Check out our list of the best players from round six of the Rugby Championship after the Springboks’ title-clinching heroics over Argentina in Mbombela and the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup win over the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday.
Front rankers: Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe (all RSA)
SA’s all-star front row utterly dominated their South American counterparts at the scrum, with the side’s strength in this department the stuff of dreams. Ox was again destructive with ball in hand, while Mbonambi was accurate with his darts and Malherbe continues to be the Boks’ lowkey MVP.
Second row: Scott Barrett (NZL) and Ruan Nortje (RSA)
While Eben Etzebeth was as classy as ever on the occasion of his record 128th Test, Kiwi skipper Barrett gets his spot after again getting the dirty work done for his side in Bledisloe 2. Nortje continues to go from strength to strength at this level.
Back row: Fraser McReight (AUS), Pieter Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese (both RSA)
Siya Kolisi was the unlucky one here, as two blindsides, McReight and du Toit, get the nod on the sides of the scrum. The Wallabies clearly missed the impact of the Reds man earlier on in their campaign after he put in another tidy showing against the ABs, while two-try du Toit was a star again for South Africa. Wiese earned 84 meters from 12 carries and made four tackles against Argentina.
Halfbacks: Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok (both RSA)
While his place-kicking was pretty hit-or-miss, Hendrikse enjoyed a solid outing at the base of the scrum, while the electric Libbok was simply sensational and conjured up some moments of pure quality at pivot for the Boks. Tough to leave out Beauden Barrett though, who was on song for the All Blacks.
Midfield: Anton Lienert-Brown (NZL) and Jesse Kriel (RSA)
The classy Lienert-Brown produced two sublime passes on separate occasions to set up two tries for the All Blacks in an exceptional performance at No 12, while Kriel bagged a try of his own in another standout showing at outside centre.
Back three: Caleb Clarke (NZL), Cheslin Kolbe (RSA) and Will Jordan (NZL)
The powerful Clarke is another who continues to improve at Test level, while back-three teammate Jordan showed some great side-stepping to score a banger in Wellington. Kolbe was ever-present for the Boks in Mbombela, while Aphelele Fassi gets an honourable mention at fullback.
Round 6 Team of the Week
- 1. Ox Nche (RSA)
- 2. Bongi Mbonambi (RSA)
- 3. Frans Malherbe (RSA)
- 4. Scott Barrett (NZL)
- 5. Ruan Nortje (RSA)
- 6. Fraser McReight (AUS)
- 7. Pieter-Steoh du Toit (RSA)
- 8. Jasper Wiese (RSA)
- 9. Jaden Hendrikse (RSA)
- 10. Manie Libbok (RSA)
- 11. Caleb Clarke (NZL)
- 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (NZL)
- 13. Jesse Kriel (RSA)
- 14. Cheslin Kolbe (RSA)
- 15. Will Jordan (NZL)
