Australian Super Rugby Team of the Week 2024

[Wilson]

Figured it's about time to get this going again. Happy to compile the votes, but equally happy to leave it to someone who has done it before if they're keen to go again.

Open to thoughts on eligibility but my preference is players eligible for the Wallabies and playing for an Australian super side. I'd lean towards eligible for first test of the year but anyone becoming eligible within the test season probably makes as much sense. I've been trying to track that eligibility here, should be mostly up to date for the start of the season but if there's anything to add to it or contest best to add it to that thread to keep this one relatively clean.

And on keeping the thread clean, beyond a bit of initial debate about eligibility this really should just be for posting teams, not critiquing anyone else's picks. Just a reminder from last years thread (thanks @cyclopath ):

Yeah, I think this pretty much needs to be like the 3-2-1 ratings for Wallabies in Tests. Put your team up, by all means justify who and why, but pages of debate about other people's opinion is not required - save that for match threads.
If someone has to collate this data, it'll be damn near impossible if each week gets 5 pages of argument.

 

[Wilson]

Week One:

1 Matt Gibbon (Rebels)
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3 Zane Nonggorr (Reds)
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Seru Uru (Reds)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Josh Flook (Reds)
14 Dylan Peitsch (tahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

HM: Holloway, Reimer, Harry Wilson (Reds), Ikitau

Tight head, 6 and fullback probably the weakest positions this week. Nonggorr gets it for a massive improvement since the trial and managing to shut down the dominance the tahs previously had at the scrums. The 2nd best 8s (Wilson and Leota) probably out played all the 6's but I'm committed to picking players in the positions they played (with the exception of wingers) so Valetini gets it. Tight call between Petaia and Kellaway at 15, both a few too many errors to really nail it down but Kellaway just snakes it for mine.

 

[Slim 293]

Round 1:

1 Matt Gibbon (Rebels)
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3 Zane Nonggorr (Reds)
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Seru Uru (Reds)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
14 Dylan Peitsch (Waratahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

 

[Dctarget]

Week One:

1 Matt Gibbon (Rebels)
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3 Zane Nonggorr (Reds)
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Seru Uru (Reds)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Josh Flook (Reds)
14 Dylan Peitsch (tahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

I'm seconding this team. Especially the comments about the 8s, so many good performances.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Round 1:

1 Angus Bell (Tahs) - I'm sticking with my view that Gardner got the scrums mostly wrong and Bell was best in open play.
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Nick Frost (Brumbies) - partly the reason the Brumbies lineout absolutely destroyed the Rebels.
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
14 Dylan Peitsch (Waratahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

I can't find any argument to support a player at No 3 last weekend. Does that disqualify me?

Ryan Lonergan is unlucky to miss out. His service was fast and accurate and no doubt contributed to Noah's good form. He also captained the side in excellent fashion.

 

[dru]

I'm seconding this team. Especially the comments about the 8s, so many good performances.

Same here. For clarity:

Week One:

1 Matt Gibbon (Rebels)
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3 Zane Nonggorr (Reds)
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Seru Uru (Reds)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Josh Flook (Reds)
14 Dylan Peitsch (tahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

 

[TSR]

1. Gibbon
2. Faessler
3. Nonggorr
4. Salakaia-Loto
5. Frost
6. Wright
7. McReight
8. Cale
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Toole
12. Paisami
13. Flook
14. Pietsch
15. Kellaway

 

[RugbyReg]

1. Gibbon
2. Faessler
3. Nonggorr
4. Salakaia-Loto
5. Frost
6. Wright
7. Reimer
8. Leota
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Toole
12. Paisami
13. Ikitau
14. Pietsch
15. Kellaway

 

[Tomikin]

1. Gibbon
2. Lonergan
3. Nonggor
4. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
5. Frost
6. Wright
7. Reimer
8. Cale
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Toole
12. Paisami
13. Ikitau
14. Pietsch
15. Kellaway

Just goes to show how bad the fullbacks where with Kellaway not great but the best of a bad bunch.

 

[Slim 293]

Paul Cully picked Van Nek in his TOTW, clearly for the LOL’s…

 

[snoopycatchicken]

1. Gibbon
2. Faeslar
3. Nongoor
4. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
5. Frost
6. Valetini
7. Reimer
8. Leota
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Toole
12. Paisami
13. Ikitau
14. Pietsch
15. Kellaway

 

[cyclopath]

Round 1:

1 Angus Bell (Tahs) - I'm sticking with my view that Gardner got the scrums mostly wrong and Bell was best in open play.
2 Matt Faessler (Reds)
3
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
5 Nick Frost (Brumbies) - partly the reason the Brumbies lineout absolutely destroyed the Rebels.
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds)
13 Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
14 Dylan Peitsch (Waratahs)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)

I can't find any argument to support a player at No 3 last weekend. Does that disqualify me?

Ryan Lonergan is unlucky to miss out. His service was fast and accurate and no doubt contributed to Noah's good form. He also captained the side in excellent fashion.

Yes!

 

[Wilson]

I'll compile this weeks combined team this afternoon, probably while I'm watching the Blues v Highlanders. Get any final votes in before kick off to be counted.

 

[Wilson]

Team of the Week Round 1:

1 Matt Gibbon (Rebels) - (8/9)
2 Matt Faessler (Reds) - (9/9)
3 Zane Nonggorr (Reds) - (8/8)
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels) - (9/9)
5 Nick Frost (Brumbies) - (5/9)
6 Rob Valetini (Brumbies) - (6/9)
7 Fraser McReight (Reds) - (6/9)
8 Charlie Cale (Brumbies) - (7/9)
9 Tate McDermott (Reds) - (9/9)
10 Noah Lolesio (Brumbies) - (9/9)
11 Corey Toole (Brumbies) - (9/9)
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds) - (9/9)
13 Len Ikitau (Brumbies) - (5/9)
14 Dylan Peitsch (tahs) - (9/9)
15 Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - (9/9)

With a (partial) bench of:

17 Angus Bell (tahs) - (1/9)
19 Seru Uru (Reds) - (4/9)
20 Rob Leota (Rebels) - (2/9)
21 Liam Wright (Reds) - (3/9)
22 Luke Reimer (Brumbies) (3/9)
23 Josh Flook (Reds) - (4/9)

Numbers are votes for/total votes. A lot of unanimous or near unanimous picks meant only a few extras, but I figure I'll track those runners up as much as possible, aiming for as valid and complete a bench as possible each week, but only excluding players if there are more than 23 individual nominations. Might be useful for tie breakers in the team of the year.

 

[TSR]

1. Bell
2. Faessler
3. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)
4. Holloway
5. Smith (Williams unlucky to miss out)
6. Kemeny
7. Gamble
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Lynagh
11. Toole
12. Walton
13. Flook
14. Daugunu
15. Kellaway

10 the hardest to split between a number of contenders. Edmed, Donaldson and Gordon all good. 6 pretty hotly contested too.

14 the hardest to fill. Aside from Toole I thought all the other wingers had a mixed bag.

Edit: Forgot about Daugunu. Or I am just easily influenced.

 

[RugbyReg]

1 Angus Bell
2 Matt Faessler
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Jed Holloway
5 Jeremy Williams
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Charlie Gamble
8 Harry Wilson
9 Jake Gordon
10 Tom Lynagh
11 Filipo Daugunu
12 Joey Walton
13 Josh Flook
14 Corey Toole
15 Andrew Kellaway

Edmed very close so it may be Red bias, but he made a few mistakes whereas Lynagh was almost perfect. Great in D.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

1 Angus Bell
2 Matt Faessler
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Jed Holloway
5 Jeremy Williams
6 Fergus Lee-Warner
7 Charlie Gamble
8 Harry Wilson
9 Jake Gordon
10 Tom Lynagh
11 Filipo Daugunu
12 Joey Walton
13 Josh Flook
14 Corey Toole
15 Andrew Kellaway

10 was a tough one. Edmed played a solid game and kicked well in play and from the tee. Donaldson had a good game for the Force and Gordon showed his skill in bursts.

HM to McReight who was perpetual motion but Gambles tackle numbers that really got in the way of the Saders halves (and my blue vision)

3 was the lamest position for me. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) got it but nobody blew me away. Gibbon had a pretty solid game but Bell gets it.

 

[Brumby Runner]

1 Angus Bell
2 Matt Faessler
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Jed Holloway
5 Jeremy Williams
6 Fergus Lee-Warner
7 Fraser McReight
8 Harry Wilson
9 Jake Gordon
10 Tom Lynagh
11 Corey Toole
12 Joey Walton
13 Josh Flook
14 Filipo Daugunu
15 Andrew Kellaway

 

[Braveheart81]

1. Bell
2. Faessler
3. Johnson-Holmes
4. Holloway
5. Salakaia-Loto
6. Hanigan
7. Gamble
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Lynagh
11. Toole
12. Walton
13. Flook
14. Daugunu
15. Kellaway

 

[Slim 293]

Round 2:

1. Bell (Waratahs)
2. Faessler (Reds)
3. Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs)
4. Holloway (Waratahs)
5. Williams (Force)
6. Kemeny (Rebels)
7. Gamble (Waratahs)
8. Wilson (Reds)
9. White* (Force)
10. Edmed (Waratahs)
11. Toole (Brumbies)
12. Walton (Waratahs)
13. Wilson (Waratahs)
14. Daugunu (Rebels)
15. Kellaway (Rebels)

* Maybe controversial, and I might change it... but I thought Gordon wasn't very good until the last quarter of the game, whereas the Force were a much better team with White on the field.