Team of the week: Final roar

 

The Lions weigh in with nine players, four of those starters – after they secured a home semifinal against the Sharks, who get three starters of their own.

 

The Sharks may have defeated the table-topping Western Province, but the heart and fight shown by the WP second-stringers see them get five players on the bench.

 

For the first time the Eastern Province Kings get some serious representation – with three starters and a bench player, after registering their first win of the campaign.

 

The Blue Bulls, who also produced a destructive performance against Griquas weekend, get themselves four player in the team.

 

The rest of the numbers are made up from the Pumas, Cheetahs and Griquas who get a man in each.

 

 

Seems to be growing in confidence, so much so that coach Ludeke might move him back to the midfield for the upcoming semifinal showdown with Western Province.

Bubbling under: Scott van Breda (Eastern Province Kings)

 

Looked dangerous and posed a constant threat to the stretched Pumas defence on a number of occasions, worked hard to grab his first-half try.

Bubbling under: Ruan Combrinck (Golden Lions)

 

Scored almost immediately with a great run along the wing and continued to punch holes in the Province defence throughout the game.

Bubbling under: Pat Howard (Western Province)

 

Was massive on defence, his tackles sent the hard-running Pumas backwards and also added a lot in attack when he got over the gainline.

Bubbling under: Howard Mnisi (Golden Lions)

 

Scored a hat-trick as the Bulls romped to a massive victory and looked like his old self with this extended run – was a menace when chasing the high ball as well!.

Bubbling under: Ederies Arendse (Griquas)

 

Another one who got an extended run (in his preferred position) and looked absolute class, really deserves more chances with the Springboks

Bubbling under: Kurt Coleman (Western Province)

 

Was the catalyst for the Kings, and most importantly he put in a full effort to keep the men from Port Elizabeth going at 100 percent right to the end.

Bubbling under: Ross Cronje (Golden Lions)

 

He seems to love playing for the Lions and puts everything he has out there. The Lions' game improves noticeably whenever he is on the field for them.

Bubbling under: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Western Province)

 

Was part of a brilliantly balanced loose trio for the Lions (who all appear in the team of the week) attacking the rucks and slowing the ball down massively.

Bubbling under: Jacques du Plessis (Blue Bulls)

 

His retirement is looming and yet he is still running around the park like a 21-year-old – an absolute trooper for the Sharks.

Bubbling under: Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions)

 

Returned from a long injury lay-off looking bigger and better, a powerful prospect for a Province team that sometimes struggles for locks.

Bubbling under: Grant Hattingh (Blue Bulls)

 

Looked a lot sharper at this level after his stint with the Springboks, but at the same time, showed the form that got him selected in the first place!

Bubbling under: Stephan Lewies (Sharks)

 

The Lions props find their way back in the team after another big scrumming performance that set the platform for the mauling handed out to their fellow cats.

Bubbling under: Brok Harris (Western Province)

 

Looked to be the a real live-wire in a match where the Pumas were fighting a game of inches, got a well-worked try to his name and did not slow down for anything.

Bubbling under: Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions)

 

Clearly the most impressive loosehead prop in the competition, scrums incredibly well and works off the ball as if he was a loose forward.

Bubbling under: Oliver Kebble (Western Province)

 

 

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Loodewyk de Jager, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

 

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Ronnie Cook, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.

 

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Ronnie Cooke, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu, 7 Teboho Mohojé, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Ederies Arendse, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

 

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Ronnie Cook, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Oliver Kebble.

 

 

Team of the Week – Round 9: 15 Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls), 14 Ronnie Cook (Eastern Province Kings), 13 Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks), 12 Shane Gates (Eastern Province Kings), 11 Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions), 9 Tobie Botes (Eastern Province Kings), 8 Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions), 7 Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler (Western Province), 4 Loodewyk de Jager (Cheetahs), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Frank Herne (Pumas), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions).

 

Team of the Week – Round 8: 15 Andries Coetzee (Lions), 14 Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks), 13 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 12 Stefan Watermeyer(Pumas), 11 Sampie Mastriet (Bulls), 10 Lionel Cronjé (Sharks), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 7 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Grant Hattingh (Bulls), 4 JC Astle (Sharks), 3 Vincent Koch (Pumas), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (Bulls), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).

 

Team of the Week – Round 7: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14 Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Golden Lions), 12 Nicolaas Hanekom (Golden Lions), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Lionel Cronje (Sharks), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), 7 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Western Province), 5 Marco Wentzel (Sharks), 4 Hilton Lobberts (Griquas), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions).

 

Team of the Week – Round 6: 15 Gouws Prinsloo (Griquas), 14 Akona Ndungane (Blue Bulls), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Golden Lions), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 JP du Plessis (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Jaco van der Walt (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), 7 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions), 5 Grant Hattingh (Blue Bulls), 4 Marco Wentzel (Sharks), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions)

 

Team of the Week – Round 5: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14 Rayno Benjamin (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), 11 Rosco Speckman (Pumas), 10 Francois Brummer (Griquas), 9 Dylon Frylinck (Pumas), 8 Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), 7 Jacques du Plessis (Blue Bulls), 6 Siya Kolisi (Western Province), 5 Grant Hattingh (Blue Bulls), 4 Hilton Lobberts (Griquas), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Steph Roberts (Griquas).

 

Team of the Week – Round 4: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14 Rayno Benjamin (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Stefan Watermeyer (Pumas), 11 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 10 Justin van Staden (Pumas), 9  Kevin Luiters (Eastern Province Kings), 8 Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), 7 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions), 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda (Pumas), 4 Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions).

 

Team of the Week – Round 3: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14 Kobus van Wyk (Western Province), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 11 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 10 Willie du Plessis (Cheetahs), 9 Nick Groom (Western Province), 8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 7 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda (Pumas), 4 Frikkie Spies (Pumas), 3 Vincent Koch (Pumas), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Eastern Province Kings).

 

Team of the Week – Round 2: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 11 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 10 Jaco van der Walt (Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 7 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Marco Wentzel (Sharks), 4 Frikkie Spies (Pumas), 3 Pat Cilliers (Western Province), 2 Kyke Cooper (Sharks), 1 Vincent Koch (Pumas).

 

Team of the Week – Round 1: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14  Rayno Benjamin (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Nicolaas Hanekom (Golden Lions), 12 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 11 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 10 Fred Zeilinga (Sharks), 9 Ross Cronjé (Golden Lions), 8 Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Griquas), 5 Francois Uys (Free State Cheetahs), 4  Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls), 3 Ruan Dryer (Golden Lions), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions).