Investec Champions Cup Standout Players of Round 1 Selection

Feel the Storm, Baby!

The Stormers and Bulls took a beating in their recent matches. The Capetonians slipped to a dismal 24-14 loss against Toulon in Gqeberha, and the Bulls were trounced 27-5 by Saracens in blustery North London.

But fear not, 'cause our South African Team of the Week swings hard and hits even harder! And boy oh boy, it's packed with Sharks superstars! Ten Durbanites earned their stripes, with four Stormers and a solitary Bulls standout completing our arena-shaking team.

Rugby Betting Unveiled### 15: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)

Battled through a gnarly head injury, but boy, did he deliver another top-notch display! Full of confidence, agility, and slick counter-attack moves, Fassi set up Makazole Mapimpi's try with a few eyebrows-raising footwork tricks. He remained a constant thorn in Exeter's side.

14: Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers)

He's got the moves alright! His half-break and offload led to Warrick Gelant's try, and a vital intercept snuffed out a dangerous attack. What a player!

13: Ethan Hooker (Sharks)

Once upon a time, there was a man with speed, power, and skills—hook, line, and sinker! His breathtaking offload to Grant Williams for a try elevated his Bok prospects, making him the total package.

12: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks)

If anyone knows how to pack a punch, it's Esterhuizen. Besides his usual brute running and setting targets, he dished up an appetizing skip pass to put Siya Kolisi over for a try. To top it off, he won a turnover on the deck, showing his versatility!

11: Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)

Aggressive Mapimpi, always a force to reckon with! He saved a try early on, winning the race to the ball, played a role in the Sharks' first try, pounced on the next one, and retained a box kick through determined chasing and leaping. That's what I call dominance!

10: Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks)

He's got the knack for nice and flat! He dished up a great try assist for Kolisi with a nifty offload, slotted six out of seven kicks at goal, and those 14 points proved crucial. His line kicks were on point, and he showed his physical side as a solid defender.

9: Grant Williams (Sharks)

This guy's electrifying! Had a hand in two tries, offered excellent support play to score one himself, and balanced out his game with accurate box kicks.

8: Siya Kolisi (Sharks) – Player of the Week

The Bok skipper's glowing performance at No. 8 saw him top our charts! With his exceptionally dangerous wide-channel dash, cool approach, and calm demeanor, he scored his first try and had the pace to score a second. He made three line breaks in all.

7: Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks)

Stepping up big time after the injured Vincent Tshituka, Buthelezi rocked the stage! His power, athleticism, explosive carry, and offload to Hooker for a try were outstanding.

6: Dylan Richardson (Sharks)

Scottish international? More like a workhorse! He brought great energy and an unmatched work rate, making a whopping 18 tackles. His versatility came into play as he shifted to hooker at the death.

5: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)

Get in the thick of it! Van Heerden has been central to the action. A prominent ball carrier with eight hit-ups, he charged down Baptiste Serin's kick, showed impressive defense, and stole one of Toulon's lineouts.

4: Ruan Vermaak (Bulls)

Consider yourself served! Vermaak took the fight to Saracens, proving to be a physical presence and a relentless workhorse, making 14 tackles and nabbing a lineout steal in his 22.

3: Neethling Fouche (Stormers)

Lead by example and bleed for the cause! Fouche delivered in abundance, doing the heavy lifting in maul defense and winning a pressure-relieving scrum penalty on his 5m line.

2: Joseph Dweba (Stormers)

Born to shine, Dweba fired up for his 50th Stormers appearance and delivered in spades! His physicality was immense, making great post-contact meters, dominant tackles, offering accurate lineout throwing, and scoring a vital try just before halftime.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

A&^%ing mondiale, Nche! The man delivers the goods with a world-class show, setting the tone with a dominant first carry, crucial cleanout for Buthelezi's try, bossing the scrums, working tirelessly on defense, and making 11 tackles. That's one fantastic loosehead!

Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) showed his aggressive prowess by saving a try and pouncing on another, demonstrating his dominance.
Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers) displayed his agility with a half-break and offload leading to a try, showcasing his invaluable skills.
Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks) showcased his versatility by dishing up a skip pass for a try, winning a turnover on the deck, and proving himself to be a formidable force.
Ethan Hooker (Sharks) displayed his speed, power, and skills with a breathtaking offload, elevating his prospects as a complete player.
Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks) stood out with his power, athleticism, and outstanding offload, solidifying his position as a key player.
Siya Kolisi (Sharks), player of the week, delivered an exceptional performance with dangerous wide-channel dashes, cool decision-making, and scoring two tries, demonstrating his influence on the European leagues and premier-league sports.