Team of the week: In the jungle...
There are five Lions players in our selection this week, with the Hurricanes our next best represented team with three players.
The Crusaders, Blues, Stormers, Bulls are also represented in our XV.
For our back three we have Israel Dagg, Julian Savea and Rieko Ioane, while both our centres, Lionel Mapoe and Rohan Janse van Rensburg, are from the Lions.
We also have an all-Lions halfback pairing with Elton Jantjies at flyhalf and Francois de Klerk at scrumhalf.
Up front, Warren Whiteley is our No.8 with Ardie Savea and Jordan Taufua on the sides of our scrum.
Our locks are Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jason Jenkins – and in the front row we have Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles and Trevor Nyakane.
Team of the week – Round Eight
15 – Israel Dagg (Crusaders)
Scored two tries for against the Jaguares and had a hand in a few others. It was his best performance on a rugby field in some time.
Bubbling under: Jason Woodward (Hurricanes)
14 – Rieko Ioane (Blues)
Got over the advantage line every time he got the ball against the Sharks and also embarrassed a few defenders with his strong runs. He also scored a crucial try against the team from Durban.
Bubbling under: Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs)
13 – Lionel Mapoe (Lions)
Showed his class again with ball in hand against the Stormers and will surely be in a Springbok jersey come June.
Bubbling under: Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
12 – Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions)
You felt sorry for the Stormers every time this man got the ball. He was like a battering ram and is the root cause of some of the headaches at the WP High Performance Centre at the moment.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 – Julian Savea (Hurricanes)
The big man really put his hand up after being criticised earlier in the tournament. His work rate on attack against the Melbourne Rebels was phenomenal and he made a number metres with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Produced another outstanding performance in the No.10 jersey. He controlled the game and steered his team to victory against the Stormers.
Bubbling under: Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
9 – Francois de Klerk (Lions)
Only came on in the second half against the Stormers, but his impact swung the game in favour of the home side. His try put the Lions in the driving seat and his steal at the death ensured victory for his team.
Bubbling under: Bryn Hall (Blues)
8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions)
It was another great all-round performance by the captain. He carried the ball strongly and was solid in defence.
Bubbling under: Phillip van der Walt (Sharks)
7 – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Tackled out of his skin against the Melbourne Rebels and was again a force with ball in hand. He also scored a try as well.
Bubbling under: Jannes Kirsten (Bulls)
6 – Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
The Jaguares struggled on defence when this man had the ball – he also showed some neat skills with a few offloads. He is growing with every opportunity he gets for the Crusaders.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Stormers)
5 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
He tackled like a demon for his team and was an important cog in the Stormers physical game against the Lions.
Bubbling under: Franco Mostert (Lions)
4 – Jason Jenkins (Bulls)
He did little wrong against the Reds and was fantastic to watch in open play. It's great to see a lock in Pretoria passing again.
Bubbling under: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
3 – Charlie Faumuina (Blues)
He is the hardest working prop in Super Rugby. He not only scrummed well against the Sharks, but also carried the ball with intent and did not miss a tackle when defending.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)
2 – Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
He was busy as usual and was again tremendous with ball in hand against the Melbourne Rebels.
Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1 – Trevor Nyakane (Bulls)
Played his best game of rugby this year. He was good in the scrums and made some powerful carries against the Reds.
Bubbling under: Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Dane Coles, Trevor Nyakane.
Previous selections:
Team of the week – Round Seven: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Charlie Ngatai(Chiefs), 11 Patrick Osborne (Highlanders), 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Warren Whiteley, (Lions), 7 Liam Gill (Reds), 6 Hendrik Tui (Reds), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Jason Jenkins (Bulls), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Dyllan Smith (Lions).
Team of the week – Round Six: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Paul Schoeman (Cheetahs), 7 Sean McMahon (Rebels), 6 Cyril-John Velleman (Southern Kings), 5 Lopeti Timani (Rebels), 4 Luke Jones (Rebels), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 James Parsons (Blues), 1 Toby Smith (Rebels).
Team of the week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Seta Tamanivalu (Chiefs), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Michael Leitch (Chiefs), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Roelof Smit (Bulls), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Jaguares), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).
Team of the week – Round Four: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Santiago Cordero (Jaguares), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 George Moala (Blues), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Jimmy Tupou (Crusaders), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Blade Thomson (Hurricanes), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Chris Eves (Hurricanes.
Team of the week – Round Three: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Matt Toomua (Brumbies), 11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders, 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).
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 Malcolm 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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