BKT United Rugby Championship Quarterfinals | Team Of The Week
BKT United Rugby Championship Quarterfinals | Team Of The Week
Discover the standout performers from FloRugby's BKT United Rugby Championship quarterfinals Team of the Week, which includes players from four nations.
As the BKT United Rugby Championship quarterfinals delivered their expected intensity and drama, standout individual performances emerged from every corner of the competition.
With clubs from Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and Wales battling it out for semifinal places, the margins for success were razor-thin and often swung by the form of a few world-class players rising to the occasion.
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This week’s Team of the Week celebrates those elite showings.
From rising stars making statements on the big stage to seasoned internationals showcasing their championship pedigree, this selection reflects a blend of explosive athleticism, clinical precision and unrelenting physicality.
Whether it was from the front row at scrum time or dynamic moments out wide, each inclusion left an undeniable imprint on their team’s fortunes.
With the road to the final narrowing, these players didn’t just excel—they defined the pulse of knockout rugby.
The selections span all four regions and highlight the depth of talent within the URC as it continues to establish itself as one of the most competitive and unpredictable leagues in world rugby.
This week’s XV, plus a potent bench, serves as a reminder of just how high the level is when everything is on the line.
1. Ox Nche – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Putting another highlight reel performance on tape, the Springboks loosehead caused the Munster scrum all sorts of problems in their titanic struggle at Kings Park.
In truth, Nche once again was an unsung hero alongside Vincent Koch, with the pair gaining their team several scrum penalties, which were parlayed into territory.
2. Dan Sheehan – Leinster Rugby
Talk about impact from the bench!
While there is no doubt that the bomb squad concept works for the Springboks, it doesn’t work for Irish teams.
While Ronan Kelleher is a top-quality operator in his own right, Sheehan is at another level and should be starting every big game for Leinster.
Given his fitness, power and pace, Leinster should be looking to have him on for the opening 60 minutes to wreak havoc.
3. Wilco Louw – Vodacom Bulls
Alongside Thomas Du Toit, the Boks’ tighthead depth chart is looking increasingly healthy and vastly different to their 2023 World Cup one.
Utilizing his powerhouse frame to lethal effect, Louw grew into the clash with Edinburgh. Once he began to get on top of opposite man Pierre Schoeman, the complexion of the match began to shift.
4. Eben Etzebeth – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Captain cool, there is a reason that Etzebeth is the most experienced Springbok of all time.
Timing when to get his messages to the match officials, going head-to-head with the impressive pairing of Beirne and Kleyn, this might just have been his best performance in the black shirt.
5. Tadhg Beirne – Munster Rugby
Alongside Etzebeth, there is a real case to be made that the Munster skipper is the best lock in professional rugby.
Pulling off several key interventions, namely a brilliant intercept just before halftime, Beirne frustrated the life out of the Sharks players.
Orchestrating a much-improved line-out bodes well for Munster next season, and in reality, his side proved they remain one of the elite teams in the URC.
6. Vaea Fifita – Scarlets
Putting in a statement performance in the Scarlets' biggest match of the season, the former All Black turned Tongan international caught the Leinster defense napping on a few occasions.
Defensively, he was immense in terms of impact tackles, with a yellow card being his one blemish.
7. Vincent Tshituka – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Quite clearly a Springbok in waiting, the Congolese star left a bruising imprint on the Munster defense with a sprinkling of huge carries.
Making 67 meters from 14 carries to go with his 11 carries, his performance led the charge for a strong showing from the Sharks' backrow unit.
8. Cameron Hanekom – Vodacom Bulls
While Henry Pollock continues to gather plaudits in the Northern Hemisphere, for us, Hanekom is the best young backrow in world rugby at the time of writing.
Not only is he ultra-physical and fast, but his rugby IQ is off the charts.
Capable of playing just about any style that his team requires, Hanekom will be the next big star of the Springbok pack.
9. Craig Casey – Munster Rugby
For this writer, there is no doubt that Casey is the in-form Irish scrumhalf and likely will take the shirt from Jamison Gibson-Park later this year.
Combining with the equally impressive Jack Crowley, the pair formed Munster’s first great halfback pairing since String and O’Gara led Munster to two Heineken Cups.
Should one of Andy Farrell’s Lions scrumhalves go down, it is impossible to see Casey not being the first number Farrell dials.
10. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby
Edging the superb pairing of Tom Jordan and Jack Crowley, the Edinburgh fly-half had a coming-of-age performance at Loftus Versfeld.
Now 26 years old, Thompson appears comfortable in his skin about what type of player he is.
Unlike the flashy brilliance of Russell, Thompson is less likely to pull a rabbit out of the hat but is more than capable of striking when an opportunity presents itself.
Netting two tries and kicking brilliantly, he has put quite some distance between himself and Ben Healy as Edinburgh’s kingpin playmaker.
11. Diarmuid Kilgallen – Munster Rugby
Quite possibly the most exciting outside back prospect in Irish Rugby had another huge showing for the men in red.
While Leinster’s Tommy O’Brien and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale gathered much-deserved plaudits this season, Kilgallen has the potential to be the pick of the lot.
The 6-foot-4 flyer has out-and-out gas to go with a truly special ability in the air, superb defense and an eye for a gap.
Alongside Calvin Nash, who also was superb, Munster has two international-quality wingers.
Throw into the mix Thaakir Abrahams, who looks to be a special winger rather than fullback, and the presence of Mike Haley, Sean O’Brien, Shane Daly and Ben O’Connor, and Munster has a potent backfield to pick from next season.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors
As if it wasn’t already clear, Tuipulotu is now Scotland’s most important player and was sorely missed during the Six Nations.
On form, it is a no contest that he should be the Lions starting inside center.
Utilizing his immense physicality as a decoy, what sets Tuipulotu apart from other 12s is his subtle skills both with his hands and the boot.
Piercing a gap in the Stormers' backfield cover with a brilliant grubber kick for Kyle Rowe’s try was a key example of what makes the Scottish skipper so special.
13. David Kriel – Vodacom Bulls
Unflashy but just so good in every department, the Bulls’ utility back has the potential to push on and be a difference-maker on the international stage.
Slotting in at 13 in the quarterfinal, Kriel played a huge role in getting his side on top in the second half.
Setting his outside backs on their way with exceptional hands, while also scoring a try of his own, Kriel quietly has become the most important back in the Bulls squad.
14. Ethan Hooker – Hollywoodbets Sharks
Another Springbok in waiting, the versatile Sharks back scored an absolute peach of a try that got his side back into the contest against Munster.
Ending his day as the man of the match on the back of 84 meters from eight carries with nine defenders beaten no doubt will have caught the eye of Rassie Erasmus.
15. Hugo Keenan - Leinster Rugby
Just edging the exceptional showings of Willie Le Roux and Aphelele Fassi, the Leinster fullback was one of the few Leinster players who had a strong showing against the Scarlets.
His post-match interview makes it clear that he is not immune to the over-the-top criticism Leinster is receiving.
Keenan remains a class act and has covered up several breakdowns in the Jacques Nienaber defensive system.
Offensively, he was Leinster’s most effective carrier, making 59 meters off 13 carries, most of which came from his own moment’s brilliance as the Leinster attack stuttered once again.
Replacements
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets), 17. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 18. Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 19. Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls), 20. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), 21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), 22. Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby), 23. Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
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