Super team of the week
10. Josh Ioane (Highlanders): Stood up defensively with a brave tackle on Rieko Ioane as the last line of defence and guided the team around smartly.
9. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes threatened to completely unravel against the Sunwolves but the likes of Perenara kept them together – just.
8. Elliot Dixon (Highlanders): Has found a rich vein of form to give the Highlanders another strong option in their back row. Athletic from the base of the scrum.
7. Dalton Papali’i (Blues): Probably his best game of the campaign so far. High work rate in defence and managed to get his hands on the ball on attack, too.
6. Luke Jacobson (Chiefs): One of the biggest engines in the competition. Must be getting close to Papali’i in the All Blacks’ pecking order and has the toughness to play test footy.
5. Tom Franklin (Highlanders): There’s a reason he has been on the fringes of the All Blacks squad in recent years. Another industrious, physical performance from the lock.
4. Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders): The second row seems to suit Hemopo in Super Rugby. Started to get his running game going in the second half.
3. Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders): In the absence of Owen Franks, is Lomax now the form tighthead in New Zealand? Did a Tadhg Furlong on Tu’inukuafe for the penalty try.
2. Liam Coltman (Highlanders): Lineout was a bit wonky again but there is no better Kiwi hooker at the breakdown than Coltman. There were shades of Andrew Hore with one crucial turnover.
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders): Has been asked to beef up to improve his setpiece work and the hard work is paying off. Had perhaps his finest hour at scrum time on Saturday.