SYDNEY – Strong performances over the weekend has earned four South African players places in the latest Super Rugby Team of The Week selection.
Hooker Corné Fourie (Lions), prop Wilco Louw (Stormers), flank Roelof Smit (Bulls) and lock Lourens Erasmus (Lions) were all taken up in the pack.
The latest Team of the Week has representatives from nine of the teams after around that saw the defending champions, the Crusaders, continue to emerge as the No 1 rated team.
The Lions and Jaguares strengthened their positions in South Africa with the latter set to make their first finals series appearance.
The Waratahs stumbled in New Zealand and the Rebels closed to within a point at the top of the Australian Conference.
Jaguares wing Ramiro Moyano was instrumental in his team's victory over the Sharks in Buenos Aires. He made six clean breaks, scored three tries and ran for 120 metres to take out Player of the Week.
The Super Rugby Team of the Week.
Here is the Super Rugby's Team of The Week:
15 Tom Banks (Brumbies): Beat a round-high eight defenders, made 10 carries for 109m gained, three clean breaks, and crossed for a try.
14 Toni Pulu (Chiefs): Assisted one try and scored two of his own, beat six defenders, made three clean breaks, and made 7/7 tackles.
13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs): Finished with three clean breaks, five defenders beaten, and 14 carries for 56m gained, as well as making 7/8 tackles and winning a turnover.
12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs): Made three offloads, two clean breaks, and beat six defenders, as well as gaining 101m from 14 carries and making eight tackles.
11 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares): Made a round-high six clean breaks, the equal most ever by a Jaguares player, gained 120m from 13 carries, made one try assist, and scored a hat-trick of tries.
10 Nicolas Sanchez (Jaguares): Kick four goals from as many attempts, made 12 carries for 55m gained, including a clean break and an offload, and made 11 kicks in general play.
9 Joe Powell (Brumbies): Made a brace of try assists, two offloads, beat two defenders and gained 35 metres from just four carries.
8 Amanaki Mafi (Rebels): Made a round-high 20 carries, gaining 116m, beating four defenders, and also made 11/11 tackles.
7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes): Made 17 tackles, the second most of any player not to miss a single attempt, one try assist, a turnover win, and seven carries.
6 Roelof Smit
(Bulls): Won three lineouts and two turnovers, made 11/12 tackles, six carries for 29m gained, and crossed for a try.
5 Lourens Erasmus
(Lions): Won a team-high eight lineouts, made 8/9 tackles, and beat five defenders from 12 carries.
4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs): Won a joint high three turnovers, made 10/11 tackles, two clean breaks, two offloads, and 13 carries as well as crossing for a try.
3 Sekope Kepu (Waratahs): Made 11 tackles without missing, won one turnover, made two offloads, and four carries for 21m gained.
2 Corné Fourie
(Lions): Won three turnovers, made 15/15 successful lineout throws, 6/6 tackles, 14 carries, and crossed for a brace of tries.
1 Wilco Louw
(Stormers): Made 15/17 tackles and won a turnover in his side's narrow loss to the Lions.