Super team of the week: Prop crucial to resurgent Hurricanes scrum
Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax is helping turn the Hurricanes scrum from a potential target to a source of pride.
The Hurricanes rediscovered their attacking blueprint against the Sharks on Saturday, but Lomax’s form over the first three rounds also confirmed the scrummaging power of their key offseason recruit.
The Sharks’ pack was on skates in Wellington as the 23-year-old tighthead puts his hand up to be the true heir to departed All Black Owen Franks.
Fullback Jordie Barrett was also strong against the Sharks, pulling off another trysaving tackle: this time on 108kg Sharks No 12 Andre Esterhuizen.
As for Ngani Laumape, the tank-like midfielder simply does things that no other No 12 in the country can do.
Critics moan about his supposed lack of an all-round game but the gritty reality is that at test level, especially in the big games, you sometimes need a midfielder who carries hard, gets up, and carries hard again.
That’s Laumape’s bread and butter and he has plenty of icing too, as shown by his excellent finish against the Sharks.
That trio, as well as the impressive Ben Lam, Wes Goosen and Asafo Aumua, make Stuff’s team of the week for round three.
15. Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes): The big fullback is chiming in nicely from the No 15 position, his error rate is down and his goalkicking is outstanding.
14. Wes Goosen (Hurricanes):
Teams continue to give the wing too much room at their peril. Terrific finisher and the Hurricanes look better with Vince Aso at No 13 as well.
13. Braydon Ennor (Crusaders): The main thing to watch with this bloke is his defence, because we know attack comes easy for him. He is getting off the line fast and hitting people hard.
12. Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes): Still tops the list in the ‘Super player whom opponents least like to tackle’ competition.
11. Ben Lam (Hurricanes):
Scored two tries that few others in the competition could match. Showed serious gas to get outside Sharks fullback Aphaele Fassi.
10. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders): Game-turning moments
showed how vital he has become to the Crusaders. It’s fair to say they can’t win another title without him.
9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders): Two dodgy box kicks blotted his copybook but brought huge energy and organisation to the side in tough conditions.
8. Dylan Nel (Chiefs): Tough South African is a canny pickup for the Chiefs. He brings a high workrate and underestimated skillset to their overflowing backrow options.
7. Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs):
‘Mr Turnover’ raided the breakdown at will and also showed a nice turn of pace for his try. The form openside in the comp.
6. Cullen Grace (Crusaders):
A potential star was born at Eden Park. Defended like a battlehardened 10-year veteran and soared at the lineout.
5. Josh Dickson (Highlanders): Hands off, Aussies. The Perth-born product was the Highlanders’ best in Canberra and has really stepped up to fill the gap left by Tom Franklin.
4. Scott Barrett (Crusaders):
The big unit certainly doesn’t mind a charge into a defensive line when he realises it’s time to generate some much-needed forward momentum. Tough.
3. Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes): The Sharks don’t have the best scrum in South Africa but Lomax was deeply impressive nonetheless. Unlucky not be awarded a penalty try.
2. Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes): Found some room to go on one terrifying charge down the right and was part of that dominant Hurricanes scrum. A step forward for the ‘New Mealamu’.
1. Joe Moody (Crusaders):
Got through 64 minutes of quality set-piece work. By the time he departed the life was slowly draining out of the Blues pack.