CRAIG LEWIS picks a form South African XV based on performances in round 13 of Super Rugby.
The Lions again underlined their potential title credentials with an emphatic win over the Bulls this past weekend, while the Stormers and Sharks also secured crucial victories in challenging clashes against the Blues and Sunwolves respectively.
After receiving a late call-up, Ruan Combrinck particularly impressed for the Lions as he scored a brace of tries and completed an impressive 104m on his return to Super Rugby.
In Cape Town, Siya Kolisi led from the front and was a deserved Man of the Match recipient for the Stormers, while Lwazi Mvovo (despite playing in the less familiar fullback position) starred for the Sharks as he scored a hat-trick and made a whopping 152m on attack.
Notably, Blitzboks star Kwagga Smith continues to impress at openside flank, where he not only did some good work with ball in hand, but won as many as five turnovers. That earns him a place at No 6, but mention should also be made of the Sharks’ Phillip van der Walt, who completed 16 tackles and missed none.
In the second row, it should be noted that in order to include both Franco Mostert and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who produced industrious efforts for the Lions and Stormers respectively, the latter is picked here at No 4.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t such a happy weekend for the Kings as they were forced to spend plenty of time on defence against the Brumbies, but again No 8 Andisa Ntsila battled gallantly – albeit in a losing cause.
SA FORM XV (ROUND 13)
15. Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
14. Ruan Combrinck (Lions)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12. Harold Vorster (Lions)
11. Sbu Nkosi (Sharks)
10. Elton Jantjies (Lions)
9. Cobus Reinach (Sharks)
8. Andisa Ntsila (Kings)
7. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
6. Kwagga Smith (Lions)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions)
4. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
3. Ruan Dreyer (Lions)
2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1. Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
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SA FORM XV (ROUND 12)*
15. Masixole Banda (Kings)
14. Alshaun Bock (Kings)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12. Burger Odendaal (Bulls)
11. Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
10. Lionel Cronjé (Kings)
9. Louis Schreuder (Kings)
8. Warren Whiteley (Lions)
7. Tyler Paul (Kings)
6. Kwagga Smith (Lions)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions)
4. Andries Ferreira (Lions)
3. Ross Geldenhuys (Kings)
2. Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs)
1. Schalk van der Merwe (Kings)
*The Stormers had a bye in round 12
Photo: Anne Laing/HM Images
