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United Rugby Championship

2024/25 URC Team of Round 9

We select a starting XV of players that stood out from the rest during the ninth round of the United Rugby Championship on the weekend.

Frans Malherbe

We select a starting XV of players that stood out from the rest during the ninth round of the United Rugby Championship on the weekend.

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Front rankers: Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors) and Frans Malherbe (Stormers)

In a losing cause, Hiddleston hit 10 of his 12 darts, won a turnover and made 22-tackles. The great Malherbe got one over Bok teammate Ox Nche at scrumtime in Cape Town and helped lay the platform for the eventual win.

A replacement in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh loosehead Schoeman came off the bench to score what turned out to be the match-winner, while also contributing eight-tackles during his 30-minute stint on the Murrayfield pitch.

Second row: Joe McCarthy (Leinster) and Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster)

McCarthy carried like a trojan, racking up 31-metres with ball in hand, seven carries across the gainline, one clean break and eight tackles. Izuchukwu carried for 24-metres and put in 13 shots on defence for Ulster.

Back row: Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster) and Caelan Doris (Leinster)

Van der Flier bagged a try to go with 17-tackles, two clean breaks and 27-carry metres. Man of the Match in Galway, Timoney scored a try, won two turnovers, carried for 30-metres and made a massive 17-tackles. Doris is a regular feature in these URC Teams of the Week and cracks the nod again after making 20-tackles, winning two turnovers and also scoring a try.

Halfbacks: Nathan Doak (Ulster) and Sam Prendergast (Leinster)

Doak kicked three from three, assisted a try and made 12-tackles in an influential display for the Northern Irishmen. Man of the Match Prendergast scored a try, nailed all three of his conversions, made one clean break and 10-tackles in performance that will have the Ireland coaching staff sitting up and taking notice.

Midfield: Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson (both Ulster)

25-tackles made between the young Ulster centre pair, as they endeavoured to keep a fired-up Bundee Aki quiet – by no means a small task. Postlethwaite also effected two turnovers in an encouraging outing for both men.

Back three: Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), Yaw Penxe (Sharks) and Mike Haley (Munster)

Senatla was well up for this one as he continues his comeback from his horror car crash injuries, scoring a try, carrying for 43-metres and making a clean break in a livewire performance. Penxe was an ever-present threat for the Sharks, scoring a try and carrying for 21-metres. Haley carried for a whopping 103-metres for Munster as he tried and failed to get his side over the line.

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