Team of the Week: All Black & Blue

Our famous weekly selection is literally black and blue – the colours of the Chiefs and Blues.

Yes, the defending Super Rugby champions and the resurgent outfit from Auckland completely domination our Team of the Week.

The Chiefs and Blues have five members each in our starting XV, while the Sharks (two) is the only other team with more than one member.

The Crusaders, Reds and Waratahs make up the numbers.

And our back-up squad also has a healthy selection of Chiefs and Blues (three each), while the Sharks have four players bubbling under. The Bulls provide two members of for this selection, while the Rebels, Reds and Waratahs (one each) make up the numbers.

Only two players return from last week – scrumhalf Piri Weepu (Blues) and prop Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Three:

15 – Gareth Anscombe (Chiefs):

The ability to do the basics well – like any fullback should – and then cut the opposition to ribbons on attack.

Bubbling under: James O'Connor (Rebels)

14 – Frank Halai (Blues):

He came with a huge reputation and showed why Gordon Tietjens rated him so highly.

Bubbling under: Lelia Masaga (Chiefs)

13 – Rene Ranger (Blues):

His move closer to the action has done his game the world of good.

Bubbling under: Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs)

12 – Francois Steyn (Sharks):

The more mature version of the 2007 World Cup winner is a far better player.

Bubbling under: Francis Saili (Blues)

11 – Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs):

Now his second season with the Chiefs, he is continuing to grow and mature – showing why he was able to score four tries against the Blues last year.

Bubbling under: George Moala (Blues)

10 – Chris Noakes (Blues):

After his break-out season with the Highlanders last year, his move north to the Blues has further enhanced his reputation.

Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)

9 – Piri Weepu (Blues):

Not just a trimmer version, but also a highly motivated All Black is finally back on top of his game.

Bubbling under: Cobus Reinach (Sharks)

8 – Kieran Read (Crusaders):

At times it looked like he was fighting a lone battle against the Blues pack – winning turnovers, making cover tackles, cleaning rucks and playing distributor.

Bubbling under: Jake Schatz (Reds)

7 – Luke Braid (Blues):

Made a real nuisance of himself at the breakdown.

Bubbling under: Jean Deysel (Sharks)

6 – Liam  Messam (Chiefs):

Gave new meaning to the term: 'Played a captaincy innings.'

Bubbling under: Arno Botha (Bulls)

5 – Brodie Retallick (Chiefs):

Putting his hand up to be an All Black starter again.

Bubbling under: Ali Williams (Blues)

4 – Rob Simmons (Reds):

Hard to believe he is only 23, given that he made his Super Rugby debut four years ago and is an 'institution' in the Reds set-up.

Bubbling under: Anton Bresler (Sharks)

3 – Ben Afeaki (Chiefs):

Showed why he was so valuable at the business end of the 2012 season, after he spent much of last year's Super Rugby season out with a fractured arm.

Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)

2 – Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs):

He literally put his body on the line … again.

Bubbling under: Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls)

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks):

His heart rhythms are back to normal and so is his game.

Bubbling under: Benn Robinson (Waratahs)

Our individual selections:

Nicholas Tatham XV: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Steve Luatua, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Liam  Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 George Moala, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Arno Botha, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 James Parsons, 1 Benn Robinson.

Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Arno Botha, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Afeaki , 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Leonard Kaplan XV: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Liam  Messam, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Sergeal Petersen (Southern Kings), 13 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 12 Francis Saili (Blues), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Patrick Lambie (Sharks), 9 Piri Weepu (Blues), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 6 Eddie Quirk (Reds), 5 Steven Sykes (Kings), 4 Craig Clarke (Chiefs), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Bandise Maku (Kings), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Andrew Smith (Brumbies), 12 Kyle Godwin (Western Force), 11 Alfie Mafi (Western Force), 10 Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels), 9 Nic White (Brumbies), 8 Ben Mowen (Western Force), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels), 5 Toby Lynn (Western Force), 4 Hugh Pyle (Melbourne Rebels), 3 Laurie Weeks (Melbourne Rebels), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).