World sport is officially on standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic with professional rugby amongst those heavily affected.
Super Rugby has been postponed for the foreseeable future and after seven rounds the Sharks have accumulated the most points. The KwaZulu-Natal side lead the South African conference while the Crusaders and Brumbies top the standings in New Zealand and Australia respectively.
Betway has put together a Team of the Season to date and it will come as no surprise that the free-scoring Sharks dominate the XV:
Backs
15. Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
The Sharks fullback has arguably been the tournament's standout performer and will be the favourite to take over the No. 15 Springboks jumper from Willie le Roux. Reliable under the high ball and of the most devastating players with ball in hand, Fassi has been key to the Sharks' revolution this season.
14. Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)
The top try-scorer in the tournament after seven rounds, Kellaway has crossed the whitewash on seven occasions. He also has the fourth most clean breaks in the tournament to date.
13. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
The Sharks captain has marshalled the Natal team brilliantly and while he is superb in attack, Am's defence is what really separates him from the rest. Am cuts passing lanes, knows when to shift and hardly ever misses a tackle making him a dream for any coach.
12. Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes)
The Hurricanes centre has played like a man eager to prove a point and having been left out of the All Blacks 2019 World Cup squad, it is easy to understand why. Luamape is one of the most difficult players to bring down and 23 defenders beaten and 11 clean breaks he is one of the most potent attackers in the tournament this season.
11. Mark Telea (Blues)
Pushing Fassi for the best backline player in the tournament thus far is the 23-year-old Blues speedster. Telea has beaten an incredible 54 defenders this season - Fassi is second with 33 - racked up 14 clean breaks and scored five tries as he makes a push for a national team call-up.
10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
While Domingo Miotti and and James O'Connor will feel hard done by, Bosch has scored by far the most points after seven rounds with 86. He has profited from a strong Sharks backline, nonetheless Bosch has been a vital cog in their attack and while his speed has always been an asset, his kicking game has improved immensely. Critics will be calling for an improvement in decision making and overall defence, but there is no doubting Bosch's quality and potential.
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9. Tate McDermott (Reds)
.jpg "Tate McDermott (Reds)")
The Reds youngster has been exceptional for the Australian franchise this season and is among the top try-scorers in the tournament with five tries, while he also leads the division in try assists. South Africa's Herschel Jantjies is a close second. Have the Wallabies finally found a long term replacement for Will Genia?
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Forwards
1. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
The Springbok prop has carried on from where he left off in Japan and when he isn't dominating scrums, he is dominating the opposition in the contact area. Kitshoff is ready to make that No. 1 green and gold jumper his own.
2. Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
In a position which has a lot of competition, Taylor pips his peers due to his superiority in attack. Not only does he hold his own at the scrum, hardly miss his jumper from the line-out but with ball in hand he is among the most devastating forwards going around. Sorry Folau Fainga'a.
3. Taniela Topou (Reds)
The 'Tongan Thor' is an absolute unit. The Reds tight-head has not only made the most meters of any prop in the tournament, but also crossed the whitewash on three occasions and for this he sneaks ahead of fellow Australian international and Brumbies strongman Allan Alaalatoa.
4. Guido Petti Pagadizábal (Jaguares)
.jpg "Guido Petti Pagadizábal (Jaguares)")
The Jaguares lock has continued to impress for the Argentine franchise. He has not only won the second most lineouts, but is also yet to miss a tackle in this season's tournament as he continues to establish himself as one of the best second rowers in world rugby.
5. Michael Stolberg (Sunwolves)
The Sunwolves lock has been a shining light for a struggling franchise this season. Stolberg leads the tournament in lineouts won while he has also made the third most tackles and won five turnovers.
6. James Venter (Sharks)
The Sharks hard man has been devastating with ball in hand, competitive at the breakdown and even more impressive on defence. Not only has he made the seventh most tackles in the tournament thus far, he is yet to miss one and looks sure to be a Springbok sooner rather than later.
7. Tom Christie (Crusaders)
The Crusaders openside has taken to Super Rugby with ease. The former New Zealand U20 captain has made the most tackles (111) in the competition, 23 more than anyone else while missing just three.
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)
.jpg "Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks)")
The Sharks eightman has been key to the Natal franchises' good start to the tournament. He not only sparks attacking plays with his superior ball running and offload ability, but more than holds his own in defence. Notshe is not only amongst the top five in his position in running meters and tackle busts, but tackles made too.
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