Team of the Week: Feisty crusade

 

Three out of the four South African teams in action in Round Six burgled victories,  with a few captain's knocks coming from Pat Lambie and Warren Whitely.

 

The Waratahs managed to topple the ever-impressing Brumbies all thanks to some of their big names (Israel Folau and Michael Hooper) as well as their big boy, Taqele Naiyaravoro.

 

The Highlanders were unlucky in their loss to the undefeated Hurricanes, but again their big names stood up in the form of Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Osborne.

 

There is also a definite under current of Hurricanes players, as they remain the form team in the competition thanks to some hard yards done by the likes of Reggie Goodes and Jeremy Thrush.

 

 

15 – Israel Folau (Waratahs): Looked back to his best when the Waratahs took the ascendancy against the Brumbies, popped up all over the place including outside centre – signs of things to come?

Bubbling under: Damien McKenzie (Chiefs)

 

 

14 – Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs): He is rough and raw, but ready and willing… oh, and huge! A bit like Nemani Nadolo, a massive threat with ball in hand.

Bubbling under: Henry Speight (Brumbies)

 

 

13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): He is steadily growing into a perfect centre, he possess the skill and speed, as well as the size and power, to dominate in both attack and defense.

Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Lions)

 

 

12 – Dan Carter (Crusaders): Not his usual position but still showed some of the amazing talent he has left in reserves – proved he can still be a major threat when on form.

Bubbling under: Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes)

 

 

11 – Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders): A power-house performance from the big Fijian, may have cost his team a try with some selfish play, but the 50 other points make up for it!

Bubbling under: Patrick Osborne (Highlanders)

 

 

10 – Pat Lambie (Sharks): Showed again he is the man for the tight games. Took the captaincy and carried the Sharks over the line in the toughest of conditions.

Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)

 

 

9 – Cobus Reinach (Sharks): A 110 percent effort from the scrumhalf in a situation where anything less than 100 percent was not good enough.

Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

 

 

8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions) : Captain Fantastic in both his leadership and his work rate, piled on the tackles and never let his team think for a minute that they were beaten.

Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)

 

 

7 – Sam Cane (Chiefs): His influence on the field is sometimes hard to pick out, but it is also invaluable, as this breakdown-merchant dictates play on the ground.

Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

 

 

6 – Jordan Taufua (Crusaders): A sterling performance from a player pushing for All Black selection, did everything you need from a blindside flank, and more!

Bubbling under: Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs)

 

 

5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): He has always been a class player and his partnership with Luke Romano is giving balance to the Crusaders pack.

Bubbling under: Adam Coleman (Brumbies)

 

 

4 – Luke Romano (Crusaders): A busy player that is obviously keen to impress after his bad injury, look for him to be the No.1 for the All Blacks come September.

Bubbling under: Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes)

 

 

3 – Scott Sio (Brumbies): Showed his versatility in playing on the tighthead this week and did not let his team down, carried on in his usual industrious manner.

Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)

 

 

2 – Adriaan Strauss (Bulls): Has taken a while to get going at the Bulls but looked far more interested and involved – even of it was a bit of a scrappy affair.

Bubbling under: Armand van der Merwe (Lions)

 

 

1 – Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes): Powerful in the scrums and just as devastating in the loose, another all-action front row forward for the Canes.

Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)

 

 

 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Daniel Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Scott Sio, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Reggie Goodes.

 

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Daniel Carter , 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Scott Sio, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

 

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Scott Sio, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

 

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Reggie Goodes.

 

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

 

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Reggie Goodes.

 

 

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).