Team of the Week: Lions in the den

It is not often the a Blue Bulls team gets man-handled in such a manner on their home turf, Loftus Versfeld.

The record 62-23 win did not only get the Lions' Currie Cup campaign back on track, it also brought them plenty of reward in our famous weekly selection.

There are seven Lions in our starting XV, almost half the team.

The Cheetahs, despite their loss to the Sharks, still find three of their team rewarded in our selection, the same as the Sharks – with Griquas (two) making up the numbers.

Western Province find their reward for the one-point win over Griquas in our back-up squad, with five players bubbling under.

Griquas have another four players in our back-up squad, with the Blues Bulls, Free State Cheetahs (both two), Sharks and Lions (one each) making up the numbers.

Six players returned from last week – fullback SP Marais (Sharks), who was on the wing last week, wing Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), No.8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), flank Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions) and hooker Kyle Cooper (Sharks).

Team of the week – Round Three:

15 – SP Marais (Sharks):

He moved to Durban so he could get into the Springbok selection frame. A few more performances like this will certainly get him noticed.

Bubbling under: Jürgen Visser (Blue Bulls)

14 – Deon Helberg (Golden Lions):

He has finally moved on from being a very good Varsity Cup player to a quality provincial flyer.

Bubbling under: Nico Scheepers (Griquas)

13 – Louis Ludik (Sharks):

He is the answer to the Sharks' midfield poser.

Bubbling under: Juan de Jongh (Western Province)

12 – Howard Mnisi (Griquas):

Another Varsity Cup star making the step up to the Currie Cup stage.

Bubbling under: Damien de Allende (Western Province)

11 – Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions):

He may not be the finished product yet, but he has the basics in place.

Bubbling under: Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province)

10 – Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions):

There is a good reason why he was selected ahead of a Springbok.

Bubbling under: Francois Brummer (Griquas)

9 – Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs):

He may have some flaws, but remains and exciting player that would not let the national team down.

Bubbling under: Marnus Hugo (Griquas)

8 – Willie Britz (Golden Lions):

Pace, skill and an incredible workrate.

Bubbling under: Philip van der Walt (Free State Cheetahs)

7 – Derick Minnie (Golden Lions):

The captaincy role suits him just fine.

Bubbling under: Jean Deysel (Sharks)

6 – Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions):

His amazing skills already make him a special player that produces some sublime plays.

Bubbling under: Deon Fourie (Western Province)

5 – Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions):

One of the key elements that was missing in those close losses by the Lions in the earlier rounds.

Bubbling under: Lodewyk de Jager (Free State Cheetahs)

4 – Teboho Mohoje (Free State Cheetahs):

Not bad for a rookie. At first glance he looks like a player that can go places.

Bubbling under: Michael Rhodes (Western Province)

3 – Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs):

He will be back in the Springbok set-up before too long.

Bubbling under: Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions)

2 – Kyle Cooper (Sharks):

It has to be remembered, he is keeping a Springbok on the bench.

Bubbling under: Ryno Barnes (Griquas)

1 – Steph Roberts (Griquas):

He showed his experience and anchored the powerful Griquas scrum.

Bubbling under: Morné Mellett (Blue Bulls)

Our individual selections:

Michael de Vries XV: 15 SP Marais, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.

Paul Dobson XV: 15  Gio Aplon, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Damien De Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Teboho Mohoje, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Morne Mellett.

Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volminck, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derrick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Teboho Mohoje, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Dale Chadwick.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 SP Marais, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Teboho Mohoje, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Steph Roberts.

Previous selections:

Team of the week – Round Two: 15 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 14 SP Marais (Sharks), 13 Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls), 12 Damian de Allende (Western Province), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions), 5 Grant Hattingh (Blue Bulls), 4 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 3 Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 CJ van der Linde (Golden Lions).

Team of the week – Round One: 15 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 14 Nico Scheepers (Griquas), 13 Nicolaas Hanekom (Golden Lions), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Philip van der Walt (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg (Golden Lions), 6 Johannes Prinsloo (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Hugo Kloppers (Golden Lions), 4 Lodewyk de Jager (Free State Cheetahs), 3 Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas), 2 Willie Wepener (Blue Bulls), 1 Morné Mellett (Blue Bulls).