Team of the Week: Prime cuts
The Bulls and the Jaguares have four players each in our selection after picking up wins against the Sharks and the Melbourne Rebels respectively.
The Waratahs, Blues, Hurricanes, Rebels and Brumbies are also represented this week.
In the back three, we have Warrick Gelant, Ramiro Moyano and Ben Lam. The midfield consists of Curtis Rona and Rieko Ioane.
Handré Pollard is our No.10 this week with Will Genia the pick of the No.9.
In the forwards, the back row consists of Amanaki Mafi, David Pocock and Pablo Matera.
Lodewyk de Jager and Guido Petti Pagadizaval are our locks this week. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Damien Fitzpatrick and Pierre Schoeman make up our front row.
Team of the Week – Round Nine:
15 – Warrick Gelant (Bulls)
Controlled the game nicely from the back in wet conditions against the Sharks. He scored three tries in the 40-10 win and he was solid on defence as well.
Bubbling under: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
14 – Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares)
He ran the Melbourne Rebels ragged and he showed some sheer power to bump off three Rebels' defenders to score one of his team's tries.
Bubbling under: Waisake Naholo (Highlanders)
13 – Curtis Rona (Waratahs)
The Reds struggled to contain him in the midfield. He carried the ball strongly and he was a brick wall on defence.
Bubbling under: Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
12 – Rieko Ioane (Blues)
He gets better every week in the midfield. He terrorised the Sunwolves with a truckload of carries sending his running metres stats through the roof.
Bubbling under: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
11 – Ben Lam (Hurricanes)
He evaded a number of Chiefs' defenders with ease at the Westpac Stadium and scored an outstanding try.
Bubbling under: Solomona Alaimalo (Chiefs)
10 – Handré Pollard (Bulls)
He was master and commander in the No.10 spot against the Sharks.
Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
9 – Will Genia (Melbourne Rebels)
His service was exceptional on attack against the Jaguares and he had a big hand in two of his team's tries.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
8 – Amanaki Mafi (Melbourne Rebels)
The man simply has raw power and it was on display again against the Jaguares on Saturday. His work rate was phenomenal on attack and on defence.
Bubbling under: Akira Ioane (Blues)
7 – David Pocock (Brumbies)
He is slowly getting back to his best and he certainly lifted his game against the Highlanders.
Bubbling under: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks)
6 – Pablo Matera (Jaguares)
He continues to lead by example on the field of play. He tackled his heart out and carried the ball aggressively against the Rebels.
Bubbling under: Marco van Staden (Bulls)
5 – Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls)
On current form, he is the best lock in South Africa at the moment. He was dominant in the line-outs again against the Sharks and his big body helped the Bulls pack in getting momentum in the wet conditions.
Bubbling under: Grant Hattingh (Sunwolves)
4 – Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares)
His defensive work epitomised the Jaguares' fighting spirit against the Melbourne Rebels.
Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
3 – Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Jaguares)
He did plenty of work around the park against the Rebels and he was solid in the scrums as well.
Bubbling under: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
2 – Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs)
He produced his best performance of the season so far in the clash against the Reds. He tackled like a man possessed and was a hard man to bring down in open play.
Bubbling under: Ricky Riccitelli (Hurricanes)
1 – Pierre Schoeman (Bulls)
It was an effective performance in the scrums by the big man against the Sharks. He also showed great energy on attack and on defence.
Bubbling under: Dan Lienert-Brown (Highlanders)
Our individual selections:
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Rieko Ioane, 11 Solomona Alaimalo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 David Pocock, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Lodewyk De Jager, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Dan Lienert-Brown.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Handré Pollard , 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 David Pocock, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week – Round Eight: 15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 14 Manasa Mataele (Crusaders), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Madosh Tambwe (Lions), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Joe Powell (Brumbies), 8 Isi Naisarani (Brumbies), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Albertus Smith (Lions), 5 Francois Mostert (Lions), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Seven: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Amanaki Mafi (Rebels), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Marco van Staden (Bulls), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Bulls).
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
