Team of the Week: Lions walking tall

Besides the Lions – the Waratahs, Crusaders, Brumbies, Hurricanes and Stormers are also represented in our selection.

Our back three consists of Andrew Kellaway, Ruan Combrinck and Nemani Nadolo. Israel Folau and Rohan Janse van Rensburg make up our midfield combination.

Christian Lealiifano is our man at flyhalf and at scrumhalf we have the impressive Francois de Klerk.

In the pack, we have Warren Whiteley, Ardie Savea and Jaco Kriel in the back row. Our locks are Pieter-Steph du Toit and Dave Dennis.

Our front row consists of Julian Redelinghuys, Malcom Marx and Reggie Goodes.

Team of the Week – Round 14:

15 – Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)

He was a constant threat will ball in hand against the Chiefs. He also scored one of his team's tries.

Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)

14 – Ruan Combrinck (Lions)

It was another outstanding performance by the Springbok squad member. He beat a number of Bulls' defenders and racked up the running metres once again.

Bubbling under: Nigel Ah Wong (Brumbies)

13 – Israel Folau (Waratahs)

The Wallaby flyer scored two fantastic tries in the win against the Chiefs and was just a menace with the ball throughout the game.

Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Lions)

12 – Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions)

The big centre put in another powerful performance in the midfield. He broke the Bulls defence on a number of occasions and scored two tries as well.

Bubbling under: Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)

11 – Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders)

He gave the Blues a few problems with his big frame and raw power. He got over the advantage line on numerous occasions and got a five-pointer as well.

Bubbling under: James Dargaville (Brumbies)

10 – Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)

The playmaker's vision and distribution on attack destroyed the Sunwolves. He also had a good showing in defence as well.

Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

9 – Francois de Klerk (Lions)

The scrumhalf is just a brilliant player to watch – he gives his team an attacking edge. He scored a try and also had a big hand in another against the Bulls.

Bubbling under: Andy Ellis (Crusaders)

8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions)

He does the hard and ugly work for his team and was again all over the park against the Bulls. It was an inspiring performance by the captain.

Bubbling under: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers)

7 – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

He scored the match-winning try in the victory over the Highlanders and was a constant threat with the ball.

Bubbling under: Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers)

6 – Jaco Kriel (Lions)

The flank is a tough man to tackle and the Bulls definitely struggled to bring him down. He broke through the Bulls defence plenty of times and also got on the scoreboard as well.

Bubbling under: Dean Mumm (Waratahs)

5 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)

The form lock in Super Rugby this year caused a few problems for the Cheetahs at line-out time. He was also a monster in the physical exchanges and carried the ball strongly.

Bubbling under: Will Skelton (Waratahs)

4 – Dave Dennis (Waratahs)

He did very little wrong against the Chiefs. He did the basics well on attack and in defence and was a rock in the physical stuff.

Bubbling under: Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)

3 – Julian Redelinghuys (Lions)

He was part of a strong Lions scrum against the Bulls and was also one of the Lions' try scorers in the game.

Bubbling under: Ruan Smith (Brumbies)

2 – Malcom Marx (Lions)

The hooker put in another great all-round performance at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend. He won plenty of turnover ball for his team and was hard to stop with ball in hand.

Bubbling under: Dane Coles (Hurricanes)

1 – Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes)

He put his body on the line in an outstanding defensive effort against the Highlanders.

Bubbling under: Dylan Smith (Lions)

Our individual selections:

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Reggie Goodes.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes.

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Reggie Goodes.

Previous selections: 

Team of the week – Round 13: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Patrick Lambie (Sharks), 9 Brad Weber (Chiefs), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Jannes Kirsten (Bulls), 6 Pieter Labuschagne (Bulls), 5 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 4 Dominic Bird (Chiefs), 3 Julian Redelinghuys (Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Lions), 1 James Slipper (Reds).

Team of the week – Round 12: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 Wes Goosen (Hurricanes), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Elliot Dixon (Highlanders), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Tim Bond (Sunwolves), 3 Julian Redelinghuys (Lions), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Reg Goodes (Hurricanes).

Team of the week – Round 11: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 11 Jone Macilai-Tori (Crusaders), 10 Garth April (Sharks), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Stephan Lewies (Sharks), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 Josh Hohneck (Highlanders), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders).

Team of the week – Round 10: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Matt Proctor (Hurricanes), 12 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Michael Leitch (Chiefs), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Hendrik Tui (Reds), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Reg Goodes (Hurricanes).

Team of the week – Round Nine: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels), 12 David Havili (Crusaders), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 Chris Cloete (Southern Kings), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 Vincent Koch (Stormers), 2 Shota Horie (Sunwolves), 1 Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels).

Team of the week – Round Eight: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 EltonJantjies (Lions), 9 Francois de Klerk (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Jason Jenkins (Bulls), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls).

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), 4Eben 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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