Team of the Week: Bully beef

 

A 31-19 victory against the most successful Super Rugby team is nothing to sniff at, it is even more impressive when you look at what the Crusaders did to the Cheetahs last week.

 

For the men from Pretoria, it was the youngsters that shone – Burger Odendaal looking like a breath of fresh air in the midfield.

 

He and Hanro Liebenberg both impressing after being shoved into the starting line-up.

 

Of course, there is another youngster (who could be mistaken for a seasoned veteran) in Handre Pollard, who continues to shine.

 

The Highlanders also impressed as they continue to down some high-flying teams – the Stormers falling prey this time around.

 

Big Waisake Naholo, and his compatriot on the opposite wing, Patrick Osborne, have been impressive all season – as has centre Malakai Fekitoa.

 

The Hurricanes, now six from six, also have a strong representation this week after dispatching the Rebels.

 

Again, it is their hard-grafters that are impressing along side their obvious, flashy talent in the backs.

 

Locks Jeremy Thrush and James Broadhurst kept the engine running for the Wellington boys while Conrad Smith and Cory Jane looked good with ball in hand.

 

The Chiefs, Waratahs and especially the Lions also came out with good victories, but it was the Lions' spirit and pride that captured our hearts.

 

 

15 – Israel Folau (Waratahs): Still one of the best attacking players in the modern game, had a slow start to the tournament but is hitting his stride now.

Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (Crusaders)

 

 

14 – Waisake Naholo (Highlanders): The Sevens All Black was a major threat against the Stormers as he managed to barge over for a brace – a potential All Black bolter?

Bubbling under: Cory Jane (Hurricanes)

 

 

13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): Must be regarded as one of the best players in the tournament so far. He is really pushing his claim to the All Black No.13 jumper come the World Cup.

Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)

 

 

12 – Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs): Showed how much the Chiefs missed him against the Sharks last week. In an open game, such as against the Cheetahs, there is no one else you could want.

Bubbling under: Burger Odendaal (Bulls)

 

 

11 – Patrick Osborne (Highlanders): Along with his Highlanders teamates (Naholo and Fekitoa) he continues to impress week in and week out – power, speed and skill… the prefect combination.

Bubbling under: Matt Procter (Hurricanes)

 

 

10 – Handre Pollard (Bulls): The Bulls maestro is an important cog for them. When Pollard is on form they look a totally different team with him at the helm.

Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)

 

 

9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders): Another one of the Highlanders' most valuable players, he is the spark that allows their damaging backline to get going.

Bubbling under: Brad Weber (Chiefs)

 

 

8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions): Epitomises the Lions' spirit. If you want to know what playing for the Lions means to each of their players, look at the captains jubilation in victory.

Bubbling under: Victor Vito (Hurricanes)

 

 

7 – Warrick Tecklenburg (Lions): 'Tackling-burg' is back! An absolute monster on defence and still only one third of an excellent loose trio for the Lions.

Bubbling under: Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls)

 

 

6 – Renaldo Bothma (Sharks): The only shining light in the whole Durban match, Bothma was the only player that looked to have any hunger going forward, or in defence.

Bubbling under: Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs)

 

 

5 – Franco Mostert (Lions): He is growing into an important part of the Lions pack, from his line-out work to his ball carrying and defence – Mostert does not shirk responsibilities.

Bubbling under: James Broadhurst (Hurricanes)

 

 

4 – Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes): The engine room for the Hurricanes, he is something they have been missing – perhaps it is the influence of John Plumtree?

Bubbling under: Will Skelton (Waratahs)

 

 

3 – Trevor Nyakane (Bulls): He may not have been up against the devastating Wyatt Crockett to begin, but still dealt with the All Blacks' up and coming loosehead in Joe Moody.

Bubbling under: Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)

 

 

2 –  Adriaan Strauss (Bulls): It looks as if he is finally settling in Pretoria, looked busy around the park – the Strauss of old seems to be making a comeback.

Bubbling under: Tolu Latu (Waratahs)

 

 

1 – Pauliasi Manu (Chiefs): It may have been a second-string Cheetahs front row but he still looked good in the scrums, as well as in the loose.

Bubbling under: Schalk van der Merwe (Lions)

 

 

 

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

 

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Conrad Smith 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Renaldo Bothma, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Tom Franklin  3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Pauliasi Manu.

 

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Will Genia, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

 

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Benn Robinson.

 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Pauliasi Manu.

 

Andrew Duncan XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 Handre Pollard, 9  TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Warrick Tecklenburg, 6  Jaques Potgieter, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Joe Moody.

 

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Handré Pollard, 9  Brad Weber, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warrick Tecklenburg, 6 Renaldo Bothma, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Pauliasi Manu.

 

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Six: 15 – Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14 – Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), 13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 – Dan Carter (Crusaders), 11 – Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 – Pat Lambie (Sharks), 9 – Cobus Reinach (Sharks), 8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 – Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 – Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 – Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 – Scott Sio (Brumbies), 2 – Adriaan Strauss (Bulls), 1 – Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes).  

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Five: 15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 – Bryce Heem (Chiefs), 13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 – Damien de Allende (Stormers), 11 – Patrick Osborne (Highlanders), 10 – Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 – Ita Vaea (Brumbies), 7 – Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 – Elliot Dixon (Highlanders), 5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 – Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 – Ben Alexander (Brumbies), 2 – Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 – Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Four: 15 – Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers), 14 – Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 – Damien de Allende (Stormers), 11 – Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 – Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 – Nic White (Brumbies), 8 – Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 – Warrick Tecklenburg (Lions), 6 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 – Steve Mafi (Western Force), 4 – Franco Mostert (Lions), 3 – Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs), 2 – Siyabonga Ntubeni (Stormers), 1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Three: 15 – Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 14 – Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs), 13 – Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 12 – Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs), 11 – Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 – Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 – Will Genia (Reds), 8 – Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 – Brad Shields (Hurricanes), 6 – Adam Thomson (Reds), 5 – Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 4 – Matt Symons (Chiefs), 3 – Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), 2 – Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).      

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round Two: 15 – Andries Coetzee (Lions), 14 – Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), 13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 – Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 – Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 10 – Pat Lambie (Sharks), 9 – Will Genia (Reds), 8 – Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 – Renaldo Bothma (Sharks), 6 – Adam Thomson (Reds), 5 – Lopeti Timani (Rebels), 4 – Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 – Vincent Koch (Stormers), 2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 – Scott Sio (Brumbies).

 

Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round One: 15 – Mike Harris (Rebels), 14 – Luke Morahan (Western Force), 13 – Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 – Damian de Allende (Stormers), 11 – Rob Horne (Waratahs), 10 – Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 9 – Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 – Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 – David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 – Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 5 – Lopeti Timani (Rebels), 4 – Sam Wykes (Western Force), 3 – Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), 2 – Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 – Scott Sio (Brumbies).