JON CARDINELLI selects a South African XV based on performances in the first round of the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

The Sharks beat the Vodacom Bulls 23-15 in Durban while the Stormers hammered the Hurricanes 27-0 in Cape Town. As a result, the first South African XV of the Super Rugby season is stacked with players from the coastal sides.

As many as nine players who won the 2019 World Cup are included. It’s fair to say that the Springboks came into the first round with the intent to make a big impression.

The Stormers forwards pulverised their Hurricanes counterparts. It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see so many of the Stormers forwards in this side, and special mention must go to Jaco Coetzee – who is yet to play for the national side – who had a big game at the breakdown.

The match at Kings Park sparked to life in the second stanza. Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am were influential, as was the back-three combination of Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi.

Rassie Erasmus often spoke about Mapimpi as the best finisher in South African rugby last season. On Friday, Nkosi showcased his spectacular skills when he chased Curwin Bosch’s kick and grounded the ball in the nick of time.

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Sanele Nohamba made an impression on debut when he rounded the Bulls defence to score a game-clinching try. The young Sharks player was a contender for this South African XV before Herschel Jantjies produced an all-round masterclass against the Hurricanes at Newlands.

Damian Willemse also outshone South African counterparts such as Bosch and Morne Steyn. His running game troubled the Hurricanes defence, and a timely intercept at the death ensured that the Stormers came away with a bonus point.

Willemse’s pace as well as his vision was patent in that play. The Hurricanes boast several speedsters, but none were able to catch the Stormers flyhalf from 90-plus metres out.

SA TEAM OF THE WEEK (ROUND 1)
15 Aphele Fassi (Sharks)
14 Sbu Nkosi (Sharks)
13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks)
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
10 Damian Willemse (Stormers)
9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)
8 Josh Strauss (Bulls)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
6 Jaco Coetzee (Stormers)
5 Juandre Kruger (Bulls)
4 Salmaan Moerat (Stormers)
3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
2 Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)

SA SUPER RUGBY TEAM OF THE SEASON (2019)
15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
14 Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)
13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12 Damian de Allende (Stormers)
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
10 Handre Pollard (Bulls)
9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)
8 Dan du Preez (Sharks)
7 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
6 Jaco Coetzee (Stormers)
5 RG Snyman (Bulls)
4 Jason Jenkins (Bulls)
3 Carlü Sadie (Lions)
2 Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)

Photo: Ryan Wilisky/BackpagePix