Rugby Championship Team of Round Two

Rugby Championship Team of Round Two

Round two of the Rugby Championship saw the Springboks score a late try to draw with the All Blacks while the Wallabies' pack powered through Argentina to claim a 16-10 victory in a dull affair.

Here is our team of the week from the second round of the Championship.

1. Scott Sio - Australia

 

Massive on his return to the Wallabies front row having missed the Springbok test. Scrummed well, carried strongly and had a well-rounded game.


Both the Springbok looseheads, Steven Kitshoff & Tendai Mtawarira, were in the mix but Sio just gets the nod.

2. Codie Taylor - New Zealand 


One of the better All Blacks on Saturday as he got through all of his work with little fuss and was accurate in everything he did. His replacement, Dane Coles, was just as impactful creating an intriguing selection headache for the All Blacks. 

3.  Trevor Nyakane - South Africa

Not a particularly great weekend for tightheads this weekend with Frans Malherbe and Owen Franks having below par games in the starting line up while Figallo struggled against the Wallabies.

Our selection came down to the two Wallaby tightheads, Kepu and Tupou, and Nyakane with all three players making quite an impact around the park. However, it was Nyakane's anchoring of the scrum and reclaiming of dominance in the set-piece, at a time when the All Blacks looked to have gained an upper hand, that saw him claim the #3 jersey.

4. Guido Petti - Argentina

Petti just edges the likes of Retallick and Etzebeth for a place in the side with the former leaving the pitch with an injury while the latter was given a rest after a full 80 in Johannesburg a week later.

Petti ran the lineout superbly for the Pumas, who were without Creevy for the clash, and was among the top tacklers in the clash making 14 tackles.

5. Sam Whitelock - New Zealand

A comfortable performance from the veteran All Black sees him beat Rory Arnold and Franco Mostert for a place in the side.

He was a crucial cog in the Kiwi lineout that caused all kinds of problems for the Springboks and had his usual high work rate hitting multiple rucks.

 

6. Pieter-Steph du Toit - South Africa

Another stellar game from the Springbok blindside flanker who finished the game against the All Blacks with the joint second-highest tackle count (14).

Du Toit was all over the pitch in Wellington and was immense in the contact areas and followed the play superbly. 

7. Matt Todd - New Zealand

A close call between Todd, Kwagga Smith and Michael Hooper with the trio all enjoying great performances over the weekend.

However, the All Black takes the jersey after a stellar defensive game paired with an equally strong attacking game.

He made 14 tackles, one short of Smith's tally, and racked up 20 running metres from four carries and forced a turnover.

8. Facundo Isa - Argentina

Isa returned to test rugby with a bang as he was Argentina's go-to man on the carries making an astounding 17 carries.

Duane Vermeulen also had a strong game in a hard-working Springbok back row but Isa edges the new Springbok captain.

Isa made 32 running metres beating 5 defenders and came up with his side's only try. 

9. Will Genia - Australia

Genia signed off at his beloved Suncorp Stadium in style producing a man of the match performance in an otherwise dull affair.

It was a trademark Genia performance with accurate kicks, passes and some attacking flair which saw him beat Faf de Klerk and TJ Perenara for a place in our side.

10. Christian Leali'ifano - Australia

Another test returnee makes our team of the week with Leali'ifano putting a solid shift for the Wallabies which ultimately led them to their first win over the year.


Handre Pollard was excellent from the tee for the Boks and had moments of brilliance but he had just as many fading moments in the game while Richie Mo'unga had an up and down game for the All Blacks.

11. Marika Koroibete - Australia

Only Ramiro Moyano made more running metres than the Wallabies winger in the clash at Suncorp but Koroibete played a crucial role in the Wallabies win earning him a place in our side over the Puma.

He made a crucial break for one of the Wallabies' tries and was brilliant for Australian.

12. Jeronimo de la Fuente - Argentina

A solid rock in the defence for the Argentines and caused all kinds of issues for the in form Samu Kerevi causing the Wallaby centre to have a hot and cold evening.

De la Fuente's performance, particularlly on defence, sees him beat Damian de Allende and Sonny Bill Williams for a place in the side. 

The Springbok had a busy 50 minutes for South Africa but was guilty of not shifting the ball enough while Williams looked to have forced things at times but did produce a nice bit of play in the build up to Goodhue's try.

 

13. Jack Goodhue - New Zealand

It could have gone either way for the #13 jersey with both Goodhue and Lukhanyo Am having good games for their respective sides with the latter strangely substituted with 30 minutes left to play.

Goodhue was excellent on attack making over 50 running metres, in a clash were metres were hard to come by, and beat a game high of seven defenders.

14. Cheslin Kolbe - South Africa

Arguably the performer of the round as he kept Rieko Ioane quiet for a full 60 minutes before the All Blacks' superstar was replaced for George Bridge.

The pocket rocket winger made a massive 13 tackles and set up the draw clinching try for Herschel Jantjies.

Kolbe amassed 46 running metres and beat three defenders in a performance that will surely boost his starting ambitions in Japan in a few months time.




15. Beauden Barrett - New Zealand

 

The Wallabies looked far better with Kurtley Beale at fullback this weekend but the All Blacks' experimentation of sticking Beauden Barrett at fullback earns him a place in the side.

Barrett misfired from the tee but he did enjoy the extra space afforded to him in the fullback position as he racked up 87 running metres beating 6 defenders and set up Jack Goodhue's try with his sheering pace down the wing.




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