Super Rugby Round 7 Review - Team Of The Week & More

Man of the Match

Hurricanes vs Rebels: Callum Gibbins

Reds vs Lions: Warren Whiteley 

Chiefs vs Cheetahs: Sam Cane 

Highlanders vs Stormers: Waisake Naholo 

Waratahs vs Blues: Michael Hooper 

Sharks vs Force: Marco Wentzel

Bulls vs Crusaders: Handré Pollard
 

Team of the Week

15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Best of the Week

Best Game:
Bulls vs Crusaders – a superb game of rugby of skill and creativity, in stark contrast to the immediately preceding Sharks vs Force error-ridden encounter

Team Performance:
Bulls – showing they can do a lot more than rely on goalkicking. The Highlanders and Hurricanes performed excellently too.

Player:
Michael Hooper – brilliant yet again. Richie McCaw and David Pocock have some catching up to do to match Hooper’s contribution as openside flank.

Back:
Handré Pollard – what a contest it is going to be between him and Patrick Lambie for the Springbok 10 jersey

Forward: 
Warren Whiteley – again outstanding as number 8 and captain

Individual Try:
Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders vs Bulls 23^rd minute) – appeared hemmed in close to the touchline but scored through wonderful skill and power

Team Try:
Nick Phipps (Waratahs vs Blues, 8^th minute) – a perfectly executed set play from a back-of-the-lineout ball, passing the ball to their right, with decoy runners drawing defenders and Michael Hooper running a great angle from right to left and timing his inside pass to Nick Phipps perfectly