Each week we’ll be looking at the best of the best in Australian rugby and piecing together the top 15 players out of the Aussie Super Rugby sides from the round gone by.
The dastardly New Zealand Conference proved to be Australia’s achilles heel once again this week, continuing their dominant record in 2017 with three more wins and zero defeats to the tally.
The Blues held off a defiant Reds side in Apia, taking the spoils 34 to 29, while the Chiefs dispatched the Waratahs finals hopes with a high-scoring 46-31 win.
The Hurricanes ran past the hapless Force in Perth, snagging six tries to two for a 34-12 victory.
The biggest result of the weekend came in Canberra, where the Brumbies picked up the win over the Rebels to lock up the Australian Conference and a place in the finals for the fifth year running.
So four losses and one win for the Aussie Conference in Round 15. Pretty standard for 2017. Let’s jump into the top 15 then.
1. Nic Mayhew (Brumbies)
The Brumbies front row had a pretty confident outing against the Rebels this week and that is reflected in the opening slot of this week’s team.
Mayhew was arguably the best front rower of the week and certainly the best loosehead. In a little surprising fact, he pulled off the most offloads of anyone else in the game as he caused headaches in close to the ruck and through the line.
2. James Hanson (Rebels)
I was tempted to put Andrew Ready in here but I felt as though his rolling maul try boosted his game more than it should have, so Hanson’s workhorse performance takes his place.
His running game was brutal, powerful and momentum shifting at times when the Rebels were still trying to stay in the game. He was continually breaking the first tackle and sneaking over the advantage line.
Not at easy night for his side, but a standout and grinding performance from him at the centre of the front row.
3. Taniela Tupou (Reds)
It’s hard to go past a prop that scores a double and not just from the back of a maul either. Tongan Thor has had plenty of detractors since coming on with the Reds, but he does show glimpses of that potential every now and then.
His try in the first half slowed the early onslaught down after the Blues put on two inside the first seven minutes, while his five-pointer in the second 40 was a huge moment in the game, giving the Reds the lead coming into the final ten minutes.
It wasn’t just that either, he made two line breaks and five tackle busts as he threw himself around all over the place.
4. Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
It was a battle of the Arnolds this week. Rory for the Brumbies and Richie for the Force. Both had similar outings, but it’s Wallaby Rory who gets the nod.
He was strong in the lineout when it counted and made the most of his chances with ball in hand, picking up good metres as well, in fact, more than any other Brumby forward and less than only one forward in the game.
5. Sam Carter (Brumbies)
A fairly non-descript weekend for those wearing the No. 5 jumper but it was the Brumbies Sam Carter who made the most of his time on the park in Round 15 with a quietly consistent performance.
He ground his way around the fringes of the ruck in attack and defensively, especially inside his own 22 as the Brumbies were able to keep the Force tryless for the 80 minutes.
6. Ned Hanigan (Waratahs)
Nearly went with Scott Fardy on this one but I think Hanigan’s efforts deserve a bit more credit for coming up against stronger opposition in the destructive Chiefs.
Hanigan was a metre-driving machine against a more fancied pack, playing the role of the battering ram, taking the second most runs of any Tahs player and driving hard up the field.
His tackle busts and metres made are telling stats in a strong performance as a running flanker, a role usually reserved for Michael Hooper in the New South Wales side, speaking of.
7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
With George Smith not quite continuing his form as of late and Chris Alcock not quite matching him, it was easy to pick Hooper this week after another stellar outing for the Tahs.
He more than doubled the running metres of any other forward in the game across both sides and was only bettered by a couple of Chiefs backs. His ability to break tackles and find space despite his size is insane, showing off the power and timing of his runs.
A pair of line breaks along with 140 metres with ball in hand, a host of tackle busts and huge pressure on the Chiefs in the counter ruck put him up there as one of the top performers of the week.
(Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
8. Amanaki Mafi (Rebels)
It’s just becoming an automatic selection every week. Amanaki Mafi has arguably been the best player in the Australian Conference in 2017 and it’s a shame the Japanese international can’t line up for the Wallabies this June.
He could play outside centre if he wanted to. His running is so destructive and those tree trunk legs are impossible to wrap your arms around. Despite being on the wrong side of the Brumbies this week, he was still able to plough through the defence time and time again.
Defensively, he’s a brick wall as well, but it’s his deceptive surge of pace that often catches the opposition off guard.
9. Michael Ruru (Force)
Not a blistering game by any stretch but a serviceable performance from Ruru who just sneaks his way past Jake Gordon this week in the halfback role.
He was stealthy when running off the back of the ruck and held his own when the big men targeted him in defence.
10. Wharenui Hawera (Brumbies)
Not quite the running game of Bernard Foley but much more aligned overall and he was a key factor in guiding his side to victory and the finals.
His try in the second half all but sealed the deal for the home side but he played the provider so well throughout the contest, adding to his kicking game and aggression at taking on the line when needed.
11. Cameron Clark (Waratahs)
The former sevens star has been a bit up and down since joining the 15-man game this season but he showed off his open and broken play running style this week against tough conditions across the ditch.
He thrived on the kick return and down the edges, finding backfield space multiple times as he racked up the line breaks and running metres.
12. Kyle Godwin (Brumbies)
Godwin played a strong mix of playmaking inside centre and running outside back to support Hawera against the Rebels.
His kicking game was arguably just as good, if not better, than his flyhalf, but he utilised the running game well throughout the game as well, working around tired legs later in the contest.
13. Rob Horne (Waratahs)
It’s hard to get behind Rob Horne sometimes. He can be outstanding across the park and damaging with ball in hand, but other times, he can be a liability and somehow trip all over himself. He was the former this week.
Admittedly his intercept try was an absolute gift wrapped present from the Chiefs, but overall, he was a highlight in attack among an undulating night for the New South Wales side.
He picked up triple figures for running metres but also made key contributions to line breaks.
14. Henry Speight (Brumbies)
Not as dominant as he has been in past weeks but Speight continues to be one of the best wingers in the Australian Conference, finding form leading into the June internationals.
His opening run off the kickoff was signs of things to come throughout the game. When given space down the edges he was typically hard to bring down, but he showed some cracks in defence that will need fixing up sooner rather than later.
15. Israel Folau (Waratahs)
I was tempted to give Dane Haylett-Petty a run here but his try might have bumped his performance up and the yellow card certainly didn’t help. Tom Banks played fairly well for the Brumbies, but Folau just ticked over a bit more in terms of providing to support his solo efforts.
Despite zero line breaks himself, he set up four alone and ploughed into three figures in metres made with ball in hand.
His offloading game again helped him play one of his more supporting efforts this season, allowing the Tahs to push forward with momentum as they chased the game.
Do you agree with the XV? You’re sporting fans, of course you don’t, so let us know who you think should or shouldn’t be in the side for this week.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Good to hear Richie Arnold is emerging from his brother's shadow. Our lock stocks are looking much better
MitchO
Guest
Connor I get the impression that you watched all the Aussie teams and if so then so be it but the Force forward pack as a unit was (almost) excellent again. First half scrums were too hot and cold - one good then one bad and an inability to score points - but the Canes were offside for nearly 80 minutes. When the Force played the Chiefs the Force forwards were excellent. Carter and Arnold smashing the might of the Rebels and therefore getting in? Just how did the Force dominate territory and possession against the second best team in the comp? I reckon it had something to do with Coleman doing something that Carter doesn't have in him. I On Michael Ruru at half back, he did get man of the match against the Canes and he certainly deserved to be one of the candidates.
MitchO
Guest
I think that DHP should have made that tackle at the start of the game but plenty forgive because they point out that he was trying to knock the attacker into touch rather than tackle and hold. That's a fair point and would explain why he bounced off and the Canes scored an excellent try. You do expect your winger to bust the tackle and score that try but you do hope your full back stops it. DHP had a pretty good game especially considering first game back and against the Canes.
Jack
Guest
Agreed Folau much overrated
piru
Roar Rookie
It seems like if Folau turns up and gets his boots on the right feet he's automatically in the team
TANIWHA
Guest
^^ Hooper in your backrow in the 2019 will not win you a world cup..If Folau and Foley are there that will make it most certainly impossible...
Kibuib
Guest
Higginbotham has been the best Wallaby eligible 8 by quite a bit. Naisarani, if eligible second.
PeterK
Roar Guru
people see what they want to see, can't even see he was in the right position on the 22
PeterK
Roar Guru
Paul D - Then you need to get your eyes tested. On the chip kick he WAS on the 22, go and check a highlight video out. Cameron clarke was out wide on the 10 metre line. It was chipped inbetween the 2. Look at the 50 sec mark, he is 2 metre in front of the 22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea06_YIcxmk
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Not at all Peter. He was mile back for the chip kick in a nothing position when the Chiefs were on attack. He was nearly back on the tryline, basically out of the game. Had he been around the 22 he could have covered a chip and a longer kick. And for the Lowe kick it was an obvious clearance kick situation and he was not deep enough.
PeterK
Roar Guru
no doubt hooper should have passed big mistake, not sure it was a certain try there were tacklers all around and it wasn't a speedster clear in support.
Fionn
Guest
Perhaps it's my Brumbies bias but I probably would have given 7 to Alcock because of Hooper bombing that certain try when he didn't pass it despite multiple support runners. Alcock was good, too, admittedly against a weaker team, but you can only beat the team you play. Still shocked he isn't in the Wallabies squad.
PeterK
Roar Guru
tahs conceded 6 tries, scored 4 reds conceded 5 tries scored 4 rebels conceded 4 tries scored 0 force conceded 6 tries scored 2. sure brumbies did well but faced the weakest team. latu, kepu, tn, foley and horwitz missed the most tackles. hooper missed 0. hanigan 2.
Fionn
Guest
PaulD, never said that they attacked particularly well, or made the right decisions (although that time it went over the tryline and went down but was called held up because Perenara allegedly had control of it baffled me). Force and Waratahs were both okay in some ways, not so good in others. Peter, I did read it the first time, but then you said this "It is amazing you don’t apply the same logic to DHP due to preconceptions." I quite clearly said "I think it was advantage Folau overall". I stand by that, I thought Haylett-Petty's positioning play was better than Folau's, but he had a bad tackle miss and didn't attack as effectively.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fionn - If you actually read what I wrote Folau was better than DHP , who did have a good game though. Do you see where I say DHP had a good game.
PeterK
Roar Guru
and if he stood closer for the chip kick it would of been a deeper kick, and if he was deeper for the lowe kick they would have done a shorter chip kick and you would say the same thing. It is not just a matter of where the f/b is , it depends on where the other back defenders are, ie. where are the wings, it takes more than 1 person to cover the whole area. Too often TN is nowhere to be seen and Folau covers his wing and F/B.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Waratahs had 1% more possession, insignificant difference. The Force did have dominance in territory by the look of things, but that doesn't bode well for them if they spent 40% of the time with the ball in the hurricanes 22 and only got 12 points all game! From what I recall about Folau's positioning, nothing stood out defence wise, but he was out of position twice for kicks. Far too deep for the chip kick through and far too shallow for a Lowe clearance that sailed over his head.
Fionn
Guest
I said that they both defended poorly. You've got an assumption that the reason that I think Folau went missing in defence and Haylett-Petty didn't was my preconceptions: maybe it was because the Force dominated possession and territory to an even greater extent than the Tahs, and thus has to defend less (although they defended less effectively). Folau was missing in defence more often, however. "i.e it could have been any player in his position and they would have done a similar job." I disagree. I thought he led the team's defence fairly well and made some good hits in defence. I think you're seeing what you want to see, Folau had a good game and the rest had average games. I think they all three had decent games.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Folau didn't go missing in defence anymore than DHP. DHP made 1 tackle and missed (as usual) a tackle in the corner that let in a try. It is amazing you don't apply the same logic to DHP due to preconceptions. Same number of tries scored in both games. Hunt didn't lift the team, an average expected performance but one he didn't make much difference, i.e it could have been any player in his position and they would have done a similar job.
Markus
Guest
It does seem that attacking stats retain a very high value for TOTW selections even in performances where the team lost badly overall. I understand that at a player level it would be very difficult to factor this into ratings, especially when an individual player may not have actually missed any tackles/given away penalties in a bad team performance, but it does feel a bit odd.