Super Rugby Round 11: Team of the Week & More

Man of the Match

Chiefs vs Force:         Brodie Retallick
Brumbies vs Highlanders:               David Pocock
Crusaders vs Blues:                      Nemani Nadolo
Waratahs vs Rebels:                      Michael Hooper
Lions vs Cheetahs:                          Ruan Combrinck
Stormers vs Bulls:                          Demetri Catrakilis
Reds vs Hurricanes:                         Ma’a Nonu


Team of the Week

15 James Marshall, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 David Pocock, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Best of the Week

Best Game:
Stormers vs Bulls – this was as closely as a Super Rugby game can resemble a Test match, and having 45,872 spectators in attendance helped create the Test-like atmosphere.

Team Performance:
Hurricanes – who came from 12-3 down to beat the Reds 35-19

Player:
David Pocock (Brumbies)

Back:
Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes)

Forward: 
Warren Whiteley (Lions)

Tries:
Best try from a set piece:
Waratahs (20^th minute) – a perfectly executed planned move from a lineout, putting Michael Hooper into space to cut the defence, from where Adam Ashley-Cooper scored an excellent try.

Best try from a kick:
Chiefs (19^th minute) – initiating an attack inside their 22 from a restart kick by the Force, the Chiefs moved the ball wide right and then wide left for Charlie Ngatai (the 17^th pair of Chiefs hands in the movement) to round off neatly accurate passing and dynamic recycling.

Best individual try:
Tim Nanai-Williams for the Chiefs (66^th minute) – using wonderfully elusive feet plus pace, he scored a magic try when initially trapped on the touchline with three immediate defenders.