Team of the Week: Storm brewing

 

A few of the Stormers' players are starting to become household names in our selection, week in and week out the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Vincent Koch, Damien de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, and even Steven Kitshoff, are never far away.

 

There is also some space for a few Bulls and Lions this week with Jan Serfontein, Handre Pollard, Warrick Tecklenburg, Victor Matfield and Warren Whiteley all starring for their respective teams.

 

Across the Indian Ocean the Brumbies' wings impressed, while Keven Mealamu tried his best in a record-breaking outing.

 

The Waratahs' big names of Michael Hooper and Israel Folau stepped up, but then again so did the hard working Peter Betham.

 

As always there is some room for the weekend's losers with Marcell Coetzee, Steve Mafi and Ben Tameifuna all trying their best to turn things around for their teams.

 

 

15 – Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers): Had the stuffing knocked out of him on a few occasion thanks to Frans Steyn, but picked himself up and performed admirably.

Bubbling under: Israel Folau (Waratahs)

 

 

14 – Henry Speight (Brumbies): Looked a real threat down the wing and even once or twice through the middle as he came looking for work and bustling runs.

Bubbling under: Peter Betham (Waratahs)

 

 

13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): It was not only his attacking effort that impressed, he looked solid in defence against the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and friends.

Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Lions)

 

 

12 – Damien de Allende (Stormers): His reputation is growing week by week, fronted up to two vastly more experienced Springboks and made them look foolish.

Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)

 

 

11 – Joe Tomane (Brumbies): Like Speight on the other Brumbies wing, was destructive throughout and picked up plenty of run metres.

Bubbling under: Patrick Osborne (Highlanders)

 

 

10 – Handre Pollard (Bulls): A complete performance from the youngster – picked up a full-house  – a try, added three conversions and five penalties. Also  controlled the Bulls' game to perfection.

Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

 

9 – Nic White (Brumbies): Nippy and nuggety, he is showing why he should be the first-choice for the Wallabies with his speed and service.

Bubbling under: Francois de Klerk (Lions)

 

 

8 – Duane Vermeulen (Stormers): There is not much more that can be said about this man, he took the Sharks physicality, doubled it, and threw it straight back at them.

Bubbling under: Warren Whiteley (Lions)

 

 

7 – Warrick Tecklenburg (Lions): A real grafter for the Lions in a position where there is already so much class, did not slow down for one minute,

Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

 

 

6 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks): In a losing cause was a little ray of light, as he did his best to disrupt the Stormers' quick ball at the breakdown.

Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Stormers)

 

 

5 – Steve Mafi (Western Force): He has really flourished since retuning from leicester, a big imposing man but also mobile and skilful.

Bubbling under: Victor Matfield (Bulls)

 

 

4 – Franco Mostert (Lions): Like Tecklenburg, was happy to put in the hard yards in what was a gruelling grind of a game.

Bubbling under: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)

 

 

3 – Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs): A monster of a man, but still loves to carry the ball and make some metres. His scrumming cannot be faulted either.

Bubbling under: Vincent Koch (Stormers)

 

 

2 – Siyabonga Ntubeni (Stormers): He has always been a lively hooker, but it seems the competition from Bongi Mbonambi has forced him to raise his game.

Bubbling under: Keven Mealamu (Blues)

 

 

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers): The entire Stormers pack deserves a mention for its scrummaging (and they do all appear this week), but we will place the medal for it around this man's neck.

Bubbling under: Scott Sio (Brumbies)

 

 

 

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 James Lowe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Will Genia, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

 

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Damien de Allende, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Nic White, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Dave Dennis, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff

 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Damian De Allende,  11 Joe Tomane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Marcel Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Kevin Mealamu, 1 Scott Sio.

 

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Nic White, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Benn Robinson.

 

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Nic White, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

 

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Nic White, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Marcel Coetzee, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

 

 

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).