There are plenty of South African-based stars in Shaun Goosen’s URC round 7 team of the week, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Bulls and Lions all well represented.
Front rankers: Eric O’Sullivan (Ulster), PJ Botha and Asenathi Ntlabakanye (both Lions)
O’Sullivan put in 17 tackles in a losing cause against Leinster and held his own at scrum time. 153kg Ntlabakanye made 14 tackles in a solid 56 minutes of action while remaining strong at set-piece. Botha hit six of his seven lineout jumpers, made 15 tackles and even put in a kick.
Second row: Andrea Zambonin (Zebre) and Fyneen Wycherley (Munster)
Zambonin won a turnover and tackled 16 times in Zebre’s win, while Wycherley made 16 tackles and an offload in helping Munster finish with an 89% lineout success rate against the Lions.
Back row: Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks) and Siya Kolisi (both Sharks)
James Venter is the unlucky Sharks loosie to miss out, but his partnership with the brutal Tshituka and Kolisi continues to build up steam with Siya looking very much at home at No 8. Muncaster scored twice for Edinburgh, made 17 tackles and even effected a turnover.
Halfbacks: Embrose Papier (Bulls) and Callum Sheedy (Cardiff)
Papier scored one try, set up another and made some excellent decisions to help guide the Bulls to victory in Galway. Sheedy scored 16 points against Dragons thanks to a faultless kicking performance (five from five) as well as a try.
Midfield: Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Henco van Wyk (Lions)
Esterhuizen scored a try and formed part of a number of supreme Hollywoodbets Sharks attacking plays with his distribution skills on full display, while van Wyk made two clean breaks, 54 metres in the carry and scored an absolute worldie in the defeat at Thomond Park.
Back three: Simone Gesi (Zebre), Canan Moodie (Bulls) and Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
Gesi scored twice in Zebre’s win over Ospreys in a standout performance on the left wing, while Moodie bagged one himself, assisted another and made 193-metres with ball in hand. Man of the Match Fassi also grabbed an assist and made some crucial interventions in Durban.
