Team of the week: Galloping Brumbies
The Canberra side has a total of five players in our team after their win against the Western Force in Perth. The next best is the Highlanders with three.
Other teams also represented in our team this week are the Sunwolves, Hurricanes, Lions. Sharks, Stormers and Blues.
For a third week in a row Ben Smith is our fullback with Akihito Yamada and Joe Tomane completing the back three. Malakai Fekitoa and Matt Toomua form our midfield combination.
We have a Kiwi halfback combination with Lima Sopoaga at flyhalf and TJ Perenara at scrumhalf.
Warren Whiteley, David Pocock and Marcell Coetzee complete our loose trio, while in the second row we have Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth.
We have an all Australasian front row with Charlie Faumuina, Stephen Moore and Scott Sio.
Team of the week – Round Three:
15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders)
Played out of his skin again for his team. He was involved in so much of the Highlanders' attacking play and he is just a joy to watch in open play.
Bubbling under: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
14 – Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves)
Got a hat-trick of tries against the Cheetahs. Enough said.
Bubbling under: Matt Faddes (Highlanders)
13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)
He is an important cog in that Highlanders backline and he showed it against the Lions. He was a handful with ball in hand and was key in the Otago team's defensive organisation.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Cheetahs)
12 – Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
His vision and awareness in the midfield gave the Brumbies and extra edge on attack. His tactical kicking was also a pressure reliever for Christian Lealiifano.
Bubbling under: Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)
11 – Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
He scythed through the Western Force defence on a number of occasions and got a try as well.
Bubbling under: Tevita Li (Blues)
10 – Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)
The All Black flyhalf was brilliant against the Lions. His distribution and decision making was key to their success on Saturday and he also and a hand in one of his team's tries.
Bubbling under: Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
9 – TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)
He was all over the park in his team's win over The Blues. His snappy services and decision making ensured the Hurricanes were on the front foot. He scored two important tries as well in what was great performance by the scrumhalf.
Bubbling under: Francois de Klerk
8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Carried the ball like a man possessed and put his body on the line in the physical exchanges. An heroic performance by the captain.
Bubbling under: Akira Ioane (Blues)
7 – David Pocock (Brumbies)
They say games are sometimes won and lost at the breakdowns and the Wallaby was masterful in this area. He made a nuisance of himself on the ground and won a couple of turnovers for his team.
Bubbling under: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
6 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
He put in an unbelievable amount of work at Newlands. He crossed the advantage line almost every time he carried the ball, he won turnovers for his team at the breakdown and tackled like a monster.
Bubbling under: Taleni Seu (Chiefs)
5 – Franco Mostert (Lions)
Contested well in the line-outs and was a physical presence in open play. In fact, he led by example with carries.
Bubbling under: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
Still the spark that drives the Stormers engine room. He also put in an improved all-round performance.
Bubbling under: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
3 – Charlie Faumuina (Blues)
Undoubtedly one of the best performances from a prop we have seen in ages. He was hard to stop with ball in hand, breaking through a number of tackles and just looked menacing throughout.
Bubbling under: Greg Holmes (Reds)
2 – Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
Another great all-round performance for the Wallaby captain. He seems to get better each week He got another try as well!
Bubbling under: Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings)
1 – Scott Sio (Brumbies)
The big prop is gathering momentum game by game. He again showed his strength up front with his carries and in the scrums.
Bubbling under: Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders)
Our individual selections:
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Tevita Lee, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 David Pocock, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco Mostert, Rory Arnold, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Stephen Moore, Scott Sio.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Francois De Klerk, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 David Pocock, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Scott Sio.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Previous selections:
Team of the week – Round Two: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Francois de Klerk (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Malcom Marx (Lions), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).
Team of the week – Round One: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Tamati Ellison (Rebels), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 10 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), 8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers), 7 Blake Gibson (Blues), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Sam Carter (Brumbies), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers).
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