FloRugby's BKT United Rugby Championship | Team Of The Week | Round 16
FloRugby's BKT United Rugby Championship | Team Of The Week | Round 16
URC Round 16 Team of the Week: Faletau shines, Stockdale dominates and Bulls' front row powers resurgence in a weekend packed with playoff drama.
Round 16 of the United Rugby Championship brought the fireworks — and with playoff places on the line, the intensity hit fever pitch across every matchup.
From Taulupe Faletau rolling back the years in Cardiff to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu lighting it up for the Stormers once again, this weekend was a showcase of individual brilliance wrapped in team ambition.
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The Bulls roared back to form thanks to a monstrous front row display, while Scarlets stunned Leinster behind a statement showing from Taine Plumtree.
Ulster and Zebre may be at opposite ends of the table, but both found spark through breakout performers, including Cormac Izuchukwu and Alessandro Fusco.
And then there’s Jacob Stockdale — whose blistering form reminds us just how dangerous Ulster can be when he’s humming.
With the playoff picture sharpening and national selectors watching closely, here’s our FloRugby Team of the Week from a pulsating Round 16:
1. Boan Venter – Edinburgh Rugby
Netting two tries for his team, which was thoroughly under the pump against Zebre, the South African loosehead had a real tussle with the Zebre pack at scrum time.
2. Johann Grobbelaar – Vodacom Bulls
Could he be the best option for the Boks in the No. 2 shirt this season? We certainly think so.
Getting through a mountain of work with 14 tackles, eight carries and a crucial try, the 27-year-old was the complete package as the Bulls exacted revenge on the Warriors.
3. Wilco Louw – Vodacom Bulls
The Bulls’ man-mountain of a tighthead is similar to his front row buddy Grobbelaar in that he is hitting his straps as a world-class operator.
Using all 144 kilograms of his power to great effect, Louw is a yard-making machine with his tight carrying game. At set-piece, he is an immovable force who will be crucial to the Bulls’ playoff run.
4. Salmaan Moerat – DHL Stormers
The DHL Stormers skipper had yet another storming performance, setting the tone early for his side with some big contacts.
Game play aside, his decision making in a squad jam packed with flamboyant operators brings a much-needed tactical edge.
5. Cormac Izuchukwu – Ulster Rugby
Proving once again that he is firmly Ireland’s blindside enforcer in waiting, the Ulster utility forward was front and center of everything good Ulster has done over the past fortnight.
Even when the fixture was slipping away, he led the defensive line with some big-time shots.
Offensively, his ability to make yards and contact and free up his hands is truly spectacular.
Finishing second only to Jacob Stockdale on the carry charts with 13, to go along with his 16 tackles, the 25-year-old really is hitting his straps.
6. Taine Plumtree – Scarlets
Topping the meters-carried chart for his side in a huge upset win over Leinster, the Welsh international had a day to remember.
Getting on the ball with 14 carries for 84 meters, making 10 tackles and winning two turnovers, Plumtree’s performance set the physical tone for his side.
7. JC Pretorius – Emirates Lions
Kwagga Smith 2.0?
The Lions' former sevens star is the prime example of a modern-day versatile operator who would not look out of place in the centers or on the wing.
At 5-foot-11 and listed at 92 kilograms, Pretorius covers huge ground quickly on both sides of the ball.
Despite his relative light weight, the 27-year-old is more than capable of making bone-shuddering shots.
8. Taulupe Faletau – Cardiff Rugby
Winding the clock back 10 years, the Cardiff No. 8 was the difference for his side in its win over Munster.
Making meters with every carry, pulling off a try-saving tackle, Faletau continued his drive toward Lions selection.
Ending the day as Cardiff’s top carrier (17) and second in tackles (23), the 34-year-old left it all on the pitch in what could’ve been his last dance at the Cardiff Arms Park.
9. Alessandro Fusco – Zebre Parma
Two exceptional ‘scrumhalf tries’ in the first half set his side up for success, albeit a late Edinburgh flurry ensured the sides ended level.
Fusco has been in top form all season in what has been a renaissance season for Zebre.
Controlling the tempo for his side, Fusco is the perfect general for a side that likes to play an up-tempo all-court game.
Given no player has firmly locked down the Italian No. 9 shirt, performances like this from the 25-year-old no doubt will catch Gonzalo Quesada’s eye.
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – DHL Stormers
Picking up where he left off a week prior, the Springboks playmaker netted another try to go along with a huge tally from the kicking tee.
He closed his account with 89 meters from 13 carries, three line breaks, five defenders beaten and 26 points scored.
In simple terms, if he can stay fit and firing, the Stormers will be the side nobody wants to face in the knockout stages.
11. Gabe Hammer-Webb – Cardiff Rugby
Quite possibly the find of the season in Welsh Rugby (albeit Blair Murray may argue otherwise), the Bath-born flyer has been in irresistible form over the past fortnight.
Claiming another try in the clash with Munster, the busy winger got on the ball 11 times and made a real difference with his ability to maintain momentum in contact.
Question marks remain as to whether he is eligible for Wales, but if he is, the Six Nations strugglers will not be short of quality back-three operators.
12. Harold Vorster – Vodacom Bulls
Linch pinned his team’s top-quality defensive performance.
The physical center topped the tackle charts with 21, including two dominant hits.
On the offensive side of things, he was efficient with making his impacts count as a safety blanket carrier for Johan Goosen.
13. Joe Roberts – Scarlets
Edging the highly impressive Jude Postlethwaite, who put in a handful of bone-shuddering hits and dynamic carries against the Sharks, the Scarlets outside center played a key role in his side getting on top of the Leinster backline with his ability to close off the outside backs.
Dotting down for a try in a performance that included 11 tackles, nine carries and three offloads, the 24-year-old had one of his strongest showings of the season.
14. Edwill van der Merwe – Emirates Lions
Switching red for black at the conclusion of this season, the industrious Lions flyer will make an immediate impact for the Sharks next season.
In the here and now, his 78 meters from 15 carries and eight tackles went a long way to seeing off what should’ve been a more dangerous prospect in Connacht.
His work rate was rewarded with a late try, which was solely built off his hustle to outsprint the Connacht defense in their chase back from a kick through.
15. Jacob Stockdale – Ulster Rugby
Back to his very best? We would argue he is better!
The Ulster fullback had a key hand in all three of Ulster’s first-half tries against the Sharks.
Succumbing to what at the time felt like a harsh yellow card was Stockdale’s only blemish on an otherwise sublime individual showing.
Topping the meters made with a whopping 154 from 15 carries, while beating eight defenders and making four line breaks, one could help but get the feeling Stockdale is exactly what the Irish backline has been missing recently.
Replacements
16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff)
17. Sazi Sandi (DHL Stormers)
18. Scott Wilson (Ulster)
19. Ruben Schoeman (Emirates Lions)
20. Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), 21. Nathan Doak (Ulster)
22. Johan Goosen (Vodacom Bulls)
23. Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)
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