Round three of the United Rugby Championship brought plenty of standout performances, with players from across the league showing their class in both attacking and defensive phases. From Jeremy Loughman’s dominant display in torrid conditions for Munster to Johan Grobbelaar’s rock-solid contribution for the Bulls, the forwards set the tone this week. 

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The backs were equally thrilling, with Tom Jordan orchestrating Glasgow's attack and Rabz Maxwane scoring a hattrick for the Lions. Whether it's Caelan Doris leading Leinster or Max Nagy shining for Ospreys in defeat, this Team of the Week showcases the best of URC rugby in another thrilling round of action.

1. Jeremy Loughman – Munster Rugby

Munster’s dynamic loosehead put in a heck of a shift in torrid conditions as the season two champions got their defence back on track against the Ospreys. Locking down a strong scrum in slippery conditions and getting around the park with 5 carries, 15 tackles and 1 big-time dominant hit, Loughman set the tone for his team.

2. Johan Grobbelaar – Vodacom Bulls

Fast becoming one of the most exciting forwards in South African Rugby, the versatile Bulls front-rower had himself a day against Ulster. Taking the fight to the Irish side defensively, Grobbelaar completed 13 tackles, including 2 dominant efforts to go with his exceptional work at set piece time as a key member of a dominant scrum and line-out.

3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye – Emirates Lions

South African Rugby’s up-and-coming ‘big man’ wouldn’t look out of place on an NFL offensive line. Adding the subtle skills to his power game has got a huge work rate for a man of his stature, making 13 tackles and a handful of big carries as his team steamrolled Edinburgh.

4. Tadhg Beirne – Munster Rugby

Captain Fantastic, the new Munster kingpin, has taken to the role like a duck to water. Leading from the front as his team’s top tackler (16) and top turnover merchant (3). More importantly, however, Beirne’s understated and calm nature saw him communicate superbly with the match officials as he and his teammates pushed the boundaries in a tight and tense affair.

5. Ruan Nortje – Vodacom Bulls

An acrobatic display from the Bulls chief line-out winner as he snagged 10 throws as his team secured a 91% success rate against a potent Ulster line-out. Similar to Beirne with his physical approach to the game, the Bulls skipper is a no-nonsense, down-the-line operator who does everything to a high level.

6.  Taine Basham – Dragons

Welsh international Basham has been somewhat of a curious case as a top performer in a struggling side over the past few seasons. Once again to the fore for his team, the backrow completed a whopping 20 carries for his team to go along with his 16 tackles as they fell to a cruel overtime try from the visiting Sharks. Although the loss will be a gut punch for Basham and his teammates, their form through the opening three rounds has been strong and shows they have certainly taken a step forward from last season.

7. Jarod Cairns – Emirates Lions

One-third of arguably the most underrated backrows in the URC, Cairns brings a heavy-hitting element to a Lions pack that possesses bundles of attacking threats. Fulfilling the ‘Pieter-Steph Du Toit’ role for his team with 20 tackles and 10 carries, Cairns was an absolute workhorse for his team against Edinburgh.

8. Caelan Doris – Leinster Rugby

Leinster’s leader returned for the first time this season and played a key role in his team securing a bonus point inside 26 minutes as he dotted down for their fourth try. Topping the carries (11) and meters made (59) to go with the second most tackles (15), Doris had one of his now standard world-class outings in Treviso on Saturday afternoon.

9. Ben Murphy – Connacht Rugby

Quickly becoming the name on every Irish supporter's lips, the Connacht scrumhalf has taken the URC by storm this season. Dotting down for yet another try against the Scarlets in round three, Murphy showed incredible pace to leave the Welsh side in his wake as he raced away.

10. Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors

A soon-to-be Scottish international? We certainly think so, and so does his club coach, Franco Smith, who was effusive in his praise of the Kiwi-born playmaker. In short, the Warriors flyhalf shredded the Cardiff defence, carrying the ball for 125 meters and scoring 20 points courtesy of two tries and five conversions. For those who are partial to a bit of fantasy rugby, Jordan was the man to have on your team as he recorded an out-of-this-world 48 points on the SuperBru platform.

11. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors   

Glasgow’s Mullet Menace showed all of his footballing skills as he slipped his way free for two tries against Cardiff to cap off his 10 carries and 63-meter-made performance. For those who haven’t followed his story, Rowe is just a few years removed from working in an Amazon warehouse when the Scottish 7s program folded. Since breaking back into professional rugby, he has gone on to become a test player and one of the best-attacking backs in the URC.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors

Completing our Warriors trifecta, the Scotland international was imperious as he bullied the Cardiff defence at the contact point. Carrying the ball for 70 meters and a try, Tuipulotu was his team’s chief gainline destroyer and was the pivot with which the Warriors attack rotated.

13. Canan Moodie – Vodacom Bulls

Different position, same result – shifting from the wing to the centres, the Springbok flyer had himself a day against Ulster as he dotted down for a try and created plenty more for those around him. Once again confirming that his long-term future lies in the 13 shirt, Moodie is putting himself in pole position to challenge the established duo of Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am for the Springbok starting role.

14. Rabz Maxwane – Emirates Lions

A late bloomer, the Lions winger has transformed himself from journeyman to stand-out operator for the Johannesburg side. Netting himself a hat trick of tries to go with the one he scored in round two, Maxwane is sitting pretty with a strike rate of two tries for every match! Topping the meters carried charts with 81 meters made, his ability to run the perfect support line is worth tuning in for.

15. Max Nagy – Ospreys  

Roaming the backfield in what were biblical conditions, the Ospreys fullback was utterly superb in a losing cause against Munster. Topping the carries (12) and meters made (108) charts for the match as well as hustling hard against a team that, in simple terms, had more firepower than his, the now Welsh-eligible playmaker confirmed why so many in Wales are excited about his potential.

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