As we enter the final few rounds of the regular season, every result becomes that much more crucial, especially for the 6 or 7 sides still battling to ensure qualification for the Quarter-Finals. This week, the Lions, Bulls, Cardiff, Connacht, Munster and Leinster all did what was required of them while Ulster and the Sharks, whose season is all but over now, could not. The Stormers and Glasgow are tussling for top spot but fell to sides they are expected to beat – their matchup next week will be crucial for playoff seedings.
Team of the Week
OB: Zekethelo Siyaya – Sharks (9 defenders beaten, 3 offloads, 12/14 carries across the gain line)
A dream debut for the teenage sensation. Just 4 months after he graduated high school, Siyaya was the standout performer for a lacklustre Sharks outfit away at the Ospreys. The Sharks, for some weeks now, have been error-strewn on attack. Siyaya, however, rose above the malaise and injected magic into the attack with nearly every touch of the ball. No player beat more defenders (9) and made more post-contact metres (79) across the round than him. A bright future lies ahead – 77 points
OB: Jacob Stockdale – Ulster (1 try assist, 8 defenders beaten, 2 line breaks, 2 line break assists)
Stockdale was part of a gallant, but ultimately futile, Ulster fight back. He contributed valiantly ball in hand showcasing both his play making and strike running skills. He was a menace to defenders, beating 8 Leinsterman. He made Zac Ward’s first try as he collected the ball on the drift, fixed the last man, before passing to his winger for an easy finish – 71 points
OB: Kyle Rowe – Glasgow (2 line breaks, 9 defenders beaten, 13/15 carries across the gain line)
Rowe was one of few who stood up and fought against a Lions side on searing form. He was, as usual, a threat whenever he was given the ball. He beat as many defenders as anyone else and broke the line twice – 68 points
CE: Alex Nankivell – Munster (2 try assists, 2 line breaks, 6 defenders beaten)
Nankivell was crucial to Munster’s fast start against Benetton assisting the first two scores. His first assist came off a lineout turnover; he collects the ball after fast hands from the inside backs before identifying the space out wide and executing a lofted pass to perfectly take advantage of it. His second demonstrated his elusiveness as he beat two defenders from a standing start before feeding his outside man to run in the try – 78 points
Three players beat 9 defenders this week and all of them earned a spot in the TOTW. Beating defenders is often the difference between a good and great fantasy week. Menoncello has continued his excellent form with the Italian national side with Benetton solidifying his reputation as one of the best centres around – 73points
FH: Dan Lancaster – Glasgow (1 try, 5 line break assists, 4 offloads)
Even when not entirely at the races, Glasgow’s attack is still accurate and dangerous. Lancaster pulled the strings, creating an astonishing 5 line breaks, by some distance the most across the round. Lancaster also finished off a trademark Glasgow sweeping move, picking up a try of his own – 88 points
Fusco is a livewire scrumhalf who does his best to keep his side on the front foot. He created two line breaks while keeping the defence honest with his sniping game. The highlight of his evening was a smartly taken quick tap penalty on the 5-metre line, catching Edinburgh fast asleep – 55 points
The young eighth-man made his presence felt in a dominant Interpro performance from Leinster. He carried fiercely with 12 of his 16 carries crossing the gain line, one of which for his try from a quick tap move, bursting through soft Ulster shoulders – 82 points
BR: Ruan Venter – Lions (1 try, 6 defenders beaten, 16/20 dominant carries, 1 turnover won) – Player of the Round
Venter was imperious as the Lions mauled Glasgow at Ellis Park. He carried more ball than any player and beat more defenders than any other forward. His try took advantage of a sleepy Glasgow defence as he stole around the back of the lineout after a dummy maul. He has had an excellent season with numerous TOTW appearances, but this may have been his best – 93 points
BR: Francke Horn – Lions (2 try assists, 3 line breaks, 2 line break assists, 5 defenders beaten)
While Venter was the battering ram, Horn was the glue that kept the Lions attacks going. He is a superb distributer and edge-forward, both of which were showcased by his assists. His first demonstrated his quick hands as he slipped van Wyk through from a quick tap play. On the other hand, his 2nd was pure class, beating a couple of defenders on the outside before offloading to find van den Berg on a support line. However, his impact was not just limited to those two moments as all 7 of his carries crossed the gain line and made more line breaks than any other player – 78 points
In yet another game where the Sharks badly misfired, especially on attack, van Heerden was a key component of the one aspect of the game the Sharks dominated: the lineout. He claimed 8 lineout balls on his own ball and stole 2 from the opposition – the joint most along with teammate Vincent Tshituka – 59 points
LK: Ruan Nortje – Bulls (8/8 carries across the gainline, 1 dominant tackle, 1 lineout steal)
Nortje played his part in the physical dominance of the Bulls over the Dragons. All his carries dented the line, and he made one dominant tackle as the Bulls wore the Welsh side down – 60 points
Clarkson was a willing ball carrying all game, playing a key role in softening up the Ulster defensive line. He carried more times than any other prop, gaining a critical 34 post-contact metres. He had key moments on defensive too, turning the ball over twice – more than any other forward in Round 15 – 56 points
HK: Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh (2 tries, 11/13 carries cross the gain line, 9/9 tackles)
Ashman was, as usual, a standout performer for Edinburgh as they snatched a late victory away from bottom-dwellers Zebre. The hooker played the full 80 minutes – nearly unheard of for a front rower in the modern game. He made full use of his time, making more carries than any tight-five player. His first try was classic Ashman, cutting a brutal hard line back towards the ruck as the defence shifted to cover the width. His second was a maul try that still required a strong effort to finish – 89 points
SJ Kotze is a fantastic prop in the loose. In Round 15, he made more metres and post-contact metres than any other prop, despite making only 4 carries. His try came off a wonderful set few phases from the Lions, leaving the defence to fixate on Ntlabakanye, allowing Kotze to crash over the line – 75 points
