Pumas speedster Ramiro Moyano headlines our Rugby Championship Team of the Round

Alex Broun 20:25 16/09/2018
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  • Ramiro Moyano evades the tackle of David Pocock

    A thrilling fourth round of the Rugby Championship with both matches going down to the final play.

    In Wellington the Boks did the impossible, beating the All Blacks on home soil 36-34 for the first time in nearly a decade.

    While on the Gold Coast the Pumas recorded their first win over the Wallabies in Australia for 35 years, 23-19.

    But who were the players who stood out? Check out of Team of the Round below.

    The Springboks get their reward with five players selected – all in the forwards – while the All Blacks also earn five selections, despite losing, thanks to the dominance of their backs.

    The Pumas gain four selections while the under-performing Wallabies have just one – scrumhalf Will Genia.

    Here’s our team…

    15. Jordie Barrett (NZ)

    On a losing team but his stats can’t be ignored – ten runs for 79 metres, three clean breaks, four defenders beaten and one offload. Scored his team’s first try.

    14. Ramiro Moyano (ARG)

    His superlative form continued with four runs for 95 metres, two clean breaks, eight defenders beaten and one off load. Almost set up a try for Sanchez but his foot grazed the sideline.

    13. Jack Goodhue (NZ)

    Only played the last 21 minutes but was one of the All Blacks best. Three passes, seven runs for 40 metres, one clean break and five defenders beaten.

    12. Ryan Crotty (NZ)

    Again on a losing team but the best inside centre on show. A busy game with 11 passes, 14 runs for 27 metres and three defenders beaten. Three tackles and two missed.

    11. Rieko Ioane (NZ)

    Back into the team and instantly made his mark. Scored two tries and made 13 runs for a game high 84 metres. No less than five clean breaks and six defenders beaten.

    10. Nicolas Sanchez (ARG)

    Holds his spot with another impressive display. Backed up well to score his try and got involved with 16 passes, and five runs for 26 metres. Perfect with the boot landing two conversions and a penalty.

    9. Will Genia (AUS)

    Another one on a losing team but the best scrumhalf on show. 80 passes, and seven runs for 54 metres, with two clean breaks and one defender beaten. Also made four tackles with one missed.

    8. Warren Whiteley (RSA)

    A key part of the Springboks defensive heroics in the second half. The Lions No8 tackled himself to a stand still with 20 tackles, missing just one. Also four runs for 18 metres.

    7. Pieter Steph du Toit – Player of the Round (RSA)

    A super human effort, topping the tackle count with 24 tackles while he attempted another five. No one dug deeper in the final minutes to keep the All Blacks out.

    6. Pablo Matera (ARG)

    An impressive return to the starting line-up, big performance in both defence and attack. Made seven runs for 36 metres and also completed 15 tackles with just two missed.

    5. Franco Mostert (RSA)

    Another of the Bok heroes in Wellington. Strong in the lineout but an absolute warrior in defence with an equal game high 24 tackles, while he missed just two.

    4. Tomas Lavinini (ARG)

    A tower of strength in the Pumas pack. Made 11 tackles, missing just one and linked well with six passes and four runs. Part of a faultless lineout that won 15 from 15.

    3. Francois Malherbe (RSA)

    The Boks scrum was rock solid winning six from six but the Stormers tight head also excelled in the loose with 12 tackles and 21 metres from three runs.

    2. Codie Taylor (NZ)

    A loose forward in the front row. Accurate with his lineout throws, he scored a try and made 11 runs for 33 metres, also completed four tackles without missing one.

    1. Steven Kitshoff (RSA)

    A powerhouse at scrum time and got through a mountain of work in his 66 minutes on the field. 15 tackles without a miss plus did the hard yards, four runs for 11 metres.

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