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Team of the week: Rebels with a cause

The Rebels have four players in our XV. The next best is the Chiefs and Blues with three players each.

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The Crusaders have two players in our team, while the Kings, Cheetahs and Highlanders have one player each in our selection.

Damian McKenzie, Johnny McNicholl and James Lowe make up our back three with Rene Ranger and Ryan Crotty in the midfield.

Aaron Cruden and Aaron Smith are our halfbacks for the second week in a row.

Paul Schoeman, Sean McMahon and Cyril-John Velleman make up our loose trio and in the second row we have the hardworking duo of Lopeti Timani and Luke Jones.

Charlie Faumuina, James Parsens and Toby Smith are our front row.

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Team of the week – Round Six:

15 – Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)

He is the tournament's most exciting player at the moment. His skills and vision in the Chiefs' backline tore the Brumbies defence to pieces.

Bubbling under: Reece Hodge (Rebels)

14 – Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders)

The youngster is getting better with each game. He scored a try and assisted in two others against the Lions – he was just everywhere.

Bubbling under: Ruan Combrinck (Lions)

13 – Rene Ranger (Blues)

Was powerful in the midfield against the Jaguares. He tackled well and he was superb with ball in hand.

Bubbling under: Tamati Ellison (Rebels)

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12 – Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)

Scored three tries against the Lions and beat a number of defenders with ball in hand at Ellis Park. An awesome performance by the centre.

Bubbling under: Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)

11 – James Lowe (Chiefs)

Scored two tries against the Brumbies and was an integral part to the Chiefs deadly attack throughout the 80 minutes.

Bubbling under: Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders)

10 – Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)

He hardly put a food wrong against the Brumbies. It was a commanding performance by the flying and he was the chief orchestrator of his team's potent attack.

Bubbling under: Jack Debreczeni (Rebels)

9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

His work rate is unbelievable and was once again at the forefront of the Highlanders success this weekend.

Bubbling under: Martín Landajo (Jaguares)

8 – Paul Schoeman (Cheetahs)

Was the best player on the field in the match between the Bulls and the Cheetahs. He dominated the breakdowns and gave the Bulls some headaches with his bone crunching tackles.

Bubbling under: Steven Luatua (Blues)

7 – Sean McMahon (Rebels)

Carried the ball like a demon against the Waratahs, breaking through a number of tackles with his power. He was also a nuisance at the breakdowns.

Bubbling under: Sam Cane (Chiefs)

6 – Cyril-John Velleman (Southern Kings)

Was a hungry monster at the breakdowns against the Sunwolves. He turned over quite a few balls. He also tackled out of skin.

Bubbling under: Jaco Kriel (Lions)

5 – Lopeti Timani (Rebels)

Showed some great skill with ball in hand against the Waratahs and also had a hand in one of his team's tries.

Bubbling under: Thomas Franklin (Highlanders)

4 – Luke Jones (Rebels)

He is included in our XV just because of the enormous defensive effort he put in against the Waratahs. He tackled his heart out and was a key part of the Rebels'success in Sydney.

Bubbling under: Steven Sykes (Southern Kings)

3 – Charlie Faumuina (Blues)

The big prop put in another powerful performance in open play and gave the Jaguares a hard time in the scrums when he was on the field.

Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)

2 – James Parsens (Blues)

The captain led by example against the Jaguares both in defence and open play and was part of a powerful front row that put the Jaguares under pressure.

Bubbling under: Armand van der Merwe (Lions)

1 – Toby Smith (Rebels)

Scored a great try against the Waratahs and did his fair share of work around the park, especially for a prop.

Bubbling under: Mitchell Graham (Chiefs)

Our individual selections: 

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Cyril-John Velleman, 5 Thomas Franklin, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Mitchell Graham.    

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rene Ranger 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Paul Schoeman, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Cyril-John Velleman, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Toby Smith.

Previous selections:

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 Malcom 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 Malcom 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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