URC Team of the Week: Jack Crowley and Lukhanyo Am selected alongside ‘rejuvenated’ Ireland star

Simon Thomas
Lukhanyo Am, Jack Crowley and Morgan Morris all impressed.

Lukhanyo Am, Jack Crowley and Morgan Morris all impressed.

Following another enthralling weekend of United Rugby Championship (URC) action, we have asked Simon Thomas to give us his Team of the Week for Round 13.

Leinster lead the way after their impressive home victory over the Bulls with four representatives while the rest of the side is made up of a healthy mix of clubs.

United Rugby Championship Team of the Week

15 Jordan Larmour (Leinster): Having made his first start for Ireland in three years in the Six Nations title-clinching victory over Scotland, Larmour looks like a player rejuvenated and was back to his line-breaking best in the top-of-the-table clash with the Bulls. A word too for the Sharks’ ever excellent Aphelele Fassi.

14 Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors): Furloughed during Covid by Scotland Sevens, he ended up working in an Amazon warehouse. He was then at London Irish when they went under. But he’s now flying at Glasgow, as demonstrated by his hat-trick against the Scarlets. Elsewhere, Suleiman Hartzenberg had another fine game for the Stormers.

13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks): Produced a quality finish in the 23-13 victory over Edinburgh in Durban, taking a pass from Fassi one-handed and showing his strength as he reached the line despite the combined efforts of Duhan van der Merwe and Ben Healy.

12 Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton): Carried his Six Nations form into his return to URC action during the victory over Connacht. The Argentine-born centre is playing the best rugby of his career in his 30s. Meanwhile, the versatile Damian Willemse produced another polished display for the Stormers after moving from 15 to 12.

11 Jared Rosser (Dragons): Scored one of the tries of the weekend in the basement battle defeat of Zebre Parma at Rodney Parade. Picking up following a counter-ruck, he scorched home from 70 metres, going outside the scrum-half and showing too much pace for the covering full-back.

Ireland half-backs

10 Jack Crowley (Munster): Has had a tough act to follow, stepping into the shoes of Johnny Sexton as Ireland’s number 10, but rose to the challenge in the Six Nations title triumph and capped a classy return for Munster by dancing over for the match-winning try against Cardiff.

9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster): The Ireland scrum-half was only on for 35 minutes against the Bulls, but he was pivotal in Leinster‘s 47-14 win, taking complete control of proceedings as they racked up 35 unanswered points in the second half. He is such a catalyst.

8 Morgan Morris (Ospreys): This was a close call as Jack Conan and Evan Roos were excellent for Leinster and the Stormers respectively, but the try-scoring Morris just gets the nod after starring in both attack and defence in the crucial victory over the Lions. Arguably the most consistent player in Welsh rugby over the past three years.

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7 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff): The Welsh international openside was into everything during his time on the field in the gripping contest with Munster at Thomond Park. He was outstanding over the ball, doggedly defiant in defence and so intelligent with his link play. A word for Vincent Tshituka who put in one heck of a shift for the Lions in Swansea.

6 Alessandro Izekor (Benetton): Responsible for the most dramatic moment of the whole weekend when he went over in the corner for the match-winning score against Connacht with just 30 seconds to go, reaching the line despite the attentions of three defenders. He is enjoying a real breakthrough season.

Led by example

5 Tadhg Beirne (Munster): Skipper for the day against Cardiff, the Ireland lock led by example with a crucial try in a hard-fought 20-15 victory. He is just so athletic, so good at the breakdown and such a threat with ball in hand. It’s also worth noting the efforts of Ruan Nortje who gave it everything for the Bulls in Dublin.

4 Harry Sheridan (Ulster): It was a heroic effort by Ulster in defeat against the Stormers in Cape Town, where they led with just seven minutes to go and the 22-year-old Sheridan was central to their endeavours, putting in a big performance in the boilerhouse. There was also plenty of graft from the Ospreys’ Rhys Davies.

3 Hanro Jacobs (Sharks): Called up late in place of Vincent Koch, the 24-year-old gave a really good account of himself in the scrum against Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman, after doing well versus Ulster’s Stephen Kitshoff the week before. Mention too for the Bulls’ Wilco Louw who put in a mighty scrummaging display in the first half against Leinster.

2 JJ Kotze (Stormers): Simply has to be in there after producing the play of the weekend with a burst upfield followed by a perfectly weighted 50-22 at a key moment in the close contest with Ulster. Not bad for a hooker! A word also for the Sharks’ Bongi Mbonambi who put in some huge tackles against Edinburgh.

1 Michael Milne (Leinster): Another replacement to play a key role in Friday’s victory at the RDS. The Bulls were well on top in the scrum during the first half, but Milne’s introduction soon after the break coincided with a shift in the balance of power up front, while he also went over for a try.

READ MORE: Peter O’Mahony decision ‘imminent’ amidst retirement talk while Munster boss addresses RG Snyman absence

Benetton Treviso Jack Crowley Jamison Gibson-Park Lukhanyo Am Tadhg Beirne

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