CAPE TOWN – Lukhanyo Am of the Sharks was the only South African backline player to be named in the penultimate Super Rugby Team of the Week for the regular season.
There are two Bulls players in the forwards. Prop Paul Schoeman was brilliant on defence, making 15 of 16 tackles, a round-high for a prop forward. He also contributed on attack, gaining nine metres from as many carries.
Bulls lock RG Snyman was equally industrious on the park and proved his worth on attack and defence.
The Super Rugby Team of the Week is:
15 Emiliano Boffelli, Jaguares:
Beat a round-high 11 defenders and made a round-high four offloads, gaining 157m from 19 carries as well.
14 Akihito Yamada, Sunwolves:
Gained 96m, made three clean breaks, and crossed for two tries from just four carries.
13 Lukhanyo Am, Sharks:
Made a team-high 13 carries, gaining 115m and beating five defenders.
12 Ngani Laumape, Hurricanes:
Became just the fourth player in eight years to be directly involved in 5+ tries in a game (4 tries, 1 try assist), gaining 119m and beating 10 defenders from just eight carries.
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, Waratahs:
Gained 212m, the second most of any player in a single game in the last eight campaigns, as well as scoring two tries and assisting another.
10 Damian McKenzie, Chiefs:
Made a game-high four clean breaks, 13 carries for 133m gained, and finished with a tally of 14 points including a try.
9 Gonzalo Bertranou, Jaguares:
Was directly involved in four tries (2 tries, 2 try assists) in just 55 minutes of game time, the equal most ever by a Jaguares player.
8 Akira Ioane, Blues:
Made a team-high 14 carries, beating five defenders and crossing for a try.
7 Will Miller, Waratahs:
Was the only player in the Waratahs vs Sunwolves game to make 10+ carries and 10+ tackles and became the first forward to make 5 clean breaks in a game this season.
6 Pablo Matera, Jaguares:
The only forward to score two or more tries at the weekend, Matera also made the second most carries (15) or any forward.
Lock RG Snyman is one of two Bulls players in the Team of the Week. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
5 RG Snyman, Bulls:
Made three offloads, a joint round-high for a forward, and made 18/24 tackles.
4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, Jaguares:
Became the first player to steal 3+ lineouts in consecutive games since Eben Etzebeth did so in July 2016.
3 Sekope Kepu, Waratahs:
Became the first prop forward to assist multiple tries (2) this season as well as scoring one himself.
2 Agustin Creevy, Jaguares:
Made 19 carries, four more than any other forward, beat five defenders, and made 6/8 tackles.
1 Pierre Schoeman, Bulls:
Made 15/16 tackles, a round-high for a prop forward, and gained 9m from as many carries.