In round eight of Super Rugby AU we saw the contenders and the pretenders.
The Queensland Reds opened the weekend by smashing the Western Force 57-5 on Friday night.
The Brumbies then followed the Reds' onslaught up with another as they turned it on in the second half to run away from the Waratahs 38-11 in Canberra.
Here's our team of the week.
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⁉️ How did Pete Samu score this?! #SuperRugbyAU #BRUvWAR
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 22, 2020
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1. James Slipper - Brumbies
If only Irae Simone's ball wasn't forward!
Slipper hit a brilliant line and went straight through but Simone's pass was forward and prevented Slipper from showing some razzle dazzle.
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa - Reds
No hooker commanded a spot in this side, but Paenga-Amosa did just enough to edge out Andrew Ready.
3. Taniela Tupou - Reds
This young man continues to get better and better.
He was the forward of the week.
Absolutely bombed one try but his pace and stunning ball to Fraser McReight late in the match was a ripper.
Tupou's a serious baller and a monster at the scrum.
🏃The only person who can stop Nella is Nella. #FORvRED #SuperRugbyAU
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 21, 2020
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4. Cadeyrn Neville - Brumbies
After a long absence, Neville returned for the Brumbies and was solid.
The Brumbies regularly disrupted the Waratahs' lineout and that dominance at the set-piece went a long way to sealing their win.
Across the field too, Neville was a continual nuisance and thorn for the Waratahs.
READ MORE
BACK ON TOP: Second half onslaught sees Brumbies hammer Tahs
WALLABIES: Is it time for McDermott, O'Connor to become Rennie's halves pairing?
WATCH: Tupou bombs try to leave commentators in stitches
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Reds
This man continues to impress in Super Rugby AU.
Salakaia-Loto is learning to string good performances together and that new-found consistency is helping the Reds immensely.
6. Liam Wright - Reds
A workhorse in defence, Wright does a lot of the dirty work and the grunt.
Wright made 14 tackles and was also very effective at the lineout.
🤷Who needs backs when you have forwards who can do this! #FORvRED #SuperRugbyAU
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 22, 2020
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7. Fraser McReight - Reds
Shaded by Tupou as the forward of the week.
This was McReight's most dominant game in Super Rugby.
The Junior Wallabies captain was great on both sides of the ball, making 15 tackles and 83 run metres in attack.
McReight's link play was exceptional.
8. Pete Samu - Brumbies
A brace of tries and both of them were great finishes.
👏 Tate the great. #FORvRED #SuperRugbyAU
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 21, 2020
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9. Tate McDermott - Reds
Speed. Awareness. Competitiveness.
McDermott showed the value of speed against the Force, twice burning them with his acceleration to finish with a second-half brace of tries.
10. James O'Connor - Reds
When the game was in the balance early on it was O'Connor who was pulling the strings.
He set up both of the Reds' opening two first-half tries.
His first was a beautiful ball back on the inside to his winger Filpo Daugunu.
Next came an extraordinary offload as he attacked the line.
💪 JOC with the go go gadget offload. #FORvRED #SuperRugbyAU
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 22, 2020
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11. Filpo Daugunu - Reds
Daugunu shaved the Brumbies' winger Tom Wright for a place in our team of the week.
The Reds winger crossed for a first-half double and was electric with each touch.
12. Irae Simone - Brumbies
Backed up his selection in Dave Rennie's PONI squad with a solid performance in the midfield.
Simone put on a couple of big shots in defence and threw a lovely cut out pass for Samu's opening try.
13.Kyle Godwin - Force
In a well-beaten side Godwin was one of the Force's best.
Godwin made the most metres in attack for the Force (58) and made seven tackles in defence.
14. Jordan Petaia - Reds
Petaia edged out Andy Murihead for a place on the right-wing.
The Wallabies back was a handful in defence, making five tackles busts and consistently sought to keep the ball alive.
15. Jock Campbell - Reds
He might not be the headline name at the Reds, but a lot of their silky play can be contributed to Campbell's elusiveness and passing game at fullback.
Another couple of tackle busts, offloads and a linebreak and linebreak assist to the Reds No.15.
⬛ The ultimate cross bar challenge from Bayley Kuenzle. #SuperRugbyAU #BRUvWAR
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 22, 2020
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