Super Rugby ‘Teams of the Week’ are so passé. So let’s cut through the crap and take a look at the individuals who are stepping up for the sake of the national team and those who, perhaps, need to lift their game.

Player of the Round:

Liam Gill (Reds)

We know where Gill sits in the Wallaby pecking. We know it, but it doesn’t make it any easier to fathom. How a guy this dominant, so impactful through a game, can be not greater than fourth choice for the national team, just makes my head hurt. The guy just oozes test match class to me.

Now this ‘award’ was a tough one to decide upon considering the impact of Gill’s team mate’s Kerevi, Hunt and Tui in particular, but it was Gill’s constant ‘big plays at big moments’ ability that secured him the gig. He lead his team’s tackle count withough missing one, snagged a couple of Gilfers™ (a Gill pilfer), and was only behind Kerevi and Hunt in most of the attacking numbers.

Is there anything this man can not do – other than kick?

Wallaby Jersey Safe:

James Slipper (Reds)

In his first run on game of rugby since the Rugby World Cup, Skipper Slipper was a solid performer. Whilst there were few of the strong runs, show’s and goes or substantial tackle count, we saw enough of the Wallaby front rower to know that he’ll find his groove back in the Reds team and Wallaby squad very quickly. The improved Reds’ showing has a number of factors behind it, none more significant than the assured return of their much respected leader.

Wallaby Jersey bolter:

Dane Haylett-Petty (Force)

The Great Dane has been a constant stand out for the beleaguered Force this season, continuing on from his wonderful 2015 season, and was the same in his team’s heart breaking 1-point loss to the Crusaders on Friday night. Whilst his big centre buddy, Junior Rasolea, did the hard yards in the middle, Haylett-Petty was a consistent threat thanks to his nimble footwork and deceptive power.

He had the most runs and most metres for the home team, as is becoming the norm, and again displayed the type of form that is leading some astute thinking he may find his way onto the Wallaby wing assuming Waratah Izzy Folau remains untouchable at the back.

Karmichael Hunt (Reds)

Another excellent fullback performance by an Aussie this round, coming on the back of one of Folau’s worse games for the Tahs, must be making Wallaby selectors scratch their chins. Hunt has been on a sharpe upward scale of high performance development since last year’s NRC, and has pretty much manged to surpass his best rugby performance each match of this season.

His running, linking and passing game were an important component of reigniting this Reds backline against the Highlanders as he continued to supply security at the back and front foot ball in attack. Like many of his colleagues he dropped off in the second half, but the overall package was enough to justify his attendance at last week’s Wallaby camp.

Samu Kerevi (Reds)

I remember this guy from 2014! Remember that? When Kerevi broke into Super Rugby and just ran rampant? He was still pretty effective last year, and solid so far in 2016, but it all just clicked for him on Saturday night up against the likely All Black centre, Malakai Fekitoa. Samu ran for some incredible numbers including 164 metres from 16 runs, with eight defenders beaten and five clean breaks and a try (and a fair role in the others).

When you consider that he barely touched the ball in the second half, these stats are even more remarkable. A few more games like this, particularly in this upcoming tough run of matches, will have Cheika sizing him up for his first Wallaby jersey.

Wallaby Jersey wobbly:

Nick Cummins

I don’t think I can ever recall a blow to a sporting career as significant as an initial 60 second of play. Nick Cummins was brought back into the Australian rugby fold as a late replacement for boom 7s flyer, Henry Hutchinson. Cummins committed to the 7s program in the hope of making the Olympic team as well as making himself available for Wallaby selection. His lack of game time of late seemed to make the 2ndry goal more likely than the former.

Well his first play in the Hong Kong 7s has probably nailed both doors shut. Cummins was put into space with just the try line in front of him and showed as much pace as a wounded wombat in quicksand. He was slow. He was run down and his Wallaby chances now seem to be gone quicker than a rat up a drain pipe. Which is a shame, because the Honey Badger is a brilliant person with so much to offer.

Let’s hope we see plenty more of him in Oz, it just probably won’t be wearing Wallaby gold.

*Best import:

Hendrick Tui (Reds)

There are surprising few photos of Hendrick Tui from the Reds v Highlanders game on the weekend. Surprising because Tui was as brutal as he has been all season with the ball in hand. Rarely have the Reds had such an effective metre gainer in the tight. Probably not since Toutai Kefu. His instincts as to when to do the pick and go are brilliant and has provided some line go forward for the Reds.

He was finally assisted on Saturday night by the likes of Gill, Kerevi and Hunt but, despite the support, he never shirked his own duties. Rumours are the Reds are soon to announce they’ve agreed to terms with Tui for season 2017, which is cause for celebration for all Reds fans.