Weekly Selection of Exceptional Players in the European Champions Cup – Round 2
Take a Peek at our European Champions Cup Team of the Week 👊🏉
Quintin van Jaarsveld dives into the thrilling South African matches that took place this weekend.
The Stormers and the Bulls were locked in nail-biting contests, with different outcomes for each. The Stormers snatched victory in the last moments against La Rochelle, triumphing 21-20, while the Bulls came up short against Lyon, losing 29-28.
Interestingly, it was the Bulls who played the eye-catching rugby, but they only have nine representatives compared to the Stormers' six. Let's crown the standouts. 💫
15: Devon Williams (Bulls) 🧝♂️
A level-headed performer who handled everything thrown at him with grace. In stark contrast, Warrick Gelant's struggles persisted.
14: Ben Loader (Stormers) 🌋
His explosive runs made him a constant danger, scoring a great try and winning a breakdown penalty before an injury cut his game short.
13: Lionel Mapoe (Bulls) 🛡️
His seamless blend of soft touches and sturdy defense was a sight to behold. His ability to switch from individual defense to sweeper was particularly impressive.
12: Damian Willemse (Stormers) - MVP of the Week 🌟
Willemse made good ground in the midfield, putting in impressive steps to break free. He delivered a stunning crosskick for Loader to score, contained the colossal Jonathan Danty, and kicked the match-winning conversion with panache.
11: Sergeal Petersen (Bulls) 💫
Dangerous all evening, scoring the Bulls' second try, and trailing aggressively in the air.
10: Manie Libbok (Stormers) 🎯🤝
His performance had its flaws, but his match-winning conversion and accurate line kicks were hard to ignore.
9: Zak Burger (Bulls) 🌟🌟
Nailing long kicks put Lyon under pressure and paved the way for him to score an early try. He saved a crucial try with a brave intervention.
8: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls) 🧙
His leadership and experience, especially given the makeshift side, proved invaluable. His impact at the breakdown and ability to drive forward were notable.
7: Mpilo Gumede (Bulls) 🦍
His power and skill were on display, exemplified by his fantastic set-up for Petersen's try. He demonstrated excellent timing with his jackal near the try line.
6: Marco van Staden (Bulls) 🌋
His hard-hitting plays left opponents gasping for breath. He burst through tackle after tackle and won a penalty with textbook technique.
5: Janko Swanepoel (Bulls) 🥩
He stamped his authority on the game, carrying the ball with authority and making a significant impact with his physicality.
4: Adre Smith (Stormers) 💥
His hard-hitting approach gave the Stormers' pack a fearsome edge, and he made a prominent impact on defense.
3: Neethling Fouche (Stormers) 🏟️
Fouche was solid at the heart of the scrum, putting in a great shift on defense and holding his own at the scrum.
2: Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers) 🔥
A late addition to the team, but Venter didn't disappoint. His energetic presence, accuracy in the lineouts, and timely score helped the Stormers snatch the win.
1: Simphiwe Matanzima (Bulls) 🏃♂️
Matanzima impressed with his mobility, work rate, and impactful carries. 🔖💥
Stay tuned for more exciting Rugby coverage! 🌍🏉
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is an accomplished sports journalist who has been recognized as the MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and the Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year multiple times. He has worked as a sports editor, deputy editor, and senior staff writer for various outlets and now works as a freelance sports writer.
- The predictions for upcoming European football matches and Champions League games should include the impressive performances of Devon Williams and Damian Willemse, as they were standouts in this week's rugby matches in South Africa.
- Despite the Bulls having an eye-catching performance in rugby, the predictions for Champions League football might favor the Stormers, given their victory against La Rochelle and the teamwork displayed by players such as Lionel Mapoe and Ben Loader.
- When considering the predictions for various European sports leagues, it would be interesting to observe if the success of South African rugby teams like the Stormers and the Bulls in their respective contests would translate to performance in football tournaments.
