Weekly Selection of Outstanding Players in the United Rugby Championship - Round 4
South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week: A Review of the Weekend's Matches
Several South African teams showcased their strength in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend, with the Bulls and Lions earning narrow victories, while the Stormers and Sharks suffered defeats in close matches.
The Bulls secured a 18-12 victory over Cardiff in the Welsh capital, and the Lions snatched a dramatic 24-23 win against the Scarlets in Llanelli, marking their first victory of the season. Meanwhile, the Stormers were tripped up by Benetton in Treviso, losing 20-17, and the Sharks' woes continued with a 12-10 loss to Zebre, who had entered the encounter on a 28-match losing streak in Parma.
Quintin van Jaarsveld reports that five players from each of the Bulls and Lions, three Sharks, and two Stormers make up the South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week.
Players of the Week
- Quan Horn (Lions)In the tactical, territory-based clash against Scarlets, Horn demonstrated a rock-solid performance under the high ball and delivered good ground with his educated left boot. He contributed to two turnovers, including a try-saving intercept.
- Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls)De Klerk, the former Pumas speedster, exhibited a dynamic performance, scoring a long-range try and almost adding a second in the second half. He made a vital tackle on Mason Grady and was instrumental in making four turnovers.
- Henco van Wyk (Lions)Known as "Weapon X," Van Wyk showed remarkable strength in defense, making two clean breaks and scoring the match-winning try.
- Marius Louw (Lions)Louw proved quick-thinking, scoring an opportunistic try that reenergized his team, and demonstrated powerful post-contact meters with a team-high 49. He also showed commitment on defense, making a thunderous tackle on Ioan Lloyd.
- Courtnall Skosan (Stormers)Skosan stood out in the aerial contest, resulting in the Stormers' opening try, scoring the second try, and making two formidable spot tackles with a perfect 100% success rate for the match.
- Sanele Nohamba (Lions)Though not perfect, Nohamba's accurate goal-kicking was crucial for the team's success, including three conversions, one penalty goal, and coming alive in the second half with a couple of sniping breaks and offloads. He showcased his control of the game, effectively milking the clock before securing the match-clinching conversion.
- Embrose Papier (Bulls)Papier's contributions included scoring arguably the try of the weekend, nearly bagging a second just after halftime, and executing pinpoint box kicks and good exit kicks. He showcased his agility on defense, making two tackles in a row during one opportunity.
- Francke Horn (Lions)Francke Horn demonstrated his skills in various ways, making several good runs, displaying his footwork, strength, and athleticism to beat a team-high three defenders, and setting up the Lions' winning position with a late jackal.
- Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks)Buthelezi proved to be a no-thrills workhorse in the match, showcasing his physicality and energy with 10 carries as the Sharks' go-to target setter and 11 tackles.
- Nizaam Carr (Bulls)Carr was full of energy and enterprise, putting in a big shift as the Bulls' captain. He led his team on both offense and defense, achieving six successful carries and 16 tackles with a perfect 100% success rate.
- Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)van Heerden was a constant presence throughout the match, making a match-high 14 tackles and demonstrating impactful work with the ball in hand, creating a Stormers-best five successful carries, and executing a nifty chicken-wing offload to Lee-Marvin Mazibuko.
- Corne Rahl (Sharks)Rahl put in a strong, industrious performance that showcased his potential, including a rampaging early break, a brilliantly executed maul turnover, and a stolen Zebre lineout near his 22.
- Wilco Louw (Bulls)Louw showcased his class and dominance at scrum time, driving several strong carries, and delivering several big hits.
- Dylan Richardson (Sharks)Richardson made an immense impact on the match, covering a lot of ground with a team-high 57 meters, beating three defenders, winning a textbook jackal, making a match-high 19 tackles, including a try-saving effort on Enrico Lucchin, initiating a powerful break, and excelling in his jumpers at lineout time.
- Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)Steenekamp showed his value as a super-sub, coming on at the start of the second half and winning three scrum penalties for the Bulls, giving them valuable field position in the tense final 40 minutes.
BullsDavid KrielEditor's ChoiceLionsNewsRugbySharksStormersUnited Rugby ChampionshipQuintin van JaarsveldA former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year, Quintin van Jaarsveld boasts over 15 years of experience as a sports writer, holding roles as sports editor, senior staff writer, and editor at various publications. His work focuses on rugby coverage.
The players from the South African United Rugby Championship Team of the Week, as selected by Quintin van Jaarsveld, include Quan Horn from the Lions, who had a standout performance under the high ball in the territory-based clash against Scarlets. In the same match, Sebastian de Klerk from the Bulls scored a long-range try and was instrumental in making four turnovers.
