FloRugby's United Rugby Championship Semifinals | Team Of The Week
FloRugby's United Rugby Championship Semifinals | Team Of The Week
Leinster Rugby and the Vodacom Bulls head to the URC Grand Final in peak form. See who starred in the semifinals with our FloRugby Team of the Week recap.
Then there were two, the marathon is closing in and we have two front-runners heading down the final straight.
Leinster Rugby and the Vodacom Bulls, first and second at the end of the regular season, will finish as the top two sides when the final whistle blows in Saturday’s Grand Final.
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Who takes the crown? Well, that’s to be decided, but one thing is for sure - both sides come into the fixture in red-hot form, as their performances in the semifinals confirmed.
Taking a look back at the weekend just gone, here is our FloRugby Team of the Week for the URC semifinals.
1. Andrew Porter – Leinster Rugby
Pretty close to uncontainable for the Glasgow front row, Irish Rugby’s ironman put in a monstrous 58-minute shift as his side crushed the reigning champions at set-piece time.
Blitzing his way through both Finlay Richardson and Sam Talaki, Porter reaffirmed why he will be the Lions' starting loosehead against the Wallabies.
On a side note, for the first time in at least five seasons, Leinster now has a viable backup in Jack Boyle.
2. Dan Sheehan – Leinster Rugby
Two tries, 17 carries, two defenders beaten and a top-notch line-out performance, Sheehan’s return to the starting lineup made an instant impact for the men in blue.
His power and pace opens up so much for those around him, while simultaneously sapping opponents of both their energy and will to stay in the fight.
3. Wilco Louw – Vodacom Bulls
Hitting the sweet spot in his career at 30 years old, Louw took Ox Nche and the Sharks’ front row to school all day at Loftus.
Signaling a changing of the guard, Louw’s dominant performance showed the growing disparity between him and the aging Vincent Koch.
Alongside Thomas Du Toit, Louw provides the Boks with a terrifying 1-2 tighthead punch heading into the international season.
4. Joe McCarthy – Leinster Rugby
Big Joe had a big performance, rag-dolling the Warriors’ pack, making 10 tackles (two dominant), eight carries and generally wreaking havoc at the breakdown.
For Leinster to get over the line against the Bulls, McCarthy will need to be bang on form once again.
5. Cobus Wiese – Vodacom Bulls
Taking a step closer to joining his brother in the green and gold, the dynamic Bulls’ lock got after the Eben Etzebeth-less Sharks’ pack with fury.
Making double the number of tackles of their coastal rivals, the Bulls' defense was immense at Loftus.
With his team conceding three yellow cards, Wiese was tasked with filling the gaps, and boy did he do a heck of a job. He made 21 tackles, eight carries and won three line-outs.
6. Ryan Baird – Leinster Rugby
Morphing into the player everyone in Irish Rugby hoped he would become, the 25-year-old utility forward was a schoolyard bully in the semifinal.
Battering the Warriors into submission with 10 carries, 16 tackles and eight line-out grabs, Baird laid down a marker as the natural successor to Peter O’Mahony in the Irish pack.
7. Ruan Nortje – Vodacom Bulls
Titanic in his efforts, the Bulls’ skipper was a seek-and-destroy missile against the Sharks with 25 tackles!
In attack, he added punch to a conservative team approach with 10 carries, most of which came in the tight exchanges.
Given the age profile of the Boks last season, Nortje feels destined to be the man to take on Pieter-Steph Du Toit’s mantle as the hard-hitting No. 7.
8. Jack Conan – Leinster Rugby
Such has been the Leinster captain’s impact that even without Caelan Doris, his side’s pack hasn’t missed a beat.
His referee interactions were top-class as things began to spill over with the Warriors’ players looking to get under Leinster’s skin.
Around the park, he always has at least three big interventions in a match, which once again was the case in the semifinal.
9. Jamison Gibson Park – Leinster Rugby
Behind a pack rolling forward, there are few players better in professional rugby.
Finding his teammates with laser passes, kicking masterfully from the base of the ruck and generally controlling his team’s tempo, JGP had a vintage showing.
Against the Bulls, he won’t have things his own way all match, so he no doubt will need to dig further into his bag of tricks next time out.
10. Johan Goosen – Vodacom Bulls
Back from injury with a bang, Goosen sent a gentle reminder to Rassie Erasmus that he is far from being done and still has all of his big-match temperament.
Sniping at the Sharks’ line when it was on, Goosen made some good yardage on a few occasions.
His offloading game was equally dangerous with three to go, with his two defenders beaten.
Defensively, he fronted up with 11 tackles, even making a turnover.
11. Makazole Mapimpi
Winding back the clock, the now 34-year-old winger had a vintage showing with a side that couldn’t get out of its own way.
He made 120 meters from 15 carries with three line breaks, six defenders beaten and a try scored.
12. Andre Esterhuizen – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Quite clearly, the hammer in the Sharks’ backline, the bruising Boks center got on the ball frequently, making 16 carries, beating three defenders and making two offloads to get his side over the gainline.
Despite his good work, the Sharks rarely capitalized, as their now characteristic sloppiness with ball in hand undid them when it mattered most.
13. Jamie Osborne – Leinster Rugby
This was a performance of note from the 23-year-old utility back who laid down a marker that now is his time.
With Jordie Barrett departing after the final, and with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose both on the wrong side of 30, Osborne has every chance of being Leinster and Ireland’s long-term option at inside center.
His two tries, 62 meters made and 11 tackles were crucial in Leinster’s revitalized showing.
14. Ethan Hooker – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Similar to Osborne, the 22-year-old Hooker has all of the traits needed to be a dominant test-match animal.
Surrounded by stars in the Sharks’ backline, Hooker has stood out all season as their key performer.
Once again shining in the semifinal, Hooker scored a crucial try to get his side back into the fight.
His 13 carries, 65 meters carried, four defenders beaten and three offloads would have on another day been enough to get his side over the line.
15. Jimmy O’Brien – Leinster Rugby
Slotting in for the injured Hugo Keenan, O’Brien didn’t miss a beat!
Covering the backfield with authority and returning kicks with oomph, O’Brien is the natural option for Ireland’s 15 shirt on the upcoming summer tour.
Beating four defenders on his 14 carries makes for great reading offensively, but it was O’Brien’s kicking game that made the difference for his side Saturday.
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