Super Rugby Round 4: Team of the Week

Super Rugby Round 4: Team of the Week

1. Tendai Mtawarira 

A difficult choice at loosehead prop with Hurricanes no.1 Chris Eves putting a huge shift in for the Hurricanes, while JP Smith made a massive impact off the bench for the Reds but Springbok and Sharks veteran 'The Beast' was on top form against the Sunwolves.

He made 9 carries and 9 tackles making 38 metres, beating 3 defenders and won a turnover.

Contenders: Chris Eves & JP Smith

2. Akker van der Merwe


Another Sharks front rower makes it into our team of the week after a rare start against the Sunwovles. The lively hooker made 65 metres from 5 carries, beating 8 defenders and scored a fantastic try for his side.


Contenders: Augustin Creevy & Malcolm Marx

3. Taniela Tupou

The Reds tighthead continued his fantastic form for the Reds against the Bulls. He tore the Bulls scrum apart for the full 72 minutes he was on the pitch and carried the ball 8 times.

Contenders: Ofa Tu'ungafasi

4. Lood de Jager 

Another big shift from the Springbok second rower as he made 19, missing just one, carried the ball 10 times and won a turnover for the Bulls.

His lineouts were also exceptional as the Bulls failed to lose a single lineout throughout the game.

Contenders: Ruan Botha & Tom Staniforth

5. Tomas Lavanini 

The Jaguares second rower had a busy evening against the Waratahs making 10 carries and 10 tackles. 

He won one turnover for his side and put the Waratahs lineout under immense pressure stealing 2 of their throws.

Contenders: Marvin Orie & Richard Hardwick

6. Liam Squire

Squire dotted down for his first try of the season against the Stormers. He was also busy on defence making 12 tackles and slowed the Stormers ball down at ruck time.

Contenders: Lopeti Timani, Brad Shields, Roelof Smit

7. Marcus Kremer

The 20-year-old utility forward had  a massive game for the Jaguares as they won their first match of the season. 

He made 18 tackles and won one turnover, he also collected 35 running metres from his 3 carries.

Contenders: Micheal Hooper & Ardie Savea

8. Akira Ioane 

Ioane had another impressive match in the Blues jersey scoring his 4 try in 3 matches for side from Auckland. 

He carried the ball 10 times making 75 metres beating 10 defenders and added 6 carries and one turnover. 




Contenders: Amanaki Mafi & Nic de Jager

9. TJ Perenara

All the usual suspects performed well for their respective sides at scrumhalf this weekend with Aaron Smith and Will Genia both coming close to claiming a spot in our team of the week but TJ Perenara's game management agains the Crusaders sees him take the starting spot. 

Perenara was exceptional as the Hurricanes ran in 4 tries to beat the defending Super Rugby champions. 

Contenders: Aaron Smith & Will Genia 

10. Nicolas Sanchez

Sanchez was back to his best as the Jaguares claimed their first win of the 2018 Super Rugby season. 

The playmaker run a tidy shift for his side with some sublime passes and kept the Waratahs' defence guessing the whole game.

He also went over the line with a great dummy in the first half.

Contenders: Robert du Preez & Lima Sopoaga

11. Makazole Mapimpi

The Sharks winger scored two tries for the home side as they were able to pick up their first win of the season against the Sunwolves.

He made 122 metres, beating 7 defenders and collected 5 clean breaks. He also made all 6 of his attempted tackles.

Contenders: Aphiwe Dyantyi, Melanie Nanai

12. Andre Esterhuizen 

The Sharks centre topped the tackling charts this weekend making an enormous 23 tackles with a 100% completion rate. 

He was also deadly on attack making 50 metres from 4 clean breaks and beat 3 defenders.



Contenders: Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Samu Kerevi & Sonny Bill Williams

13. Rob Thompson

Rob Thompson makes our team of the week yet again after another fantastic showing against the Stormers.

The Maori All Black beat 7 defenders, made 92 running metres, collected 2 clean breaks and got a try assist. 

Contenders: Rieko Ioane & Matt Proctor

14. Waisake Naholo

The All Black winger was in fine form yet again this past weekend as he took the Stormers defence apart with every opportunity he was given. 

He scored a try, assisted another and was heavily involved in the build-up to a third. 

Contenders: Sebastian Cancelliere, Julian Savea & Jack Maddocks

15. Aiden Toua

The former Brumbies fullback edges Jordie Barrett and Joaquin Tuculet in our team of the week after an impressive outing against the Bulls. 

Toua was on the end of a fantastic counter-attack early in the second half that proved to be an important score in the context of the match. 

He also contested the high ball well with Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard putting him under real pressure with some fantastic up and unders.

Contenders: Jordie Barrett & Joaquin Tuculet 

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