15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes): A constant threat from full-back, the New Zealand international was one of the Hurricanes’ better performers in a pretty mediocre team display. Scored the opening try and was prominent throughout, making 91 metres from 18 carries and two clean breaks. Will face plenty of competition for the All Blacks’ shirt but it will be difficult for boss Steve Hansen to leave him out of the June series against France on current form. Joaquin Tuculet did well in a disappointing Jaguares’ defeat but Barrett takes the position.
14 Manasa Mataele (Crusaders): Another outstanding Fijian wing, adding to an already long list of back three players from the Pacific Island nation making a significant impression in professional rugby. Mataele was superb for the defending champions as the New Zealand outfit dominated the Jaguares, touching down twice and running for over 100 metres. The Crusaders have plenty of options out wide but the 21-year-old may just have cemented his place.
13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks): A tough choice between the South African, Curtis Rona (Waratahs) and Am’s opposite number on Friday night, Vince Aso, but the Sharks man continued his fine start to the campaign by linking superbly with the outstanding Andre Esterhuizen. Crossed the whitewash twice and is putting himself firmly into South African contention for the upcoming June series against England.
12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks): So unfortunate to be on the losing side, Esterhuizen was arguably the standout performer in Round Eight. The centre was particularly dominant in the first half, taking excellent angles, off-loading impressively in contact and using his power to great effect. Esterhuizen has quickly become one of the Sharks’ most important individuals this year and he edged the personal duel with one of last season’s best players, Ngani Laumape, on Friday.
11: Madosh Tambwe (Lions): No Aphiwe Dyantyi? No problem for the Lions as Tambwe matched Ben Lam’s feat from last weekend and touched down four times. He scored a hat-trick in the first 13 minutes, the quickest ever in Super Rugby, and added to his tally in the second half. There was some stern competition, with George Bridge (Crusaders) and Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs) also impressing, but the South African simply demanded inclusion.
10 Ihaia West (Hurricanes): Ran the game, assisting four tries as he orchestrated the 'Canes backline expertly in their come-from-behind win over the Sharks in Napier. Kicked brilliantly, notching up four penalties and three conversions, racking up an impressive 18 points. Meanwhile, Damian Willemse continues to make a name for himself, beating 11 defenders and taking his try well as the Stormers went down to the Lions.
9 Jake Gordon (Waratahs): With Nick Pipps still sidelined through injury, Gordon has impressed for the Waratahs and grabbed two tries in a commanding display from the base of the ruck as his side put 50 on the Sunwolves. Also provided a slick service to his outside backs. Elsewhere, Louis Schreuder shone for the Sharks, scoring a fine solo effort to cap off an impressive all-round display before leaving the field late in the first half in Napier and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi also caught the eye for the Chiefs.
8 Isi Naisarani (Brumbies): Another impressive display from the hard-running Naisarani as he grabbed a try in each half, both efforts strong carries from 10 metres out in which he showed plenty of power and determination to carry himself over the line. Came away with 14 carries and eight hits and beats out Akira Ioane of the Blues.
7 David Pocock (Brumbies): One wouldn't think he had just returned from a lengthy layoff as the Wallaby fetcher produced an effervescent, buzzing performance. Inspired the troops to a famous comeback win with his leadership and bravery on the field. Made a team-high 16 tackles, some very telling carries and won some crucial turnovers.
6 Kwagga Smith (Lions): Played on the openside but we had to have him in our team after a brilliant all-round effort. Scored a fantastic individual try, brushing off Jano Vermaak, Steven Kitshoff and SP Marais with consummate ease to cap off another industrious performance. Smith made a team-high 22 tackles and beat four defenders. Edges out the Stormers' Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was phenomenal with ball in hand, beating 10 defenders from 19 carries for the opposition in the same match.
5 Franco Mostert (Lions): The Lions' stand-in skipper was one of the standout performers in Johannesburg and led from the front in his side's demolition of the Stormers. Was rewarded with a try for his efforts and eventually gained 26 metres from nine runs with two clean breaks and three defenders beaten. Tyler Ardron of the Chiefs also played well.
4 Rory Arnold (Brumbies): The Wallaby beanpole was involved in a superb duel with Reds counterpart Izack Rodda in Canberra but it's the Brumbies man who gets the nod for our team after a superb performance. Arnold was particularly impressive on attack and scored a memorable try. Eventually finished with 45 metres gained from 11 runs with two defenders beaten from two clean breaks as well as an offload. Also shone on defence with 11 tackles.
3 Wilco Louw (Stormers): He may have finished on the losing side against the Lions but the Stormers hardman showed why he gained his Springbok colours last year with another superb performance in Johannesburg. The 23-year-old stood up well in the scrums, made eight tackles on defence, carried well and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen of the Hurricanes also impressed against the Sharks.
2 Cody Taylor (Crusaders): The All Black number two delivered a busy shift as the champions put the Jaguares to the sword in Buenos Aires. Taylor was superb with ball in hand gaining 64 metres from six carries with two clean breaks and he also managed an offload. Also did well on defence with nine hits and beats out the Brumbies' Folau Fainga'a and Ricky Ricitelli of the Hurricanes.
1 Scott Sio (Brumbies): Another Brumbies' stalwart who makes our team after a superb effort at the coalface of his side's forward effort in Canberra. The Wallaby delivered a solid scrummaging effort but also did well on attack and gained 24 metres from 10 carries with one clean break and a defender beaten. Sharks' veteran Tendai Mtawarira was also in fine form.
