Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Reds and Chiefs rule the roost after fine victories

David Skippers
Super Rugby Pacific Round Four 2024 image.jpg

Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes, Seru Uru of the Reds and Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs.

After the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific action, Planet Rugby breaks down the star performers from a thrilling weekend of rugby.

The Reds and Chiefs had fine wins over the Melbourne Rebels and Fijian Drua, respectively, and lead the way with four players apiece in our team, while the Brumbies, Blues and Hurricanes are next best with two representatives each.

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week, Round Four

15 Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs): The All Blacks flyer was back at full-back, after playing on the wing the previous week, and was one of the Chiefs‘ star performers in their win over the Fijian Drua. Stevenson gained 80 metres from 12 runs, which included a clean break, three defenders beaten and an outstanding try. He beats out Ruben Love of the Hurricanes and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens of the Highlanders.

14 Corey Toole (Brumbies): The 24-year-old played on the left wing in his side’s win over the Highlanders but had to find a spot for him in our team after a fine effort in his side’s win against the Highlanders in Dunedin. Toole made his mark with a stunning try and eventually gained 56 metres from six runs. He comes in ahead of the Hurricanes’ Moorby and the Blues’ Mark Tele’a.

13 Josh Flook (Reds): Anton Lienert-Brown and Iosefo Masi were involved in an exciting direct duel in Hamilton but we’ve opted for Flook, who was one of the Reds‘ star performers in their demolition of the Rebels in Melbourne. The 22-year-old was superb on attack and was rewarded with a brace of tries and did well on defence where he made 13 hits.

12 Rameka Poihipi (Chiefs): The Chiefs were in a rampant mood as they put the Drua to the sword with Poihipi delivering an outstanding all-round performance. He was brilliant with ball in hand as he ran for 58 metres from nine carries, which included two clean breaks and as many defenders beaten, while he was also solid on defence with eight tackle completions.

11 Kyren Taumoefolau (Moana Pasifika): The young Tongan international was one of Moana Pasifika’s heroes as they claimed a morale-bosting victory over the Western Force in Perth. The 20-year-old was dangerous with ball in hand and gained 87 attacking metres from eight runs with one clean break, which resulted in him crossing for a brilliant try. The Blues’ Caleb Clarke was next best.

10 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs): The diminutive playmaker produced another outstanding performance in the number 10 jersey for the Chiefs in their home triumph over the Drua. McKenzie‘s game management was of a very high standard, and he created numerous try-scoring opportunities for his team-mates, also impressed with his kicking off the tee and out of hand. Contributed 16 points – after succeeding with seven out of eight kicks – and gained 72 metres.

9 Cam Roigard (Hurricanes): The young All Blacks scrum-half was influential in his side’s narrow triumph over the defending champions in Christchurch. Roigard kept the Crusaders’ defence guessing throughout with his brilliance with ball in hand and finished that match with 91 metres gained from nine runs with three defenders beaten. Reds co-captain Tate McDermott also played well.

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The forwards

8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): He returned to the Blues’ starting line-up after playing off the bench in Round Three and continued where he left off in the previous rounds. Finished with a joint team-high 84 metres gained from seven carries with one defender beaten and two offloads two offloads, while he also did well on defence with 11 tackle completions. The Hurricanes’ Brayden Ioseo and the Brumbies’ Rob Valetini also impressed.

7 Kaylum Boshier (Chiefs): The 24-year-old flanker continued with his excellent start to the season as he was one of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific runners-up’s best players against the Drua. Boshier was his usual busy self at the breakdowns but was also prominent with ball in hand and was rewarded with a couple of tries for his efforts. Fraser McReight of the Reds also impressed.

6 Liam Wright (Reds): This was a tough decision as Chiefs hard man Samipeni Finau impressed in Hamilton but we’ve opted for the Reds co-captain Wright, who was outstanding against the Rebels. The Wallabies tearaway delivered a strong all-round display as he gained 35 attacking metres from nine carries whih included a couple of defenders beaten and a try scored.

5 Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies): The Crusaders’ Zach Gallagher is unlucky to miss out after putting in a strong defensive display against the Hurricanes. However, Neville gets the nod as he shone for the Brumbies against the Highlanders. His lineout work was excellent throughout, and he also did well as a ball carrier, gaining 28 metres from 11 carries.

4 Seru Uru (Reds): The 27-year-old did what was expected of him in the lineouts and emptied the tank on defence, where he finished with 11 hits made. However, his biggest contribution came on attack, where he finished with 58 metres from a whopping 19 carries, which included a clean break, four defenders beaten, as many offloads, and two tries scored.

3 Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes): There were solid performances from Zane Nonggorr of the Reds and Sekope Kepu of Moana Pasifika but wasn’t enough to get into our team ahead of the All Blacks’ first-choice tighthead prop. Lomax was his usual steady self in the scrums but also defended well and eventually made eight hits. His efforts at the coalface were rewarded with a rare try against the Crusaders.

2 Matt Faessler (Reds): Another tough choice, but Faessler comes into our team ahead of the Blues’ Kurt Ekland and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes after a fine outing against the Rebels. Faessler was good in the execution of his core duties but also shone on attack as he finished with 28 metres gained from 10 carries and managed to score a try.

1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues): The experienced All Black front-row returned to the Blues’ side against the Waratahs and impressed with a solid all-round shift. During a 50-minute shift, Tu’ungafasi scrummed well and was a willing ball carrier which saw him being rewarded with a deserved try while he also made 10 tackles. Elsewhere Xavier Numia of the Hurricanes also caught the eye.

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