Team of the Week

It’s quite a spread of players in our weekly selection, with five countries represented by players found in action around the globe. A sub-par showing by the Pumas left the door open for a couple players who have never before featured in the select side. Big wins for Mexico and Colombia put some of their best in the shop window, with one from each side getting the nod.

1 – Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba (Ealing) Returned to the front row after a week off and got the better of Doncaster in the upset win at the Trailfinders Sports Club. Proving a terrific off-season acquisition from the Jersey Reds.

2 – Agustín Creevy (Argentina) Couldn’t lift his side to glory but still played well enough. Ran well and did his job in the set piece, he’ll need to lift his game against Australia in London this weekend.

3 – Chris Baumann (Wellington) Another solid game for the Eagles export as the Lions throttled Southland. While there’s always room for improvement, his effort in the scrum and the loose will be pleasing for the USA selectors.

4 – Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates) While Evan Olmstead is raking in the plaudits, Beukeboom is quietly returning to form with Pirates after recovering from a serious knee injury. The World Cup lock scored his first try of the season in the narrow one-point loss to London Scottish on Saturday.

5 – Samu Manoa (Toulon) Honorable mention to Mariano Galarza, who was heroic in a losing cause for Gloucester against Bath. Manoa, however, was at his rampaging best for RCT as they had little trouble dealing with Montpellier. The big man did damage every time he got near the ball, on attack or in defense.

6 – Gerson Ortiz (Colombia) Los Tucanes obliterated Ecuador on the weekend and Ortiz was at the front, scoring three tries with his powerful running. At 23 years of age he is one of Colombia’s brightest young talents who could soon catch the eye of European scouts like his country-mate Andrés Zafra.

7 – Tony Lamborn (Hawke’s Bay) The Magpies got back on the winning trail as they defeated Manawatu in Palmerston North. Lamborn was again one of the best on display, tackling with impunity and putting in several strong carries.

8 – Facundo Isa (Argentina) His team might not be the winner, but surely Isa must be a nominee for player of the Rugby Championship. He has been in sensational form this season, and against the All Blacks he was a colossus with ball in hand and scored his second try of the tournament.

9 – Tomás Cubelli (Argentina) It wasn’t a great day at the office for Martin Landajo who was largely shackled by the All Black defense. Cubelli came on and made a positive impact in the final quarter-plus, picking up the tempo and winning one turnover.

10 – Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres) Do we opt for AJ MacGinty, who was excellent again in the huge Sale win over Leicester? MacGinty got the nod last week, this time it’s Urdapilleta’s turn to win the coin toss. There are a few international sides who would love to have the left-footer in their ranks. Urdapilleta scored 13 points including a try as he outplayed Pato Fernández but his team couldn’t get the win over a determined Clermont side at Marcel Michelin.

11 – Chris Wyles (Saracens) Playing at fullback this week, we’ve shuffled him to the wing to allow for another deserving selection. Wyles looked classy in the overwhelming win over Bristol, inserting himself into the attack with regularity and scoring a try down the left flank in the second half.

12 – Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle) Falcons were disappointed losers by two points to Worcester but at least came away from Sixways with a bonus point. Socino was his usual self, switching between hard lines and crisp passing. His defense was improved this week as well.

13 – Nicolás de Battista (Cornish Pirates) Another inspired signing in the RFU Championship, the Argentine midfielder has been a standout for the Pirates with his strength in the contact area. Barged his way over for a try against Scottish though it wasn’t quite enough to get the win.

14 – DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets) Back in action after recovering from a brief illness, the World Cup star wasted little time getting back on the score sheet with a decent finish down the right side. Mark Anscombe will have some interesting decisions in the Canadian backline for November with all his big guns fit and firing.

15 – Agustín Sánchez (Mexico) It was an horrendous start for Las Serpientes who could not get out of their own end in the opening quarter against Guyana. Thankfully their steady fullback’s excellent kicking game got them out of harm’s way, and it was Sánchez who inspired the team to their 32-3 win to claim the Rugby Americas North title.