SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 3

Saturday’s star-studded South African United Rugby Championship derbies delivered plenty of stellar performances and big wins for the Bulls and Stormers, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. 

ALSO READ: SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 2.

The Lions and Sharks entered the third round unbeaten but were emphatically outplayed by their hosts. The Bulls annihilated their neighbours 57-15 in the Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld before the Stormers destroyed the Durbanites 39-22 in the Coastal derby in Cape Town.  

Making up our South African Team of the Week are seven Bulls, seven Stormers and a solitary Sharks standout. 

15: Willie le Roux (Bulls) 

The veteran’s world of experience was clear to see as he turned back the clock with vintage decision-making and execution. He set the chaotic sequence in motion that resulted in the opening try and launched a spiralling long scoring pass to Canan Moodie, while also punishing the Pride with his versatile kicking game.

14: Canan Moodie (Bulls)

This was the Moodie Springbok fans want to see. He was confident and commanding on both sides of the ball. He carried with strength and swagger- scoring a try – and was dominant in defence, including making a big hit on Chris Smith that created a knock-on, which he followed up with a break moment later that led to Johan Grobbelaar’s try. 

13: Ruhan Nel (Stormers)

He might not be the flashiest player in the Stormers backline, but Nel made an unrivalled four line breaks. I would argue he was even better in defence. The captain of the Cape side, who were back in black, was rock-solid all-around.

12: Harold Vorster (Bulls)

Like Le Roux, Vorster was in vintage form. The seasoned centre had a field day against his former team, drawing first blood with a classic chip-and-chase try and setting up Cheswill Jooste for a late try with a clever grubber.

11: Ethan Hooker (Sharks)

A strong candidate for Man of the Match in a losing effort, Hooker was the ultimate competitor, scratching and clawing for every inch. He saved tries and was tremendous in the air.

10: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

Feinberg-Mngomezulu was never going to be able to replicate his ridiculously sublime 2025 season. This year, he’s become similar to fellow mercurial flyhalf Finn Russell in that he weaves magic whilst also making a few mistakes. That was the case again on Saturday, and saw him come away with the Man of the Match award.

9: Paul de Wet (Bulls)

A scrumhalf has to be a good decision-maker, and De Wet made all the right moves at the right times, including playing Vorster down the blindside for the opening try. He also made a good break in the lead-up to Grobbelaar’s five-pointer.

8: Cameron Hanekom (Bulls) – Player of the Week

A bull in a China shop, Hanekom raised all sorts of hell in the most entertaining way. He didn’t shy away from the tough stuff, and blew the Lions away with his extraordinary explosiveness, which was perfectly encapsulated when he ran a sublime line to slice through and swatted Richard Kriel away like a fly to score his second try. A lineout steal in his 22 was the cherry on top of his Man of the Match performance. 

7: Hacjivah Dayimani (Stormers)

A man in great form, Dayimani delivered once again for the Stormers. While not as physical as last weekend, he was as dynamic as ever. He scored a try in each half and was denied a hat-trick by a knock-on in the lead-up to his third dot down. He dons our No. 7 jersey as we had to include him and Hanekom.

6: Paul de Villiers (Stormers)

The all-action Jeandre Rudolph was good for the Bulls, but he also conceded a string of penalties. De Villiers was a workhorse as well and much more clinical. He was the top tackler in the Coastal derby with 12 hits and turned the ball over three times, the last of his steals coming in the 73rd minute.

5: JF van Heerden (Bulls)

Keep on trucking. That’s what Van Heerden did. A big boy with a bright future ahead of him, he was tireless in his impressive 80-minute showing in the scorching Pretoria heat and was rewarded with his first URC try.

4: Adre Smith (Stormers)

The Stormers’ maul was like rolling thunder, earning them three tries, and Smith was monstrous in that department. He was double trouble at ruck time to boot, alternating between competing and cleaning well. 

3: Wilco Louw (Stormers)

One of the Stormers’ top signings, Louw was worth his weight, all 144kg of Grade A South African beef, in gold for the Capetonians in the Coastal derby. “Quadzilla” is a one-of-one crusher as the only man in world rugby who can win two scrum penalties and spearhead a pushover try in a head-to-head battle against Ox Nche. 

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

“Grobbies” was in his element, exhibiting his complete skillset. His set-piece work was world-class, and his power and abrasiveness saw him dominate collisions, including driving JC Pretorius back five metres and bashing over for a try.

1: Ntuthuko Mchunu (Stormers)

Mchunu was mightily impressive in a statement performance. On top of his dominance of Thomas du Toit at scrum time, which saw him win two penalties and play his part in the pushover try, he was a beastly ball carrier, even bowling over Andre Esterhuizen in the 12th minute.