Team of the Week: Kiwis dominate ... again

The Hurricanes, arguably the consistent and effective team, tops the list with four players in our starting XV.

Four teams have two players each – the Highlanders, Chiefs, Crusaders and Bulls.

The Rebels, Sharks and Lions (one each) make up the numbers.

There is plenty of reward for South Africa's most impressive team this past weekend, the Sharks, in the back-up squad.

Five Sharks are bubbling under, with the Brumbies and Waratahs next best with two each in our back-up squad.

The Hurricanes, Rebels, Blues, Highlanders, Lions and Bulls (one each) make up the numbers.

Five players return from last week – fullback Ben Smith (Highlanders), wing Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), scrumhalf Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), flank Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks) and lock Brodie Retallick (Chiefs).

Team of the Week – Round Seven:

15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders):

He is a mainstay in whichever team he plays for – it is his calm demeanour and brilliant reading of the game that sets him apart.

Bubbling under: Curwin Bosch (Sharks)

14 – Waisake Naholo (Highlanders):

This powerful wing is a sight to behold when in full flight. Maybe his defence needs some work, but his main job is to make metres and score tries – or at least draw enough defenders to set up opportunities for his teammates.

Bubbling under: Julian Savea (Hurricanes)

13 – Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs):

He certainly exposed the Highlanders' defence – six tackle busts, two clean breaks and plenty of metres.

Bubbling under: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

12 – Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes):

 Was a tough decision, with strong competition from the Highlanders' Rob Thompson and Sharks’ Andre Esterhuizen'.

Bubbling under: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks)

11 – Ben Lam (Hurricanes):

Making a strong statement about his push for a place in the All Black team.

Bubbling under: Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs)

10 – Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes):

Again showed why is the most astute flyhalf in the world.

Bubbling under: Robert du Preez (Sharks)

9 – Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes):

 The perfect partner for Barrett. Knows when to take pressure off his flyhalf and his vision makes him a strong candidate for a starting spot in the All Black team.

Bubbling under: Will Genia (Rebels)

8 – Amanaki Mafi (Rebels):

A one-man wrecking ball.

Bubbling under: Akira Ioane (Blues)

7 – Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks):

Alongside his brother Robert, they were the key to the Sharks' revival.

Bubbling under: David Pocock (Brumbies)

6 – Marco van Staden (Bulls):

Showed that there is immense depth among the loose forwards in South Africa.

Bubbling under: Elliot Dixon (Highlanders)

5 – Sam Whitelock (Crusaders):

 Showed why he is regarded as the premier lock in the world and an All Black captaincy candidate.

Bubbling under: Stephan Lewies (Sharks)

4 – Brodie Retallick (Chiefs):

The cement that keeps the Chiefs pack solid.

Bubbling under: Andries Ferreira (Lions)

3 – Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders):

After a shaky start in the scrums, he settled down and made a massive difference.

Bubbling under: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

2 – Malcolm Marx (Lions):

The one Lions player you can count on, consistently.

Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Bulls)

1 – Pierre Schoeman (Bulls):

 After a slow start to the season, he is coming into his own now.

Bubbling under: Tom Robertson (Waratahs)

Individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Perenara, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Thomas Perenara, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Six: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Matt Proctor (Hurricanes), 12 Bill Meakes (Melbourne Rebels), 11 Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 13 Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Dewald Duvenage (Stormers), 8 Amanaki Mafi (Melbourne Rebels), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Taniela Tupou (Reds), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 Melani Nanai (Blues), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4 Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes), 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 David Havili (Crusaders), 14 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Handré Pollard (Bulls), 11 George Bridge (Crusaders), 10 Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders), 9 Brad Weber (Chiefs), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Billy Harmon (Crusaders), 6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes), 5 Adam Coleman (Melbourne Rebels), 4 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).

Teams of the Week – Round Two: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Sylvian Mahuza (Lions), 13 Rob Thompson (Highlanders), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 7 Pieter Labuschagne (Sunwolves), 6 Roelof Smit (Bulls), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Lions), 2 James Parsons (Blues), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Damian de Allende (Stormers), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), 10 Robert du Preez (Sharks), 9 Ross Cronje (Lions), 8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers), 7 Cyle Brink (Lions), 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 5 John Schickerling (Stormers), 4 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 3 Nahuel Tétaz Chaparro (Jaguares), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).

@rugby365com