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Team of the Week - Round 5

Monday, March 15 The SARugby.com Team of the Week for Round 5 of the 2010 Super 14 has been selected.  Some great performances from the Stormers and Bulls means there's a strong South African flavour to the TotW this week.

Fullback: Israel Dagg (Highlanders)

Dagg looked for work throughout the 80 minutes and was rewarded with a rare hat-trick against the Bulls at Loftus. He is growing in stature every week and is definitely a player of the future.

Right Wing: Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers)

The big Fijian flyer is in great form which has been a pleasant surprise for the Newlands faithful. If he can keep it up they just might forgive him for ‘that tackle’ in last year’s Currie Cup semi-final.

Outside Centre: Jaque Fourie (Stormers)

In a word, class. Fourie is a defensive organiser of note and deserves a lot of credit for the way the backline has defended this season. He was also brilliant on attack, running hard and creating space for support runners. He demonstrated his power when he took on three defenders and still managed to dot down in the dying stages of the match.

Inside Centre: Berrick Barnes (Waratahs)

Barnes enjoyed his best game in Waratahs’ colours yet against the Lions. He had strong competition from his direct opponent Doppies La Grange and Brumbies No 12 Christian Lealiifano, but his well rounded performance – strong running, playmaking and accurate kicking – saw him take the honours.

Left Wing: Drew Mitchell (Waratahs) - Player of the Week

Mitchell gifted the Lions a try when he failed to dot down in his in-goal area but he raked up four tries of his own in a busy outing. His second try in particular was a real gem when he cut into the line and stepped three defenders to score under the posts.

Flyhalf: Quade Cooper (Reds)

Cooper is really coming into his own this season and has been key to the Reds’ success thus far. It was no different in round five as Cooper and halfback partner Will Genia steered the Reds to a handsome victory over the Western Force.  Morne Steyn and Peter Grant are both deserving of a spot in this team, but lose out to the slightly more flamboyant performance from the in-form Reds man.

Scrumhalf: Kahn Fotuali’i (Crusaders)

Fotuali’i was instrumental in the Crusaders narrow away win over the Chiefs, scoring a brace and providing quick, crisp ball to the backline. Will Genia had another strong game on Sunday morning, but Fotuali’i pipped the Reds captain to the post in round five.

Eighthman: Pierre Spies (Bulls)

As if to say thanks for warming my place Ryan Kankowski, the Bulls juggernaut returned from injury and physically dominated against the Highlanders in a man of the match performance in which he scored two tries.

Blindside Flank: Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)

The Wallaby captain takes advantage of a rest week for Juan Smith to sneak to the top of the No 7 heap with a typical robust performance.

Openside Flank: Schalk Burger (Stormers)

Schalk Burger is clearly revelling in the leadership role at the Stormers and is putting in his best ever performances for the men from Cape Town.  Burger is playing like a man possessed and reminds one more of the Schalk Burger of the Springboks than the normally more subdued Schalk of the Stormers.

Lock: Andries Bekker (Stormers)

Bekker is thé inform lock in the competition. He was once again a banker in the lineout, a menace around the park and a human wrecking ball with ball in hand.

Lock: Dean Mumm (Waratahs)

The Wallaby midweek captain was outstanding in the No 4 jersey for the Waratahs against the Lions. He was solid in the set pieces, made a number a strong runs and did well to hold onto a Carlos Spencer chip and run in a 35m try.

Tighthead Prop: Brok Harris (Stormers)

The tubby tighthead prop was once a source of ridicule in the front row, but no longer.  He continues to grow into one of the best tightheads around and looks to have a long career ahead of him at the heart of the Stormers scrum.

Hooker: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)

Bismarck du Plessis and Gary Botha were strong contenders for the No 2 jersey, but Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau’s hard running and exemplary work in the set pieces set him apart in round five.

Loosehead Prop: Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

It’s not everyday you see a prop score a brace. For that reason alone Alexander would’ve made the team of the week but he also pulled his weight in the set pieces and showed a good work rate.

Jorrie Muller Award: Tamati Ellison (Hurricanes)

Ellison had a nightmare of a match against the Stormers that was fully worthy of a Jorrie Muller award. Perhaps he was thinking of what his new life would be like after signing for a Japanese club earlier in the week. Whatever it may have been, the All Black utility back just could not catch the ball, whether it was a pass or a high ball, he coughed them all up.

1. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
3. Brok Harris (Stormers)
4. Dean Mumm (Waratah)
5. Andries Bekker (Stormers)
6. Schalk Burger (Stormers)
7. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)
8. Pierre Spies (Bulls)
9. Kahn Fotuali’i (Crusaders)
10. Quade Cooper (Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (Waratahs)
13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers)
14. Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers)
15. Israel Dagg (Highlanders)

16. Gary Botha (Bulls)
17. Owen Franks (Crusaders)
18. Victor Matfield (Bulls)
19. George Smith (Brumbies)
20. Will Genia (Reds)
21. Dan Carter (Crusaders)
22. Digby Ioane (Reds)

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