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URC team of the week: Leinster and Munster impress in round 11

Updated / Monday, 2 Jan 2023 15:00

There was further derby drama in the BKT United Rugby Championship on either side of the New Year celebrations.

Here are our picks from round 11...

15. Mike Haley (Munster)

Haley shone on his return to the Munster line-up as Graham Rowntree's understrength side stunned Ulster.

The full-back made a vital tackle to deny Robert Baloucoune early on and proved rock-solid under the high ball while also producing some lovely footwork in attack.

Haley made 85 metres and beat six defenders in a performance that will have caught the eye of Andy Farrell.

14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster)

Another player with his eyes on an international recall is Larmour, who did his chances no harm by scoring two tries and creating two more against Connacht.

The wing linked well with Jimmy O’Brien before pouncing on a Jack Carty error to score Leinster’s third try, and he took Jamison Gibson-Park’s inviting pass to cross for the bonus-point try after half-time.

13. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors)

Antoine Frisch produced some lovely moments in attack during Munster’s second-half fightback but he is edged out by Tuipulotu, who was at his barnstorming best against Edinburgh.

The Scotland international punched holes in the Edinburgh defence with his explosive ball-carrying, making 55 metres with ball in hand and beating five defenders as Glasgow lifted the 1872 Cup on its 150th anniversary.

12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Cell C Sharks)

The 28-year-old retains his place in our XV after playing a key role in the Sharks’ dominant win over the Bulls.

Janse van Rensburg made 71 metres with ball in hand, crossed for the bonus-point try on 50 minutes and added a late interception at the death as the Sharks extended their winning streak to five matches.

11. Angelo Davids (DHL Stormers)

Davids was on the double as the defending champions thumped the Emirates Lions in Cape Town for their eighth win of the season.

The South Africa Sevens star scored two tries in 13 second-half minutes, twice linking up with Hacjivah Dayimani and producing a lovely step to beat Quan Horn for his second.

Robert Baloucoune also impressed on both sides of the ball as he made a try-scoring return for Ulster.

10. Jack Crowley (Munster)

Crowley helped inspire a stunning fightback against Ulster as Munster rallied to snatch victory at the death.

After struggling for large parts of the first half, Munster were much improved in attack after the restart with Crowley pulling the strings.

The 22-year-old combined brilliantly with Ben Healy after shifting to 12 and made a stunning late break that ended up in Healy scoring the winning try as the clock turned red.

9. Paul de Wet (DHL Stormers)

De Wet provided the Stormers backs with quick, accurate ball as they cut loose against the Lions.

The scrum-half’s clever snipe and inside pass put Dan du Plessis over for their third try, and although he was responsible for the Lions’ sole five-pointer, he responded well to put the Stormers back on the front foot and finish with three unanswered tries.

1. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)

Stormers skipper Kitshoff led by example against the Lions and had a hand in their opening two tries.

Solid at scrum time, the loosehead’s big carry up the guts helped create the first try for Damian Willemse, while he formed part of the driving maul that resulted in Deon Fourie crossing.

2. Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks)

Quick thinking from the Springboks hooker resulted in the opening try against the Vodacom Bulls as his tap-and-go from close range resulted in a penalty try.

Mbonambi scored the third of the Sharks’ five tries before half-time when he crossed from a driving maul, as the Durban side lay down a marker ahead of Saturday's trip to Galway.

3. Roman Salanoa (Munster)

Salanoa stood up in defence during a tough opening half-hour in Belfast as Ulster set up camp in the Munster half, and he led the tackle charts along with Niall Scannell.

Following the departure of Marty Moore on the half-hour, Salanoa and the Munster pack demolished the Ulster scrum, which proved a big momentum-changer.

4. Sam Lousi (Scarlets)

Lousi got through a mountain of work to help the 14-man Scarlets claim just their second league win of the season.

The Tonga international won two turnovers, carried hard and displayed great handling as the Scarlets scored 17 points without reply for a much-needed victory.

5. Federico Ruzza (Benetton)

The Benetton skipper scored a hat-trick as they came from behind to thump 14-man Zebre.

Ruzza finished off a flowing move for his first shortly after half-time before pouncing on a loose Zebre lineout 10 minutes later.

He completed his treble in style with a late interception score as the play-off hopefuls powered to a third win in four games.

6. Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks)

The coaching change at the Sharks has had the desired effect and Kolisi looked back to his best against the Bulls.

The World Cup-winning captain made a superb try-saving tackle early on and it was his pass to Sikhumbuzo Notshe that was deliberately knocked on for a penalty try.

Kolisi also topped the tackle charts during a fine 80-minute showing.

7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Justin Tipuric shone for the Ospreys against Cardiff but Van der Flier takes the No 7 shirt after another all-action display in the win over Connacht.

Van der Flier made a team-leading 20 tackles along with some big carries in attack, while he enjoyed a try-scoring stint on the wing late on and sprinted down the left flank to touch down.

8. Hacjivah Dayimani (DHL Stormers)

A potential Rugby World Cup bolter for South Africa? Dayimani continued his impressive form with a player-of-the-match performance against his former club.

Stormers coach John Dobson said the No 8 has "exceeded our expectations" since joining in 2021. He carved the Lions open with some big carries and was a constant threat in the wide channels, where he provided two try assists for Angelo Davids.

Watch Connacht v Cell C Sharks live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Saturday from 4.45pm

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