Super Rugby Round 3 Review - Team Of The Week And More

Man of the Match

Here are my selections. How did you gauge the players’ performances?

Highlanders vs Reds:   Will Genia
Force vs Hurricanes:   Julian Savea
Cheetahs vs Blues:   Joe Pietersen
Chiefs vs Crusaders:   Sonny Bill Williams
Rebels vs Brumbies:   Jarrad Butler
Bulls vs Sharks:   Patrick Lambie
Lions vs Stormers:   Demetri Catrakilis

Team of the Week

It’s always a difficult to compare the performances of players who have participated in what may be very different games and conditions. Here’s my selection for Round 3, with players from 10 of the 14 teams which played this weekend.

15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

The Best of Round 3

Game:
Bulls v Sharks – a high standard of rugby from both teams in an absorbing and exciting contest

Team Performance:
Chiefs – a five tries to one win over the Crusaders

Player:
Julian Savea – he showed again that he can turn a game on its head with his breath-taking skills

Back:
Sonny Bill Williams – he does things which other players wouldn’t even try to do

Forward:
Jerome Kaino – heroic in defeat

Try:
Julian Savea – Hurricanes v Force 64^th minute: receiving a pass close to the touchline just inside the Force half, with little space and three defenders having him covered, he beat the defence through pace and skill to score 50 metres away.