This Super Rugby season has been all over the place, with teams not really being able to stake their claims as clear-cut leaders of the pack. For most rugby fans, I feel that’s been a major plus. Not knowing what is going to happen each week has made watching player performances even more exciting.
With that said, we are due to have another list of the top five players from the round, so why waste any more time? Let’s get into it.
5. Max Jorgensen (1 Point)
If there is one thing Australia seem to be able to do when it comes to producing rugby players, it is ensuring they have a plethora of depth on the wing. They seem to have a budding superstar in Waratahs winger Max Jorgensen who, even in a poor game from his team, was superb regardless.
He was at his elusive best, leading his team in line breaks and metres carried, and was the most potent attacking threat for the home side. In classic Jorgensen fashion, he also found the line for a five-pointer not just once but twice, while the rest of his team struggled in a massive loss.
4. Filipo Daugunu (2 Points)
Another one of the major surprises this weekend was the Reds beating the Brumbies, after many thought Canberra were going to be the best team in the early portion of the season.
However, the Reds seemingly put on a clinic against their biggest competition on that side of the Tasman and made a real statement to the remainder of the competition. The player who was at the heart of that effort for me was their left winger, Filipo Daugunu. He was one of the key players when it came to getting his side on the front foot throughout the night, leading the game in carries and line breaks. He was a nightmare for the Brumbies all evening, including the try he scored which gave them a chance with three minutes to go in this one.
3. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (3 Points)
A name that is making this list for the second time this season is Highlanders talisman Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. I have been harping on about just how good this guy is for the Highlanders for some time now, and it seems like the public are starting to catch on.
This weekend against the Force, he was the difference, beating five defenders on the night, leading the game with over 109 metres carried, and recording two try assists, just showing how good a creator he can be. For Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, this was another feather in his cap as he continues to make his claim for an All Blacks jersey, and I feel Dave Rennie must have his eye on him after this game.
2. Caleb Clarke (4 Points)
The Blues pulled off a win that I personally didn’t think they would be able to dp on Saturday night, as they not only beat the Crusaders but destroyed them by 16 points in what was a dominant performance from start to finish.
One of the key contributors to this performance was their superstar winger Caleb Clarke. Outside of the yellow card he received in the first half, Clarke was nearly flawless and showed exactly why myself and many around the country see him as New Zealand’s premier winger. He has once again found the ability to be in the right place at the right time, and no doubt the Blues are making it a priority to get him the ball in space. From there, Clarke does the rest, as he is one of the hardest players to bring down, and he showed that with his hat-trick performance on Saturday night.
1. Billy Proctor (5 Points)
With the All Blacks selections now being wide open, there are plenty of players around the country fighting for starting jerseys. One of those spots that seems to be a question mark is the one outside Jordie Barrett and his partner in the midfield. With plenty of names being thrown around, Billy Proctor, who plays outside Barrett for the Hurricanes, put his best foot forward this weekend.
Against the Waratahs, Proctor was on another level to the majority of players on the park and was at his offensive best. He gained the most metres, was breaking tackles, and fracturing the Waratahs line at will. We all know Proctor can do that because he is one of the most elusive midfielders in the country, but it was the end product that landed him at the top of the list this week, scoring a hat-trick and propelling his Hurricanes side to a major win against the Waratahs.
