CRAIG LEWIS picks a South African XV based on performances in round five of Super Rugby.
The Stormers were the most impressive South African side this past weekend as they claimed a morale-boosting 37-20 win over the Blues.
Bok props Steven Kitshoff and Wilco Louw laid a strong foundation up front, while flankers Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit were also in top form.
With the forwards laying a solid platform and dominating the physical exchanges, young flyhalf Damian Willemse thrived off front-foot ball to be named Man of the Match, while JJ Engelbrecht was a star performer on the wing – making 126m, beating four defenders and completing nine carries.
POWER RANKINGS: Super Rugby (Round 5)
Although the Bulls suffered a 41-28 defeat to the Chiefs on Friday, they produced a vibrant performance in the first half, with Warrick Gelant, Jesse Kriel and Divan Rossouw particularly impressing.
On Saturday, the Lions were completely out of sorts as they battled their way to a 40-38 win over the Sunwolves, but Malcolm Marx was a key performer as he scored a brace of tries and made a number of telling contributions as a ballcarrier.
Unfortunately, there was very little to shout about for the Sharks as they succumbed to a disappointing 24-17 defeat against the Brumbies.
SA TEAM OF THE WEEK (Round 5)
15. Warrick Gelant (Bulls)
14. JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers)
13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
12. Damian de Allende (Stormers)
11. Divan Rossouw (Bulls)
10. Damian Willemse (Stormers)
9. Embrose Papier (Bulls)
8. Nizaam Carr (Stormers)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
5. Lood de Jager (Bulls)
4. Ruan Botha (Sharks)
3. Wilco Louw (Stormers)
2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Photo: Nic Bothma/EPA
