Rugby Championship Team of the Week: 'Future of Springbok rugby ...

Now that the dust has settled on Round One of the Rugby Championship, we have gone through the action to pick the best players from the weekend.

After a thrilling opening weekend that saw Argentina overturn New Zealand and South Africa innovate their way to an impressive win in Brisbane against the Wallabies, Los Pumas and the Springboks unsurprisingly dominate.

15 Willie le Roux (South Africa): Another artistic display from the old master at 15, Le Roux worked well with his halfbacks to add real impetus, popping up at 10 and 12 regularly to make the extra man. Juan Cruz Mallia was exceptional for Los Pumas, as he fielded the All Blacks‘ kicking game with aplomb.

14 Mateo Carreras (Argentina): His performance was so good we’ve swapped him onto the right wing to fit him in and we’re sure he won’t complain. A wonderful piece of finishing from the Argentinian flyer keeps the great Cheslin Kolbe out of this week’s team.

13 Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand): The recalled Kiwi centre made a big impact, scoring a try and making another with his crossfield kick for Sam Darry. However, he missed a couple of tackles and there was great debate in PR Towers between him and Jesse Kriel, who was brilliantly effective in Brisbane. Lucio Cinti also impressed, crossing for Los Pumas opener in their famous win.

12 Santiago Chocobares (Argentina): Absolutely magnificent as the midfield maestro took his thrilling form for Toulouse into the international arena in a brilliant display of powerful rush defence. Hunter Paisami might have been on the end of a hiding but he stood up well for the Wallabies in Brisbane, nipping over for a consolation try.

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa): A wonderful individual try was the focal point of another rounded display from the Bok wing. Mark Tele’a was one of the more impressive Kiwis in their defeat and he’s our runner up.

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa): A wonderfully calm and creative first start at 10 demonstrated that the swaggering Sacha is the future of Springbok rugby. He was magnificent in energizing the Bok backline and just claims the shirt from the equally impressive Santiago Carreras, whose accuracy from the tee was crucial in Wellington.

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9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Argentina): The combative half-back had an armchair ride in a game shorn of scrums, and his passing in midfield was slick and pinpoint. Cobus Reinach looked as sharp as a tack until he got clattered in a massive hit. He’s a bit bruised as he also suffered the ignominy of a brutal clearout by Andrew Kellaway that may well have seen a different coloured card.

8 Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina): A player of exquisite handling ability, the big Puma was one third of one of the finest collective back-row performances seen at Test level in recent times. He was magnificent. A word for two Boks, Elrigh Louw, who was organised and tidy as a starter, and the ageless Kwagga Smith, who came on and defined the word impact as he crossed for his eighth test try.

7 Marcos Kremer (Argentina): Playing left and right flank with Matera, the man mountain was simply impenetrable in midfield as 18 thundering tackles left All Blacks reeling every time they took him on. Ben-Jason Dixon didn’t expect to start for the Boks but he seized his chance with both hands to increase the South African back-row depth, delivering an all action performance.

6 Pablo Matera (Argentina): Simply world-class in every aspect. It’s no surprise we picked the Los Pumas trio en masse, and Matera was our player of the weekend as he inspired, tackled and carried himself into exhaustion in arguably the best personal performance of his 103 Tests. Siya Kolisi reminded those in Paris that he’s still a force to be reckoned with as he opened the account for the Boks with a brilliantly innovative two pod line out move.

5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa): “Lock, Rassie? OK, I’ll do it,” he would have said, just before kick-off. And do it he did, quite magnificently, as he demonstrated his world-class ability in any of the back five positions. Sam Darry was very close to making our team as his try-scoring debut was memorable for the All Blacks, whilst Pedro Rubiolo shone in opposition.

4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): Immense. He’s one of the Bok greats and his consistency is the reason why many believe he’s the finest lock that South Africa have ever produced. Franco Molina crossed for Los Pumas, whilst in the mayhem of Brisbane, Nick Frost never gave up and delivered a strong showing in defeat.

3 Frans Malherbe (South Africa): Back to his monstrous best, he left the Wallaby props bent to a different shape than when they first started the match. Eduardo Bello might have been desperate for a scrum to break up all of that trundling around the park, but he didn’t get one, despite his committed and effective 47-minute shift.

2 Agustin Creevy (Argentina): Creevy is said to be of an age where he can very shortly access a tax-free lump sum from his Los Pumas pension but that didn’t stop the veteran from delivering a close-out performance that saw him running around like a spring lamb. His try was the nail in the Kiwi coffin. Malcolm Marx had an extended run for the Boks, showing he’s well on his way to full recovery.

1 Ox Nche (South Africa): Whilst he absolutely destroyed Allan Alaalatoa, it was his play in the loose, often acting as a pod receiver, that caught the eye. Thomas Gallo at least managed one scrum on the pitch before he went off, but the pocket sized tank from Argentina is all about his mobility, carrying and tackling, areas where he once again shone in Wellington.

READ MORE: All Blacks v Argentina: Five takeaways as ‘possessed’ Los Pumas ‘pummel’ Scott Robertson’s men in a famous win