Team of the week: Three England forwards among Super Rugby stars
Monday 29 February 2016 16:31, UK
England and the Brumbies lead the way with three players apiece named in our team of the week.
Seven Super Rugby players are included after a brilliant opening weekend while Northampton's hat-trick hero Tom Collins also makes the cut.
15. Damien McKenzie (Chiefs)
Liam Williams was excellent under the high ball for Wales but McKenzie underlined why many are tipping him to be a star at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The 20-year-old was lighting up Super Rugby last year and went a step further to stamp his mark on the game against the Crusaders.
McKenzie nailed a long-range penalty and kicked two conversions in Christchurch but his eye-catching performance will be mostly remembered for a fantastic try-saving tackle on Nemani Nadolo.
14. Henry Speight (Brumbies)
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All that was missing from Speight's performance against the Hurricanes was a try. He made 40 metres from four carries, sometimes bringing an opposition player along for the ride, and his powerful leg drive resulted in a try for Scott Fardy.
Speight also shone in defence, making nine tackles and winning three turnovers.
13. Johann Sadie (Agen)
The South African centre produced an incredible attacking display as Agen registered their first Top 14 victory since October 31 to move off the bottom of the table.
Sadie made 75 metres from 11 carries, which included five breaks. He beat four defenders and scored a try as Agen edged a 31-27 success at home to La Rochelle.
12. Siale Piutau (Wasps)
Playing alongside younger brother Charles in midfield, Piutau scored his first try in Wasps colours against Harlequins.
The Tonga international took Frank Halai's pass on 66 minutes, bounced off Marland Yarde and held off two Quins defenders to score Wasps' fifth try at the Ricoh.
Piutau made 51 metres from nine carries, beating two defenders. He also completed six tackles to make it four wins from four since his move to Coventry.
11. Tom Collins (Northampton)
Jack Nowell was excellent against Ireland and made a try-saving tackle on Robbie Henshaw, while Noa Nakaitci beat no fewer than 11 defenders as Clermont crushed Oyonnax.
However, Collins is handed the No 11 shirt after his hat-trick for Saints against Worcester. He was sent racing up the left wing for tries either side of half-time, and ran a great support line to claim Jamie Gibson's offload and complete his treble on 65 minutes.
10. Robert du Preez (Stormers)
Du Preez scored 23 points on his Stormers debut as they battered the Bulls in Newlands.
Son of the former Springbok of the same name, the 22-year-old sparked the Stormers into life on 50 minutes when he stepped past Travis Ismaiel to cut through the Bulls' defensive line and race home for the opening try.
With Patrick Lambie and Handre Pollard both out for the season, Du Preez could be a contender for the Springboks at fly-half when Ireland visit in June.
9. Martin Landajo (Jaguares)
Tomas Cubelli had a debut to remember for the Brumbies but he is edged out by Pumas team-mate Landajo, who touched down twice during the Jaguares' thrilling Super Rugby debut.
Sure he got a yellow card - you have got to find some way to get a 10-minute breather at altitude - but he returned from the bin to take Agustin Creevy's offload and score as the Jaguares rallied from 24-3 down.
The Jaguares scored a try of the season contender when Emiliano Boffelli claimed a long kick downfield and offloaded to replacement Matias Orlando, who tore through the Cheetahs defence before putting Landajo in for his second try.
1. Alasdair Dickinson (Scotland)
There may have been talk ahead of the Six Nations that Scotland and Italy wanted to expand the way they play the game, but Saturday was always going to be about the forwards.
Dickinson led a scrummaging dominance that gave Scotland the ascendency to bring about a much-needed Six Nations win.
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
The Wallabies skipper marked his 150th Super Rugby appearance in style as the Brumbies hammered the Hurricanes in Canberra.
Moore was faultless in the lineout, finding his target with all seven throws, and he caught the Hurricanes napping with a slick training ground move for David Pocock's try.
The 33-year-old peeled off a maul to score the Brumbies' fifth try on 52 minutes, one of five carries which gained a total of 38 metres. He also made six tackles before departing on the hour mark with victory long assured.
Arnaud Heguy also deserves a mention for his two-try display for Grenoble as they won away to Stade Francais.
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
It was a man-of-the-match performance from the tighthead as Wasps crushed Harlequins to record their sixth Premiership victory on the trot.
Cooper-Wolley scored Wasps' first try, withstanding the efforts of three Harlequins players to rumble over from five metres, and he was the rock that did not allow the visitors to get back into the contest.
The 26-year-old made 12 carries, second only to Nathan Hughes, beating three defenders and offloading three times, while he completed eight tackles in defence and won a turnover.
4. Maro Itoje (England)
Itoje looked like a seasoned international on his full England debut. He put in a strong shift in defence, making a team-high 16 tackles and winning one turnover, and he combined well with Saracens team-mate George Kruis to disrupt Ireland's lineout.
The 21-year-old's work-rate was tireless and he was a constant negative presence from an Irish perspective in the loose. He also made some strong carries.
5. George Kruis (England)
Kruis has been described as a young Martin Johnson by some former England internationals and it is easy to see why.
All eyes were on his Saracens team-mate Itoje but Kruis worked his socks off in the tight and made life extremely difficult for Ireland at the lineout, stealing two of Rory Best's throws.
6. Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
The Wallaby picked up where he left off at the World Cup by pilfering possession at the breakdown. Fardy won four turnovers against the Hurricanes, was a useful option at the lineout, and crossed from close range for the Brumbies' fourth try as they started the season in style.
7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
Control the tempo, control the game - that's how Hooper got the Waratahs off to a flyer. The Australia captain slowed down Reds ball and kept things quick for the Tahs.
Hooper made an incredible 21 tackles and won three turnovers during an all-consuming 80-minute display. He touched down for the opening try following a powerful maul and made 20 metres from his nine carries.
8. Billy Vunipola (England)
Vunipola was at his ball-carrying best against Ireland, making 94 metres from his 17 carries and beating nine defenders.
Ireland had no answer to the Saracens No 8, who almost caught them napping when he raced down the touchline off the back of a maul.
Vunipola also made eight tackles in defence and deservedly came away with the man of the match award.
