Rugby Championship Round One Team Of The Week
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As the dust settles on a stellar opening weekend of the Rugby Championship, we pick our team of the week.
The Springboks claimed an impressive victory over the All Blacks, their first on South African soil in eight years.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies overturned a 19-10 deficit to thrash Los Pumas 26-41 and go top of the table after round one.
1. Steven Kitshoff - South Africa
A telling contribution from the bench earns Kitshoff a place in our side. He was excellent in the scrums, strong defensively and a pest at the breakdown.
Bubbling under: James Slipper (Australia)
2. Malcolm Marx - South Africa (PLAYER OF THE WEEK)
Our player of the week, Marx, was exceptional in his 50th test appearance for the Springboks. He made five turnovers in the match, three better than any other player in round one.
Bubbling under: Folau Faingaa (Australia)
3. Frans Malherbe - South Africa
Malherbe completes an all-South African front row. The Bok tighthead produced another stellar performance in the set pieces and was dominant at the breakdown, particularly when counter-rucking.
Bubbling under: Francisco Gomez-Kodela (Argentina)
4. Eben Etzebeth - South Africa
Etzebeth continues to stand out for the Springboks, producing another brutally effective. Although it wasn't a blockbuster outing for the Springbok veteran, it was still at an incredibly high standard that no other lock matched.
Bubbling under: Tomas Lavanini (Argentina)
5. Darcy Swain - Australia
A brilliantly abrasive and workmanlike performance from Swain. Returning to the starting lineup after his suspension, he showed just how impactful he could be.
He was excellent in the set pieces and all facets of the game.
Bubbling under: Franco Mostert (South Africa)
6. Juan Martin Gonzalez - Argentina
A close call between Gonzalez and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi but the Argentine gets the nod after making the second most tackles this weekend (12); he scored a try and won two turnovers.
Bubbling under: Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
7. Fraser McReight - Australia
Elevated to the starting lineup after Michael Hooper's withdrawal from the tour, McReight stepped up to the plate and served the iconic Wallabies' no.7 jersey no disservice.
He scored a try, tackled superbly, was a pest at the breakdown and produced a performance that Hooper would be proud of.
Bubbling under: Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
8. Pablo Matera - Argentina
One of the closest calls in our team of the week, with Jasper Wiese and Pablo Matera producing excellent performances.
There isn't much separating the pair; Wiese topped the carry and tackle count for the Boks, Matera was joint-second on the tackle count for Los Pumas, topped the carry count for his side and scored a try.
A notable mention for Rob Valetini, who was also outstanding, as was Ardie Savea. A good weekend for the no.8s results aside.
Bubbling under: Jasper Wiese (South Africa)
9. Nic White - Australia
A hat tip for Jaden Hendrikse, who enjoyed a stellar outing for the Springboks after Faf de Klerk's injury but in the end, it is the Wallabies 'scrummy' who gets the nod.
A try assist topped off a standout performance that included pinpoint kicking and excellent service.
Bubbling under: Jaden Hendrikse (South Africa)
10. Handre Pollard - South Africa
Pollard stepped up and controlled the Springbok attack well, with his halfback partner leaving the pitch early. His tactical kicking was on point, and while he did have a few hiccups, he was still the best flyhalf this weekend.
Bubbling under: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
11. Marika Koroibete (Australia)
Another busy performance from the Wallabies' winger who went hunting for work.
He edges the other hardworking winger, Makazole Mapimpi, for a place in the side. Koroibete had 16 involvements on the attack (9 carries, 7 passes), completed four offloads and his work rate until the final minute meant the Wallabies ended the match with a bonus point.
Caleb Clarke made the crucial break to set up the All Blacks' only try, but Kurt-Lee Arendse managed to keep the speedster quiet for most of the game.
Bubbling under: Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)
12. Damian de Allende - South Africa
De Allende's performance flew under the radar due to the brilliance of Lukhanyo Am and Malcolm Marx, but the Springbok centre was on top of his game against the All Blacks.
He was defensively sound, abrasive as ever with the ball in hand and comfortably got the upper hand over David Havili.
Bubbling under: Hunter Paisami (Australia)
13. Lukhanyo Am - South Africa
Another stellar performance from the Springboks' talisman Lukhanyo Am. He brilliantly offloaded the ball to Kurt-Lee Arendse to set the winger up for his first test try, but involvements stretched far further.
He was outstanding as ever on defence, excellent at the breakdown, and just about every involvement he had in the game was outstanding.
Bubbling under: Len Ikitau (Australia)
14. Jordan Petaia - Australia
Had it not been for Kurt-Lee Arendse's red card, he may have been in the team after a strong outing against the All Blacks and their abrasive winger Caleb Clarke.
Petaia was excellent for the Wallabies; he scored a try and gained over 50 running metres making two clean breaks.
Bubbling under: Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa)
15. Damian Willemse - South Africa
Willemse is starting to make the fullback jersey his own despite the crucial impacts from Willie Le Roux in the latter stages.
He made what should have been a try-saving tackle on Caleb Clarke, only for Frizell to score from the next ruck. He was sound under the high ball and a threat each time he touched the ball.
He narrowly beats Juan Cruz Mallia to a spot in our team.
Bubbling under: Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina)
