Team of the Week: Underdog's day

 

The Griquas provided the biggest upset of the weekend when they toppled the Sharks at home and as such get themselves six players into the team – three starters and three benchers.

 

The Blue Bulls seemed to have arrived at the party after a slow start, getting seven players in the team.

 

Western Province continue on their merry, unbeaten way with a massive eight players, but as it was a poor Kings outfit, most of those players are on the bench.

 

The Pumas continue to impress and as such have five of their own in with three of them as starters.

 

While the Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions are lucky to get four between them, the Kings have nothing to show for their efforts.

 

 

This tournament is perfect for the youngster as he looks to fill Gio Aplon's boots in next years Super Rugby campaign – and so far, all is on track.

Bubbling under: Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls)

 

A rare mix of solid and dependable while still full of pace and flair, one of the only shinning lights for the Cheetahs.

Bubbling under: Ederies Arendse (Griquas)

 

Keeps impressing in all facets of play while the Boks continue to struggle in all facets of No.13 play…

Bubbling under: Jacobus Jonker (Pumas)

 

Fits into the mould of a Bulls No.12 perfectly, but also adds plenty more thought and vision to the role.

Bubbling under: Jaco Taute (Western Province) 

 

An absolute live-wire, when he has got space, time and broken play – he is deadly, as the Cheetahs learnt the hard way.

Bubbling under: Pat Howard (Western Province)

 

Looked far more comfortable back at flyhalf where he belongs and as such the entire Griquas team looked a lot more steady.

Bubbling under: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Blue Bulls)

 

Good to see the young man stringing some decent performances together for the Pumas, one for the future after already gaining a Super Rugby cap or two.

Bubbling under: Tian Meyer (Griquas)

 

A real imposing player, but more than just a slab of meat, energetic, intelligent and a demon on defence – should be snapped up for Super Rugby in a heartbeat.

Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Western Province)

 

Another big, man-mountain who is impressing after a good youth career, long may he grow into a devastating ball carrier.

Bubbling under: Michael Rhodes (Western Province) 

 

It has taken a while, but he is hitting the heights that made him a Springbok to begin with, clearly benefiting from extended game time.

Bubbling under: Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls)

 

As a versatile flank or lock you can always expect a little more energy and urgency from the big man, played an important duel role at the weekend.

Bubbling under: Ruan Botha (Western Province)

 

Added heaps of grunt to the already quite physical Griquas pack and seemed to be the leader in bashing the Sharks into submission.

Bubbling under: Frikkie Spies (Pumas)

 

Although his team were nowhere near their best, he did all he could in both the scrums and tight-loose.

Bubbling under: Vincent Koch (Pumas)

 

Another one who gave it his all in a losing cause, he never seems to tire and is always looking to make a few yards with his low centre of gravity

Bubbling under: Martin Bezuidenhout (Griquas)

 

The big man obviously relished to contest with the Sharks, bossing them around in most facets of forward play, saw more of him thanks to that dominance.

Bubbling under: Thomas Du Toit (Sharks)

 

 

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Jacobus Jonker, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Dylon Frylinck, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Steph Roberts. 

 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Jacobus Jonker, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Steph Roberts.

 

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Steph Roberts.

 

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Dylon Frylinck, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Thomas Du Toit.

 

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Thomas du Toit.

 

 

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).