Team of the Week: Sexy six
There is a nice spread of teams in our famous weekly selection – with the table-topping Sharks getting the edge in our starting XV.
Six teams are represented in our first-choice selection, with another three sides getting a look-in in out back-up squad.
The Sharks have five players in our starting XV, followed by the much-improved Brumbies with three.
The Stormers, Western Force and Bulls (two each), along with the Reds (one) make up the numbers.
The Brumbies get further reward for their fine performance with four players bubbling under.
The Lions, Stormers, Bulls, Force and Crusaders have two each, while the Sharks provide the final member.
No players return from last week.
Team of the Week – Round Four:
15 – Jesse Mogg (Brumbies):
May not have been flawless, but he was a constant threat on attack and his kicking game was very valuable. We'll forgive him a couple of slipped tackles.
Bubbling under: Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)
14 – Rod Davis (Reds):
Great to have rocking Rod back!
Bubbling under: Henry Speight (Brumbies)
13 – Jean de Villiers (Stormers):
There is plenty of life left in a man who dislikes being called a 'veteran'.
Bubbling under: Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
12 – Pat McCabe (Brumbies):
Started with No.22 on his back, after a very, very late change. However, he provided direction to the Brumbies backline from inside centre.
Bubbling under: Damian de Allende (Stormers)
11 – Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks):
He has regained his attacking mojo. Now just needs to improve his workrate and he'll be in the Springbok selection frame again.
Bubbling under: Robbie Coleman (Brumbies)
10 – Frans Steyn (Sharks):
Another late change to a matchday squad – after Patrick Lambie picked up some kind of viral fever – and made a huge impact in a position where he is not playing regularly.
Bubbling under: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bulls)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Sharks):
This caused some heated debate, but majority ruled.
Bubbling under: Francois de Klerk (Lions)
8 – Ben McCalman (Western Force):
His ball carries went well into double figures and his tackle count was one of the highest in the game.
Bubbling under: Ben Mowen (Brumbies)
7 – Schalk Burger (Stormers):
It is good to see him back in such devastating form – pity the Stormers didn't have a few more players with his energy levels.
Bubbling under: Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
6 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks):
Showed he can merge the open and blindside flank roles into one devastating game.
Bubbling under: Deon Fourie (Stormers)
5 – Wilhelm Steenkamp (Western Force):
His huge tackle count and exemplary line-out performance played a key role in the Force pack's dominance.
Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
4 – Flip van der Merwe (Bulls):
His game seems to have benefitted enormously from having Victor Matfield at his side.
Bubbling under: Sam Wykes (Western Force)
3 – Werner Kruger (Bulls):
With his scrum problem now put behind him, his ball-carrying ability is what is of real value to the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)
2 – Stephen Moore (Brumbies):
Like a good red wine … just getting better.
Bubbling under: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks):
Could work a bit harder on defence, but his general game is from the top shelve.
Bubbling under: Dean Greyling (Bulls)
Our individual selections!
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Jessie Mogg, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Jessie Mogg, 14 Rod Davis, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ben McCalman , 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Matthew Riches XV: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Pat McCabe , 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Jessie Mogg, 14 Rod Davis, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Ben McCalman , 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Dean Greyling.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 11 Bjorn Basson (Bulls), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bulls), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), 7 Jacques du Plessis (Bulls), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Tom Donnelly (Blues), 4 Hugh Pyle (Rebels), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).
Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14 Lachie Turner (Reds), 13 Robbie Fruean (Chiefs), 12 Frances Saili (Blues), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Lions), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Nasi Manu (Highlanders), 7 Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round One: 15 SP Marais (Sharks), 14 Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs), 13 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 12 Frans Steyn (Sharks), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Lions), 9 Cobus Reinach (Sharks), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Derick Minnie (Lions), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks), 4 Lodewyk de Jager (Cheetahs), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
