Rugby writer Kris Shannon hands out his awards for the best players and teams from week 10 of Super Rugby.
Back of the week
Matt Proctor - Hurricanes
This honour could have gone to a number of Hurricanes- Cory Jane and Julian Savea both bagged braces while Beauden Barrett banished the memories of last week's shocking night from the tee with a near-flawless outing. But Proctor separated himself with an all round effort that saw the centre as effective at the breakdown as he was with ball in hand. Awarded man-of-the-match for his performance, Proctor led the Hurricanes on both sides of the ball, making 96 metres and beating four defenders while also snaffling two turnovers to ensure his potent backline enjoyed plenty of possession.
Forward of the week
Ash Dixon - Highlanders
Like Proctor's prize,this one was a bit of a team effort, given the Highlanders' pack collectively shone on defence in their win over the Brumbies, racking up 187 tackles to their opponents' 52. Dixon completed 18 of those without missing one, also pinching a turnover to help off set some of the Brumbies' huge dominance in possession and field position. The Highlanders hooker was an influential figure in anchoring a solid set piece- if the scrum were less effective or if the pack had problems defending the lineout drive, the Brumbies would have certainly turned their advantage into more points.
