Blues lead the way i
After the seventh round’s Super Rugby Pacific action, Planet Rugby breaks down the star performers from a thrilling weekend of rugby.
The Blues lead the way with five players in our team after their victory over the Melbourne Rebels, while the Crusaders are next best with four representatives after they beat Moana Pasifika.
15. Tom Wright (Brumbies):
Made a telling contribution in his team’s one-sided triumph over the Reds in Brisbane and is preferred to Fergus Burke and William Havili, who impressed for the Crusaders and Moana Pasifika respectively in Christchurch. Wright proved to be a real threat from the back for the Brumbies as he crossed the gain line at will and finished with 128 metres gained. This, after he made 11 runs which included three clean breaks, two defenders beaten and a try for his efforts.
14. Mark Telea (Blues):
The 26-year-old has hit the ground running in this year’s tournament and was a real handful to the Rebels defence as the Blues won in Melbourne. The All Blacks flyer scored a couple of tries and gained a whopping 150 metres from 13 runs which included two clean breaks, eight defenders beaten and four offloads. In other action, Moana Pasifika’s Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jordan Petaia of the Reds also had good games.
13. Billy Proctor (Hurricanes):
Came to the fore with a strong attacking display in his team’s victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin and edges out Len Ikitau of the Brumbies, the Blues’ Rieko Ioane and Levi Aumua of Moana Pasifika. Proctor proved a real handful with ball in hand as he finished with 87 metres gained from 10 runs with two clean breaks and seven defenders beaten.
12. Harry Plummer (Blues):
Thomas Umaga-Jensen of the Highlanders and Jordie Barrett of the Hurricanes were involved in an exciting battle in Dunedin but Plummer makes our team as he shone for the Blues in Melbourne. The 24-year-old had a strong game on attack as he gained 110 metres from 13 runs and beat two defenders and also managed an offload. He also looked good on defence and finished with eight tackles made.
11. Salesi Rayasi (Hurricanes):
The Hurricanes flyer is one of the best finishers in the competition and scored a brace of tries after another strong attacking display in his side’s victory over the Highlanders. The former New Zealand Sevens representative was rewarded with his five-pointers after gaining 38 metres on attack from 11 runs which included two offloads. Other players who impressed were Caleb Clarke of the Blues and the Crusaders‘ Macca Springer.
10. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders):
Fellow All Black Beauden Barrett turned on the style during the second half for the Blues in their win over the Rebels and Wallaby playmaker Noah Lolesio also impressed for the Brumbies against the Reds, but Mo’unga gets the nod after an outstanding shift in his 100th game for the Crusaders in their triumph over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. Mo’unga impressed on attack as he made 63 metres from 11 runs with two clean breaks and seven defenders beaten.
9. Cam Roigard (Hurricanes):
The young scrum-half continues to impress as the Hurricanes’ first choice number nine and he caught the eye with a polished display in a crucial away win for his side. The 22-year-old’s service to his outside backs was excellent while he proved a handful on attack with 89 metres gained from 12 runs which included a clean break, four defenders beaten an offload and a try. The Reds’ Tate McDermott and Finlay Christie of the
Blues were next best.
8 Anton Segner (Blues):
A difficult decision as there were good performances from Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika stand-in captain Solomone Funaki but Segner gets the nod after he put in a fine performance in the Blues’ win over the
Rebels. The German-born backrow was a lively option on attack as he finished with 48 metres gained.
7. Alamanda
Pasifika):
Although Moana came off second best to the Crusaders, they were
Motuga (Moana