Western Force stars Nick Cummins and Matt Hodgson make our R9 Super Rugby team of the week

THINGS just keep getting better for the Force with Matt Hodgson and cult hero Nick Cummins making our R9 team of the week. View the full line-up!

Cummins is just the third Force player to score a hat-trick.

SUPER Rugby’s pacesetters enjoyed another successful round at the weekend with the conference leaders the Brumbies, Sharks and Chiefs all recording victories.

The Brumbies and Chiefs didn’t have it all their own way though with both sides forced to battle right through to the 80th-minute to secure the four points.

But the biggest result of the weekend came in Perth, where Western Force overturned an early-season hammering from the Waratahs to defeat their Australian rivals 28-16 in Perth.

Read on to find out how many Force players made our round-nine team of the week!

1. Loosehead Prop - Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs) was solid in his first start for the Chiefs in three weeks, getting through plenty of work in his 56 minutes on the field. Mackintosh made seven runs (23m), one offload, one tackle bust, one pilfer and seven tackles against the Rebels.

2. Hooker – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks) showed why he is the premier hooker in world rugby with his work at the breakdown against the Lions, ending the match with four forced ruck and maul penalties. Bismarck is leading the team brilliantly this season and also chipped in with five runs (21m) and five tackles.

3. Tighthead Prop – Ben Alexander (Brumbies) had his best game for the season for the Brumbies on Friday. The veteran front-rower made one linebreak, one linebreak assists, four runs (16m), two offloads, two tackle busts and seven tackles against the Reds.News_Image_File: Ben Alexander had an outstanding game against the Reds.

4. Second Row – Mike Fitzgerald (Chiefs) scored his first Super Rugby try on the weekend and did plenty of work in defence against the Rebels. Fitzgerald made one linebreak, five runs (29m), three tackle busts, two lineout wins and 15 tackles.

5. Second Row - Luke Jones (Rebels) continues to push for a Wallabies jersey with another impressive performance on the weekend for the Rebels. Jones made a game-high 12 runs (47m), six lineout wins and nine tackles against the Chiefs.

6. Blindside – Although he wears the No.7 jersey for the Sharks, Jean Deysel (Sharks) is the blindside flanker in the team of the week. Deysel made 10 runs (62m), three tackle busts, two offloads, one pilfer, one forced penalty and eight tackles against the Lions.

7. Openside – Matt Hodgson (Force) continues his renaissance with the Force, leading his team to an unprecedented fifth straight victory. Hodgson made six runs (32), one pilfer, one forced penalty, and a game-high 18 tackles against the Waratahs.News_Image_File: Hodgson (C) has been at the centre of the Force revival.

8. No.8 - The Crusaders are making their trademark run to the finals and Kieran Read is leading the way. Read set up two of the Crusaders’ tries and also made one linebreak, five runs (34m), three lineout wins and five tackles.

9. Halfback – Nic White (Brumbies) was the pick of the halfbacks over the weekend, starring for the Brumbies in their win over the Reds. White scored 13 points, made one try assist, two linebreak assists, three runs, two offloads, two tackle busts and seven tackles.

10. Fly-half - Colin Slade’s (Crusaders) 25-point haul against the Cheetahs was the most he’s scored in a match in Super Rugby. Slade also finished the match with three tackle busts, one linebreak, one try assist and seven tackles.

11. Left Winger – The Honey Badger, Nick Cummins, (Force) became just the third Force player to score a hat-trick last week, and the first since Cameron Shepherd back in 2009. Cummins made only four runs but a massive 192m against the Waratahs, changing the course of the game with his runaway tries.News_Rich_Media: Western Force winger Nick Cummins says recent victories has brought about a change to the culture of his club and a renewed sense of belief.

12. Inside centre - Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) was the best of a beaten bunch for the Waratahs in the west. Beale scored his third try of the season, made one linebreak, 10 runs (117m), two tackle busts and four offloads.

13. Outside Centre - Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders) broke the game wide open against the Bulls, setting up Gareth Evans’ try which cracked the 13-13 deadlock. He then crossed for a try of his own and finished the game with a further try assist, two linebreaks, four runs (53m), two tackle busts and six tackles. Johan Sadie deserves a mention for efforts in getting the Cheetahs back into the game against the Crusaders.

14. Right winger – Although he plays on the left wing, we had to find room for Nemani Nadolo in the team so he makes a rare appearance on the right. Nadolo grabbed a hat-trick for the Crusaders and was near unstoppable with the ball, finishing the game with one linebreak, one linebreak assist, six runs (121m), one offload, seven tackle busts and three tackles.News_Rich_Media: Nemani Nadolo, who grew up in Queensland, produced a sensational hat-trick for the Crusaders against the Cheetahs.

15. Fullback – Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks) has been a solid performer for the Sharks in his new role at fullback. Mvovo proved the gamebreaker against the Lions with his try in the 67th minute, opening up a 10-point lead for his side and finished the game with two linebreaks, 12 runs (179m), one offload and nine tackle busts.