Team of the Week: Slightly Bullish
And it was last year's two finalists – the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls – who started the season with the most impressive form, both getting underway with bonus-point victories.
And their early season form is reflected in rugby365's famous Team of the Week.
The Bulls top our list with six players in the staring XV, follow by the Cheetahs with four.
The Pumas, another team with a bonus-point win in Round One, gave two players in our first-choice selection. The Golden Lions, Griquas and Sharks (one each) make up the numbers.
There is plenty more reward for the Cheetahs (six) and Pumas (four) in our back-up squad.
The Lions (two), Griquas and Sharks (one each) make up the numbers.
Team of the Week – Round One:
15 Warwick Gelant (Blue Bulls):
At this level his attacking skills is simply sublime.
Bubbling under: Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs)
14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls):
No substitute for raw pace.
Bubbling under: Rosko Specman (Free State Cheetahs)
13 Hennie Skorbinski (Pumas):
Is this a breakthrough season for this efficient, but unheralded midfielder?
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
12 Clinton Swart (Griquas):
His power and pace – as was often see on the Super Rugby stage – made him a handful for the Bulls' defence.
Bubbling under: William Small-Smith (Free State Cheetahs)
11 Duncan Matthews (Blue Bulls):
No doubt a talented young man worth following.
Bubbling under: Aphiwe Dyantyi (Golden Lions)
10 Shaun Reynolds (Golden Lions):
Despite his lack of experience, he was one of his team's stand-out performers and one for the future.
Bubbling under: Andre Swartz (Griquas)
9 Stefan Ungerer (Pumas):
He was the spark that got the Nelspruit team fired up.
Bubbling under: Shaun Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs):
He is invaluable to the Cheetahs' cause and they must hope he stays injury free.
Bubbling under: Ryan Kankowski (Golden Lions)
7 Jacques Vermeulen '(Sharks):
He stood head and shoulders above the rest of his teammates in a losing cause.
Bubbling under: Nardus van der Walt (Pumas)
6 Johannes Prinsloo (Blue Bulls):
Probably one of the Bulls' best buys in a while.
Bubbling under: Neil Jordaan (Free State Cheetahs)
5 Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls):
Has the Bulls unearthed a real gem here?
Bubbling under: Hugo Kloppers (Pumas)
4 Carl Wegner (Free State Cheetahs):
A real workhorse – exactly the type of lock you need in the Currie Cup.
Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Golden Lions)
3 Johannes Coetzee (Free State Cheetahs):
The Namibian international is going to be a valuable asset to the Cheetahs this season.
Bubbling under: Ross Geldenhuys (Sharks)
2 Jaco Visagie (Blue Bulls):
He will only get better with more game time.
Bubbling under: Mark Pretorius (Pumas)
1 Charles Marais (Free State Cheetahs):
You will hear plenty more of him as the season goes along.
Bubbling under: Mona Kwezi (Pumas)
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