SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 9

Both games went down to the wire, with the Stormers pipping the Bulls 13-8 in the north-south derby in Cape Town to keep their undefeated record intact, while the Pride snatched a last-gasp 23-22 win over the Sharks in Durban.

The games were so close that players on the losing side came away with the Man of the Match awards in both outings. It’s also why the Sharks have the most representatives in our Team of the Week with six, and why Jeandre Rudolph is our Player of the Week and one of three Bulls in our line-up.

Four Lions and a pair of Stormers complete our team.   

15: Quan Horn (Lions)

A key player for the Lions who keeps delivering top-class performances. Played a brilliantly balanced game, from evading defenders with his fast feet and playing teammates into gaps with perfectly timed passes to calculated kicks, dependable defence and even forcing a maul turnover.

14: Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks)

Sparked one of the Sharks’ tries with a slicing break and did exceedingly well to dribble a rolling ball and re-gather to score the go-ahead try. Great in the air as well, and slick grubber into touch on the Lions’ 22.

Edwill van der Merwe has some wheels 🤩🦈

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13: Erich Cronje (Lions)

The least heralded local No. 13 stood tall with solid, if not spectacular, work on both sides of the ball. This, while his competitors all committed costly errors.

12: Bronson Mills (Lions)

This was a massive test for the Lions youngster as he came up against a Springbok giant and captain of the Sharks on a big stage and passed with flying colours. A clinical, top-notch overall performance.

11: Grant Williams (Sharks)

A multi-talented class act, whose versatility proved huge as he seamlessly shifted from scrumhalf to the left wing to replace the injured Makazole Mapimpi in the 47th minute. Saved a try when he defused a dangerous grubber and earned the Man of the Match award.

10: Chris Smith (Lions)

With Springbok trio Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard and Jordan Hendrikse all in action, few would’ve expected Smith to be the best of the local flyhalves. Yet he was with his mature, no-thrills yet pivotal performance.

9: Embrose Papier (Bulls)

A late inclusion in the starting line-up after Paul de Wet was forced out with injury and turned out to be an ace up the Bulls’ sleeve as he had a stellar game. Two dangerous darts early on, pounced on a bungled ball and nearly scored, and kicked accurately to claim the Man of the Match honours.   

8: Jeandre Rudolph (Bulls) – Player of the Week

An all-action anomaly, Rudolph was the only non-Springbok in the Bulls’ starting pack and yet the best of the bunch. Never stopped working, seized three turnovers and put in a dominant hit on Salmaan Moerat.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Sharks)

A prominent ball carrier and tackler, who covered every blade of grass in a busy outing. Made an impact in the lineouts as well, most notably snatching one on the Lions’ throw on his 5m line in the 57th minute.

6: Siya Kolisi (Sharks)

He may be heading back to the Stormers, but Kolisi showed he’s not going to phone it in during the remainder of his time at the Sharks. Scored his fourth try in as many games, bumped off a few defenders and made some big hits.

5: JD Schickerling (Stormers)

The lineout/driving maul was the Stormers’ best weapon and Schickerling was the shot-caller. As clever as he is athletic, his set-piece prowess took its toll on the Bulls, while he also put in solid work across the park.

4: Jason Jenkins (Sharks)

A physical force, Jenkins was a hard man to get to the ground. Strong in the tight loose, scored a timely try just before halftime and put good pressure on the Lions’ lineout. 

3: Wilco Louw (Bulls)

Started with a barnstorming early carry but, as always, did his best work at scrum time. A brave Ali Vermaak stood his ground before his body gave in in the 21st minute. Louw went on to win two penalties from there, the second of which resulted in three points.

2: Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers)

With no clear standout, Venter got the nod for his accuracy in the set pieces, with the lineout proving to be central to the Capetonians’ close win, and mobility in open play.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Put in a quality 66-minute shift in his first game back from injury, which included winning a scrum penalty and conjuring up a vital jackal in his 22.