Round 6 was a pretty good week for the Australian sides, with the Rebels and Reds both winning in fine style. The Tahs had a grafting win over the Brumbies and the Force went down to a rampaging Stormers outfit. Slowly the puzzle is starting to come together, both for the Super Rugby season and the World Cup beyond it.
Team of the Round:
15 Kurtley Beale – WARATAHS
14 Cooper Vuna – REBELS
13 Nick Cummins – FORCE
12 Stirling Mortlock – REBELS
11 Digby Ioane – REDS
10 Quade Cooper – REDS
9 Nick Phipps – REBELS
8 Gareth Delve – REBELS
7 Beau Robinson – REDS
6 Jarrod Saffy – REBELS
5 Rob Simmons – REDS
4 Al Campbell – REBELS
3 Greg Somerville – REBELS
2 Ged Robinson – REBELS
1 Sekope Kepu – WARATAHS
Reds and Rebels make up the bulk of this week’s team of the round, with some Tahs and Forcers filling in the remaining positions. There were plenty of contenders for spots this week, making selecting this week’s team a demanding yet pleasing exercise. For the first time in weeks there were multiple players in each position putting their hands up for selection. Long may it continue.
The front row is dominated by Melbourne-based Kiwis, with Somerville and Robinson both putting in outstanding displays against a quality Hurricanes front row. One wonders whether Graham Henry and his cartel buddies are taking more than a passing interest in their performances. Sekope Kepu takes a hotly contested LH spot after a season-best performance against a good Brumbies scrum. Ben Daley and Rodney Blake can both feel hard done by after sterling efforts. Honourable mentions go to Saia Fainga’a, Pek Cowan and Damien Fitzpatrick.
Lock-wise, Rob Simmons gets the nod after a busy performance against the Cheetahs, while Al Campbell was a shoo-in after scoring a couple of vital meat pies for the Mexicans. James Horwill just missed out after a good return performance. The back row spots are free of Force players for the first time this season, with Jarrod Saffy, Beau Robinson and Gareth Delve winning the honours after all three were at their brutal, dominant best. These guys are putting their names forward for higher honours at the right time. Wycliff Palu, Ben Mowen and Michael Lipman would make a very handy reserves bench, with all three unlucky to miss out this week.
Nick Phipps makes yet another appearance at halfback after an energetic, accurate performance in the 9 shirt, with Will Genia also mentioned in dispatches. Quade Cooper edges out Giteau and JO’C for the five-eighth spot after a rampant display against the Cheetahs, while Stirling Mortlock and Nick Cummins fill the centres. Morty’s experience and leadership skills were on clear display on Friday, and his thunder thighs were pumping hard all game. Cummins has taken to the 13 role like a duck to water, and was a clear standout in a lacklustre Force performance. His efforts look even better after it was revealed he was carrying food poisoning through the game.
Digby Ioane made mincemeat of the Cheetahs backs, and naturally takes the 11 shirt. Cooper Vuna showed up the talented Hurricanes outside backs, scoring a try and setting up the match winner. The final spot is taken by Kurtley Beale, who showed control and poise to get the Waratahs over the line. Honourable mentions go to Richard Kingi, Drew Mitchell and Rod Davies.
Player of the Round:
The votes are in from the forum, and the nominees for Player of the Week have been announced. The Rebels Man of the Match was Nick Phipps, who won in a landslide after a great display against the Hurricanes. Jarrod Saffy and Gareth Delve filled the minor placings. The Reds nominee is Beau Robinson, who is certainly flavour of the month at the forum after winning the award back-to-back. Will Genia and Quade Cooper came close.
The Waratahs fans put up Kurtley Beale as their standout, while the Brumbies supporters chose Matt Giteau from their close tussle on Saturday. Finally, the standout Force player was deemed to be James O’Connor after a brilliant individual try and an assured kicking effort made a mark against a vastly superior opposition.
Try of the Round:
In a week where a fair few tries were scored, there is one clear standout for mine. The Rebels had gained the upper hand over the Hurricanes, and led by 15 with half an hour left on the clock. After capitulating against the Sharks it was vital that they kicked on and put this game to bed. And then they unleashed a beautiful movement from halfway, going wide to Cooper Vuna who streeted down the left touchline before throwing a peach of a ball back inside to Nick Phipps to score the clincher. Have a look for yourself:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHVlkAn5K_8[/youtube]
Moment of the Round:
In terms of clear defining moments it was a fairly uneventful week. The Rebels fought back and steamrolled the Hurricanes with no definitive catalyst, while the Reds were ahead from the word go. Therefore the moment of the week comes from the Waratahs v. Brumbies game, and it came with just seconds left on the clock.
The Tahs had poked their nose in front in a tight encounter, only to have their lead pegged back by a late Ben Alexander try. With just minutes left they pushed for the winning try, and appeared to have scored it when Pakalani dived on Beale’s pinpoint grubber. But alas it was ruled a knock-on, and all hope looked lost with just two minutes left. Then a clever wheel in the scrum and a patient build-up saw Sitaleki Timani reach out and score after the buzzer. The Waratahs had won a vital game and vanquished the demons from their SFS performance against the Cheetahs.
What were your highlights and lowlights of the weekend?
