Rugby Championship Team of the Week - Round 4

Rugby Championship Team of the Week - Round 4

Two shock results in the Rugby Championship with the Springboks and Los Pumas making history with away wins over the All Blacks and Wallabies respectively. 

Understandably our Team of the Week is dominated by these two sides but there are a few All Blacks and Wallabies included.

1. Steven Kitshoff - South Africa

Two rare starts consecutively for Kitshoff - especially with Best Mtwarira fit - and the red-headed loosehead did repaid Rassie Erasmus' faith in him.

He made 15 tackles in just over an hour and was solid at scrum time against Owen Franks. 


2. Malcolm Marx - South Africa

Codie Taylor can feel hard done by this week after yet another strong performance in the #2 jersey.


However, Marx's open play gives him the edge with the Springbok putting in a number of thunderous hits and was his usual self at the breakdown.

His lineouts are still a bit of an concern otherwise another brilliant outing.

3. Santiago Medrano - Argentina

The 22-year-old was brought in to sure-up the Pumas scrum and he did just that and more.

He battled well against Scott Sio, who is no slouch, and made 11 tackles.

Frans Malherbe almost completed an all-Springbok front row.

4. Sam Whitelock - New Zealand

Regardless of the result Sam Whitelock never seems to have a bad game.

The test centurian was great at the lineout disrupting the Boks ball and had a couple of handy carries.

Eben Etzebeth could have snuck into the side if he was not substituted so early on.  

5. Franco Mostert - South Africa

Another tireless performance by the Springbok lock making a joint match-high of 24 tackles.

He was good at the lineout and was the man who dived on the loose ball after Damian McKenzie's knock on completing a full 80 minute performance.

6. Pablo Matera - Argentina

Matera was superb against the Wallabies and always seems to save his best performances for the big occasions. 

The Jaguares' captain weighed-in with 15 tackles, 7 carries and made a crucial break in the lead up to one of Los Pumas tries.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit - South Africa 

No man of the match was announced after the Springboks win over the All Blacks but if there was du Toit would be right on top of the list of contenders.

He was all over the pitch finishing the match with 24 tackles one of which was a brilliant try saver where he chased Anton Lienert-Brown down from the halfway line.

He was well rewarded with his efforts as the Boks holding onto their lead to win the match, reducing the big man to tears.

8. Warren Whiteley - South Africa

Whiteley's work rate was outshone by his fellow loose trio partner but Whiteley was just as superb. He made 20 tackles without missing and showed off his silky skills to assist Aphiwe Dyantyi for his second try.

He also led the side brilliantly when Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth were substituted and like du Toit also made a number of try-saving tackles.

Special mention to Kieran Read who tried his utmost to get his side back in the game making 26 carries, 7 more than any other player.

9. Faf de Klerk - South Africa

One of de Klerk's finest performances in a Springbok jersey. The live-wire halfback was strong in all facets of the game and out-performed one of the best halfbacks in the world.

Like a number of his fellow teammates, he made crucial tackles at key times for the Boks.

10. Nicolas Sanchez - Argentina

The Argentine maestro makes our team of the week yet again. Sanchez led marshalled his side to yet another historic victory.

He scored a try in the match and is the only player to score a try in all 4 rounds of the competition.

It's a really tough call on Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies who both shone for the Boks in Wellington. 

11. Aphiwe Dyantyi - South Africa

The Springbok flyer did brilliantly to score two tries against the All Blacks. He received a poor pass by Willie Le Roux and beat the last defender to score his first before he left Beauden Barrett trailing with a superb step to score his second.

Dyantyi also made a number of key cover tackles as the All Blacks looked to reclaim the lead. 

Rieko Ioane was also superb for the All Blacks, while Israel Folau was good on the wing for the Wallabies - despite his blunder.

12. Kurtley Beale - Australia

Beale may have been wearing the 10 jersey but played most of the match at 12 for the Wallabies.

He was one of the best Wallabies on the day, creating a number of chances that his side did not make the most of.

Handre Pollard was also strong in this channel for the Boks while de Allende started lively before he was replaced.

13. Anton Lienert-Brown - Cheslin Kolbe

Not a great weekend for outside centres this week with Lukhan Am going off early, while Reece Hodge and Matais Moroni barely seeing the ball.

Lienert-Brown tested the line a number of times and came extremely close to scoring but was denied by a superb cover tackle mentioned earlier.

Assisted a try for the All Blacks but was guilty for throwing a loose pass that Cheslin Kolbe picked off.

14. Cheslin Kolbe - South Africa

The pocket rocket Springbok made an immediate off the bench in the opening minutes of the second half.

He picked off Lienert-Brown's pass to score his first test try that gave the Springboks a healthy lead.

He also made a superb tackle on Rieko Ioane near the line and was strong on defence against the big All Black runners

Kolbe beats Ben Smith to a place in the side with Smith being arguably the best All Black back on the day.



15. Willie Le Roux - South Africa

It's not often that a player makes the team of the week after spending 10 minutes in the bin.

Le Roux gave the final pass to Dyantyi for his first pass and ripped the ball off Jordie Barrett to score.

He was solid at the back and his indescreation also delayed the All Blacks try which ultimately worked out for the Boks.

Dane Haylett-Petty was good at the back for the Wallabies as too was Boffelli with the Argentine nailing two long ranged penalties. 

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