Team of the Week: Running wild

There may only have been two matches in Round One, but we are so excited about the new season that we named our 15 best players anyway.

It is not a major surprise that the Brumbies are running wild in our first-choice XV – with seven members from the Canberra-based outfit starting for, while the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels provide four members each.

Our back-up squad has a more even spread – the Rebels top with five players Bubbling Under, followed by the Brumbies, Reds (both four) and Force (two).

This week there is a full round of seven matches, with the South African and New Zealand team entering the competition .

Team of the Week – Round One:

15 – Jesse Mogg (Brumbies):

It may not have been flawless, but he got our vote after two tries, two penalty goals and several raking touchfinders.

Bubbling under: James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels)

14 – Henry Speight (Brumbies):

He again showed why he is rated as one of the most dangerous outside backs in the competition.

Bubbling under: Dom Shipperley (Reds)

13 – Andrew Smith (Brumbies):

No Reds found a way through his channel and the game was won through sound defence.

Bubbling under: Winston Stanley (Western Force)

12 – Kyle Godwin (Western Force):

A true local Perth product, who graduated to the Western Force senior squad, he showed glimpses of the form that caused so much pre-season hype.

Bubbling under: Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)

11 – Alfie Mafi (Western Force):

Continuing on from 2012, which was a breakout year for Mafi.

Bubbling under: Digby Ioane (Reds)

10 – Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels):

Simply superb.

Bubbling under: Matt Toomua (Brumbies)

9 – Nic White (Brumbies):

Another who is continuing on from 2012, which was his breakout season.

Bubbling under: Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)

8 – Ben Mowen (Western Force):

Tough call, but he just edge Melbourne Rebels captain Gareth Delve.

Bubbling under: Gareth Delve (Melbourne Rebels)

7 – David Pocock (Brumbies):

The master is back.

Bubbling under: Scott Fuglistaller (Melbourne Rebels)

6 – Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels):

Another tough call, but the Wallaby blindside flank just edged Brumbies rival Peter Kimlin.

Bubbling under: Peter Kimlin (Brumbies)

5 – Toby Lynn (Western Force):

The Force's Kiwi second row forward showed his value in a losing cause.

Bubbling under: Rob Simmons (Reds)

4 – Hugh Pyle (Melbourne Rebels):

Unanimous!

Bubbling under: Scott Fardy (Brumbies)

3 – Laurie Weeks (Melbourne Rebels):

He was the cornerstone in a very solid Rebels scrum.

Bubbling under: James Slipper (Reds)

2 – Stephen Moore (Brumbies):

The Wallaby veteran again showed his class – Australia's premier hooker.

Bubbling under: Ged Robinson (Melbourne Rebels)

1 – Ben Alexander (Brumbies):

Another veteran who helped the Brumbies to a comfortable win.

Bubbling under: Pek Cowan (Western Force)

Our individual selections:

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 David Pocock, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Patrick Dellit, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Toby Lynn, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 James Slipper, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Ben Alexander.

Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 James Slipper, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Pek Cowan.

Leonard Kaplan XV: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Richard Kingi, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 David Pocock, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Ben Alexander.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nic White, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Toby Lynn, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.