Team of the Week: Handy spread

There is a handy spread in our famous weekly selection, with no team dominating after a weekend of upsets.

The Blues and Stormers are the best represented, both with three players in our starting XV.

The Brumbies, Reds and Bulls are next best with two each, while the Chiefs and Western Force make up the numbers.

Our back-up squad have an even bigger spread – the Bulls with three players topping the list.

The Cheetahs, Southern Kings, Brumbies and Crusaders each have two players Bubbling Under, while the Blues, Hurricanes, Force and Reds (one each) make up the numbers.

Not a single player returns from last week.

Team of the Week – Round Nine:

15 – Charles Piutau (Blues):

Showed why he is so highly rated and in demand – both in New Zealand and Tonga, having played for Tonga Under-20 in 2010 and then NZ U20 in their 2011 Junior World Championship winning campaign.

Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (Crusaders)

14 – Henry Speight (Brumbies):

This Fijian-born flyer again showed why he is one of the Southern Hemisphere's most dangerous outside backs – not just powerful and lightning-quick off the mark, but also has a deadly right-to-left double step.

Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (Cheetahs)

13 – Richard Kahui (Chiefs):

Even in a losing cause he was more than a handful for the Chiefs. Now back to his best after the season-ending shoulder injury which kept him out of the All Blacks last year.

Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)

12 – Jean de Villiers (Stormers):

There is plenty of life left in the Springbok captain's 'ageing' legs. He is certainly silencing the critics who feel he doesn't deserve his place in the national team.

Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)

11 – Rene Ranger (Blues):

After a successful run at outside centre this season, he moved seamlessly to the wing. His 'versatility' could be handy for the All Blacks.

Bubbling under: Ronnie Cooke (Southern Kings)

10 – Quade Cooper (Reds):

Talk about making a statement! A day after he was left out of the Wallaby squad he produced his best performance of the year. Maybe it was a clever move by Robbie Deans?

Bubbling under: Demetri Catrakilis (Southern Kings)

9 – Will Genia (Reds):

His return from injury and improved performances may have a lot to do with Cooper's dramatically improved form.

Bubbling under: Jano Vermaak (Bulls)

8 – Richard Brown (Western Force):

He has been a mainstay of the Western Force's back row over the past seven years and shone in their big upset win.

Bubbling under: Pierre Spies (Bulls)

7 – George Smith (Brumbies):

It is easy to see why the Brumbies are so desperate to hold onto him beyond next's scheduled return date to Japan.

Bubbling under: Liam Gill (Reds)

6 – Steven Luatua (Blues):

The versatile forward – he can play in the second and back row – has been punted as the replacement for Jerome Kaino (now in Japan) and he is doing a fine job.

Bubbling under: Jordan Smiler (Brumbies)

5 – Andries Bekker (Stormers):

He may not be the most consistent and still spends too much time in the outfield, but when Bekker turns it on he is South Africa's best No.5 lock.

Bubbling under: Ali Williams (Blues)

4 – Flip van der Merwe (Bulls):

Not everybody's cup of tea, but now that he has sorted out his on-field discipline he has become invaluable to the Bulls' cause.

Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)

3 – Frans Malherbe (Stormers):

He had probably his best performance of the season against a badly out-of-form Springbok Tendai Mtawarira.

Bubbling under: Dan Palmer (Brumbies)

2 – Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls):

He may have his critics, but Ralepelle keeps reminding us of his credentials as an quality international player.

Bubbling under: Ged Robinson (Western Force)

1 – Ben Franks (Hurricanes):

He had to pass a late fitness test, but still made a gallant effort at getting the Hurricanes over the line. He could have done with a bit more support from some of his teammates.

Bubbling under: Trevor Nyakane (Cheetahs)

Our individual selections:

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Ben Franks.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Ben Franks.

Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Ed Stubbs, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Leonard Kaplan XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Nicholas Tatham XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Ronnie Cooke, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Steve Luatua, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 James Parsons, 1 Ben Franks.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Ronnie Cooke, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Eight: 15 Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs), 14 Jason Woodward (Rebels), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 Burton Francis (Cheetahs), 9 Piri Weepu (Blues), 8 Philip van der Walt (Cheetahs), 7 Wimpie van der Walt (Southern Kings), 6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes), 5 Ali Williams (Blues), 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Reg Goodes (Hurricanes).

Team of the Week – Round Seven: 15 Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), 14 Willie Le Roux (Cheetahs), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Tyler Blyendaal (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Phillip van der Walt (Cheetahs), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes), 5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Lodewyk de Jager (Cheetahs), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the Week – Round Six: 15 Louis Ludik (Sharks), 14 Gio Aplon (Stormers), 13 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Kieran read (Crusaders), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Pieter Steph du Toit (Sharks), 3 Paddy Ryan (Waratahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 11 Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Alby Mathewson (Western Force), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Hugh McMeniman (Western Force), 4 Peter Kimlin (Brumbies), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Hika Elliot (Chiefs), 1- Ben Franks (Hurricanes).

Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 12 Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Ben Franks (Hurricanes).

Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Gareth Anscombe (Chiefs), 14 Frank Halai (Blues), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Francois Steyn (Sharks), 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs), 10 Chris Noakes (Blues), 9 Piri Weepu (Blues), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Luke Braid (Blues), 6 Liam Messam (Chiefs), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Rob Simmons (Reds), 3 Ben Afeaki (Chiefs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

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).