Team of the Week: Australasian flavour

New Zealand, yet again, have the most players in both our starting XV and back-up squad.

The are seven All Blacks in the first-choice selection, with six Wallabies and two Argentineans.

Another six Kiwis are 'bubbling under', followed by three each from Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

Six players return from Round Three – fullback Ben Smith (New Zealand), centre Samu Kerevi (Australia), wing Julian Savea (New Zealand), flyhalf Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), scrumhalf Will Genia (Australia) and No.8 Facundo Isa (Argentina).

Team of the Week – Rugby Championship, Week Four:

15 – Ben Smith (New Zealand):

Was never any doubt that he was the best this past weekend. Made the Springbok defence look second rate.

Bubbling under: Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina)

14 – Israel Dagg (New Zealand):

Running into some sublime form, even though his defence was a bit on the 'soft' side at times.

Bubbling under: Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia)

13 – Samu Kerevi (Australia):

Some powerful bursts and plenty of metres with ball in hand. Even with the turnovers he conceded, he was still the most effective.

Bubbling under: Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand)

12 – Bernard Foley (Australia):

Beginning to gel very nicely with Quade Cooper and providing that extra play-maker role the Wallabies needed. His defence still needs some work, though.

Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (New Zealand)

11 – Julian Savea (New Zealand):

Even though he had a rather 'quiet' second half, compared to what he dished up in the first 40 minutes, he was still head and shoulders above the rest.

Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (South Africa)

10 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand):

No debate!

Bubbling under: Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina)

9 – Will Genia (Australia):

The master is back. His improved form coincided with Australia returning to the winner's podium.

Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

8 – Facundo Isa (Argentina):

Was by no means flawless, but in a losing cause, he was the one Puma that stood out above his rivals.

Bubbling under: Warren Whiteley (South Africa)

7 – Ardie Savea (New Zealand):

Another player who was far from perfect, but still much better than the rest.

Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Australia)

6 – Pablo Matera (Argentina):

If nothing else, the Argentinean loose forwards are right up there with the best – including the All Blacks.

Bubbling under: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)

5 – Adam Coleman (Australia):

Not just was his workrate superior, but his execution – especially on defence – was more effective.

Bubbling under: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

4 – Rob Simmons (Australia):

He also out in more work off the ball than his rivals to edge them into our starting XV.

Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

3 – Sekope Kepu (Australia):

Not only did he do a mountain of work on defence, but he was a rock in the scrums.

Bubbling under: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

2 – Dane Coles (New Zealand):

Redefining the role of a hooker – the ability to contribute in the set pieces and play like a centre in open field play.

Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Australia)

1 – Joe Moody (New Zealand):

Beginning to make the No.1 All Black jersey his own.

Bubbling under: Nahuel Chaparro (Argentina)

Our Individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Will Genia, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Will Genia, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Will Genia, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Rugby Championship, Week Three: 15 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 14 Matthias Moroni (Argentina), 13 Samu Kerevi (Australia), 12 Ryan Crotty (New Zealand), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Facundo Isa (Argentina), 7 Javier Ortega Desio (Argentina), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Samuel Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina), 2 Agustin Creevy (Argentina), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Argentina).

Team of the Week – Rugby Championship, Week Two: 15 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 14 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand), 12 Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand), 11 Manual Montero (Argentina), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand), 8 Facundo Isa (Argentina), 7 Sam Cane (New Zealand), 6 Pablo Matera (Argentina), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina), 2 Dane Coles (New Zealand), 1 Joe Moody (New Zealand).

Team of the Week – Rugby Championship, Week One: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Ruan Combrinck (South Africa), 13 Matias Orlando (Argentina), 12 Ryan Crotty (New Zealand), 11 Waisake Naholo (New Zealand), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Sam Cane (New Zealand), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina), 2 Dane Coles (New Zealand), 1 Francisco Chaparro (Argentina).

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