Back in action and without even the slightest dip in intensity, Round 10 of the BKT United Rugby Championship delivered unrivalled action from pillar to post.

Getting underway with three simultaneous clashes on Friday evening, all of which went down to the wire, the stage was firmly set as Munster and the Vodacom Bulls edged the Dragons and Edinburgh by two points respectively. In the third clash, the embattled Ospreys and Emirates Lions could not be separated in Bridgend, playing out a 24 all draw.

Saturday’s action continued the ultra tight trend, with four of the five clashes enjoying a back and forth shootout format. The one exception to the rule was the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ impressive 30 – 19 victory over the previously undefeated DHL Stormers.

With one round remaining before Round One of the Guinness Six Nations, here is a look at which players performed the best in Round 10.

1. Billy Bohan Connacht Rugby
Amid an ever expanding injury list to Irish looseheads, Connacht’s 20 year old sensation Billy Bohan laid down a marker on the opening day at the new Dexcom Stadium. Dominating Leinster’s highly touted Niall Smyth, Bohan’s performance will have catapulted him into the conversation for Six Nations game time. With Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy already unavailable, Jack Boyle was set to be in a shootout with Munster pair Jeremy Loughman and Michael Milne for the number one shirt. Instead, the powerhouse 23 year old left the action with what appeared to be a leg injury, which has ruled him out of the squad.

2. Johan Grobbelaar Vodacom Bulls
Nabbing yet another maul try was the cherry on top of a mightily impressive showing for the Bulls’ hooker. Across the board, his 15 tackles, 13 carries and turnover were crucial to his side claiming a big time road win.

3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye Emirates Lions
Putting in a big 61 minute shift in an up tempo contest, the Lions tighthead appears to be back to his best following a tumultuous start to the season. Locking down a 100 percent win rate at scrum time to go with his nine carries, four defenders beaten and a whopping 19 tackles is a remarkable return for the 153kg powerhouse.

4. Levi Douglas Dragons RFC
Every team needs an enforcer, and for the Dragons there is no question who their bully in the pack is. Thirty year old Levi Douglas has brought a steely edge to the Dragons pack, which was utterly crucial to them nearly pulling off the shock result of the round in Cork. Dominating at the point of contact, Douglas rag dolled World Cup winner Jean Kleyn on a few occasions. With ball in hand, the giant lock continually dragged his side over the gainline. In what has been a strong run of results, Benetton drubbing aside, Douglas has been central to his side.

5. Emile van Heerden Hollywoodbets Sharks
Long touted as a future Springbok, the Sharks lock put arguably his most impressive performance to date on tape in a big time derby match. Dominating the lineout with 11 takes, carrying hard, making his tackles and winning a turnover, van Heerden set the platform for his side to claim a rare win over their coastal rivals.

6. Sean Edogbo Munster Rugby
The future of Munster Rugby showed plenty of gumption to complete a much needed comeback win over a game Dragons side in Cork. Central to this success was their young back row trio of Sean Edogbo, Ruadhan Quinn and Brian Gleeson. Three of the most highly touted Under 20 players of the past decade, the trio each had big moments on Friday evening. The pick of the bunch was certainly Edogbo, who saw his older brother Edwin receive a well deserved call up to Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad. Away from the dynamic carries, dominant tackles and impressive breakdown IQ, Edogbo’s top quality work at the lineout caught the eye. In an area Munster have struggled over the past two seasons, Edogbo, in combination with his back row partners and lock Evan O’Connell, offers an immediate solution for Clayton McMillan’s squad.

7. Harri Deaves Ospreys
One of the more hotly contested positions this week, with the Sharks’ Phepsi Buthelezi playing a blinder in Cape Town. However, Deaves’ 20 tackles, two turnovers and 15 carries were paramount in his side salvaging a draw against an impressive Lions outfit. Another honourable mention goes to Ulster’s Nick Timoney, who was exceptional for his side in their late loss to the Scarlets.

8. Sean Jansen Connacht Rugby
Edging out Munster’s pair of number eights in Gavin Coombes and Brian Gleeson, the Connacht number eight took the fight to Leinster on a historic day for his province. Going head to head with one of the game’s elite eighth men in Caelan Doris, the physical Jansen barrelled through several Leinster defenders time and again. Topping the carry charts with 15 and the tackle charts with 22, to go with two turnovers, was a top quality performance.

9. Fintan Gunne Leinster Rugby
Among the ever expanding cohort of top quality young Irish scrum halves, the Leinster nine had himself a day against Connacht. Pouncing for a well taken try to give his side an early lead, Gunne then marshalled his side around the park in a commanding victory.

10. Jordan Hendrikse Hollywoodbets Sharks
Pitted against Springbok first choice fly half Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu, the Sharks star put on a composed performance that kept the ball in front of his pack. Nailing his shots at goal, drilling a perfect cross field kick for a try and generally managing the game at a world class level, Hendrikse laid down a marker that Rassie Erasmus will no doubt have taken a real interest in.

11. Duhan van der Merwe Edinburgh Rugby
In what has been a trying season thus far, van der Merwe delivered a strong performance that highlighted what he could bring to Scotland in the Six Nations. Occupying several Bulls defenders en route to the opening try, the winger went on to beat seven defenders in total.

12. Andre Esterhuizen Hollywoodbets Sharks
Claiming a maul try, South African Rugby’s hybrid monster was immense for the Sharks in Cape Town. To his credit, Stormers inside centre Damian Willemse had a strong performance capped off by two tries, but Esterhuizen was the clear overall winner here. Topping the carry charts with 13, beating three defenders and winning a turnover in a contest the Sharks have struggled in over the past five seasons is a testament to Esterhuizen’s big game nature.

13. James Hume Ulster Rugby
One of the trickier positions to select given the range of performances, but the Ulster centre had several key interventions that set his side up for success. Unfortunately for Richie Murphy’s side, the last minute loss overshadowed several strong individual showings. On form, Hume is the best outside centre in Ireland, and performances like this will give the Irish coaching staff confidence that he is ready if called upon.

14. Ignacio Mendy Benetton
Similar to Hume, Benetton’s Argentinian international was devastating with ball in hand despite his side’s inaccuracies. Topping the metres made chart with 78 from just eight carries, beating four defenders and making both of Benetton’s line breaks, Mendy looked the most likely to crack open a stingy Cardiff defence.

15. Aphelele Fassi Hollywoodbets Sharks
Another Bok head to head winner, Fassi was cool, calm and collected at the back for his side. Making the most metres for the Sharks with 66, beating two defenders and making a line break, he was consistently influential. From the boot, he cleared his side’s lines well and repeatedly tested the Stormers.

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