It was a mixed bag of results for South African sides in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but despite it all, a few notable players managed to stand out for some exceptional performances, even though it may have come in a game their side had lost.
So this week’s Fab four may not be all the stats toppers, but it is the players who made an indelible impact on their team’s fortunes.
Corne Rahl (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
The 21-year old lock was thrust into the limelight in the absence of Eben Etzebeth and the injury to Le Roux Roets among others. But if there was a performance that caught the eye it was this of the youngster.
While his team toiled and struggled against a Zebre side that would eventually claim a historic scalp and raise questions about the Sharks season thus far, Rahl was everywhere.
From stealing lineouts, to making dominant tackles and even turning over ball, he made an impression. His one line break will be in the memory banks in a performance where his team was very poor and while he may not have been the difference between winning and losing, Rahl put in a performance that will be remembered for the future of the side.
Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
It isn’t often that a tighthead prop gets a man of the match award but the forgotten Springbok sent out a clear and concise message that he wants the national selectors to hear, with a massive scrumming performance that dominated the Cardiff scrum.
Louw was a rock in the Bulls scrum and got the plaudits he deserved when another Springbok in Gerhard Steenekamp joined him in the second half and they demolished Cardiff’s setpiece with such ease, you would have been mistaken to think this could have been a Springbok scrum that dominated World Rugby over the past few years.
It is early days and there is a lot of rugby to be played before a Springbok squad is selected again, but Louw has laid down a marker. And the Bok selectors will be watching with glee.
Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers)
One of the most underrated players in the Stormers pack. BJ Dixon is a player that never seems to have a bad day at the office. He has consistently surprised when he was first brought into the Stormers team and has the drive and heart that John Dobson is looking for in a utility forward.
While his team-mates struggled against a tough Benetton and eventually lost the game, Dixon was the one player that kept popping up and trying to inspire them to greater heights.
His work-rate, consistency and all round play make him an easy choice for this week’s fab four selection.
Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions)
If there ever was a case study of how moving franchises can help your game, Nohamba is it. Frozen out behind two Springboks at the Sharks he moved to Johannesburg and immediately struck gold. His goalkicking has been a welcome relief for the Lions coaching staff, but his general play - including the typical irritating scrumhalf behaviour that we have become accustomed to for those in a nine jersey, helps inspire his team-mates.
His recent move to 10 has been a revelation, and he controlled the Lions attack like a seasoned professional against the Scarlets, varying his options and always keeping them on the front foot.
He may not be considered in a national context at 10 (yet), but Nohamba’s versatility will do him no harm and if he carries on like this he will have more than just Lions fans watching his progress.