Team of the Week: Strong statements

It is not surprising they provide the bulk of rugby365's famous weekly selection.

There are six Lions in our starting XV, after their 44-17 demolition of the defending champion Free State Cheetahs.

Western Province came back from 3-13 down to smash the Sharks 31-20 and have four players in our first-choice XV.

The Blue Bulls (who also sneaked into the play-offs) have three starters and the Cheetahs provide the other two members of our first-choice selection.

There is further reward for an impressive Lions team, with six of them bubbling under.

The Sharks provide five players of our back-up squad, followed by the Bulls (three) and Province one).

Four players returns from last week – centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), No.8 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), flank Len Massyn (Golden Lions) ad lock Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls).

Team of the Week – Rounds 14:

15 – Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls):

His class has shone through since his return from a knee injury.

Bubbling under: Garth April (Sharks)

14 – Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls):

He is thriving under the tutelage of New Zealander John Mitchell.

Bubbling under: Aphiwe Dyantyi (Golden Lions)

13 – Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions):

Continuing his impressive upwards curve and the opposition was not half bad either.

Bubbling under: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

12 – William Small-Smith (Free State Cheetahs):

Did an admirable job in a losing cause.

Bubbling under: Marius Louw (Sharks)

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Free State Cheetahs):

Made the best of his limited chances.

Bubbling under: Courtnall Skosan (Golden Lions)

10 – Robert du Preez (Western Province):

He clearly wanted to prove a point and did so in emphatic fashion.

Bubbling under: Jaco van der Walt (Golden Lions)

9 – Dewaldt Duvenage (Western Province):

He was key to Province's second-half dominance.

Bubbling under: Ross Cronje (Golden Lions)

8 – Albertus Smith (Golden Lions):

Another performance that had pundits asking why he is not in the Springboks 15-a-side mix.

Bubbling under: Daniel du Preez (Sharks)

7 – Cyle Brink (Golden Lions):

Given what's to come back still, the Lions have an abundance of world class loose forwards.

Bubbling under: Tim Agaba (Blue Bulls)

6 – Len Massyn (Golden Lions):

One of the most exciting prospects to burst onto the domestic scene this year.

Bubbling under: Jaco Coetzee (Western Province)

5 – John Schickerling (Western Province):

Another step closer to Springbok selection.

Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Golden Lions)

4 – Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls):

The Currie Cup has delivered a rash of quality second row talent.

Bubbling under: Andries Ferreira (Golden Lions)

3 – Wilco Louw (Western Province):

Again showed why he was called up by the Springboks.

Bubbling under: Conraad van Vuuren (Blue Bulls)

2 – Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions):

Simply the best!

Bubbling under: Franco Marais (Sharks)

1 – Dylan Smith (Golden Lions):

Finally over his injuries he showed just how valuable he can be for the Lions.

Bubbling under: Pierre Schoeman (Blue Bulls)

Our individual selections:

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Marco van Staden, 6 Len Massyn, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Robert Du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tim Agaba, 6 Len Massyn, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Len Massyn, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Len Massyn, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Rounds 13: 15 Adriaan Coertzen (Griquas), 14 Sylvian Mahuza (Golden Lions), 13 Tertius Kruger (Griquas), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), 11 Kyle Steyn (Griquas), 10 Ashlon Davids (Golden Lions), 9 Christiaan Meyer (Griquas), 8 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), 7 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 6 Len Massyn (Golden Lions), 5 Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls), 4 Andries Ferreira (Golden Lions), 3 Jacques van Rooyen (Golden Lions), 2 Edgar Marutlulle (Blue Bulls), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Blue Bulls).

Team of the Week – Rounds 12: 15 Adriaan Coertzen (Griquas), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 13 Tertius Kruger (Griquas), 12 John Jackson (Blue Bulls), 11 Werner Kok (Western Province), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Michael Claassens (Sharks), 8 Daniel du Preez (Sharks), 7 Cyle Brink (Golden Lions), 6 Wendal Wehr (Griquas), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls), 3 Ross Geldenhuys (Sharks), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Rounds 11: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 13 Gerrit Smith (Pumas), 12 Tertius Kruger (Griquas), 11 Werner Kok (Western Province), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Pumas), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (Pumas), 7 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 John Schickerling (Western Province), 4 Tyler Paul (Sharks), 3 Wilco Louw (Western Province), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Rounds 10: 15 Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Kyle Steyn (Griquas), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), 11 Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Pumas), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Golden Lions), 7 Cyle Brink (Golden Lions), 6 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls), 3 Ross Geldenhuys (Sharks), 2 Frank Herne (Pumas), 1 Khwezi Mona (Pumas).

Team of the Week – Rounds Nine: 15 Craig Barry (Western Province), 14 Werner Kok (Western Province), 13 Huw Jones (Western Province), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), 11 Ruhan Nel (Western Province), 10 Ashlon Davids (Golden Lions), 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren (Golden Lions), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Golden Lions), 7 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 6 Chris Cloete (Pumas), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Chris van Zyl (Western Province), 3 Wilco Louw (Western Province), 2 Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions), 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Rounds Eight: 15 Immanuel Libbok (Blue Bulls), 14 Ederies Arendse (Griquas), 13 Manuel Rass (Golden Lions), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), 11 Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), 10 Ashlon Davids (Golden Lions), 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren (Golden Lions), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Golden Lions), 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), 6 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Andries Ferreira (Golden Lions), 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls), 2 Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Golden Lions).

Team of the Week – Rounds Seven: 15 Gerrit Smith (Pumas), 14 Rosko Specman (Free State Cheetahs), 13 William Small-Smith (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Golden Lions), 10 Robert Petzer (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Pumas), 8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 7 Hacjivah Dayimani (Golden Lions), 6 Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), 5 John Schickerling (Western Province), 4 Andries Ferreira (Golden Lions), 3 Jacques van Rooyen (Golden Lions), 2 Mark Pretorius (Pumas), 1 Kwezi Mona (Pumas).

Team of the Week – Rounds Six: 15 Eric Zana (Griquas), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Huw Jones (Western Province), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Damian Willemse (Western Province), 9 Jano Vermaak (Western Province), 8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 7 Cobus Wiese (Western Province), 6 Chris Cloete (Pumas), 5 John Schickerling (Western Province),  4 Chris van Zyl (Western Province), 3 Tom Botha (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Ramone Samuels (Western Province), 1 Khwezi Mona (Pumas).

Team of the Week – Rounds Four and Five: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 13 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 12 Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), 11 Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), 10 Andre Swarts (Griquas), 9 Christiaan Meyer (Griquas), 8 Jasper Wiese (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), 6 De Wet Kruger (Griquas), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Chris van Zyl (Western Province), 3 Wilco Louw (Western Province), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province), 1 Jacobus Janse van Rensburg (Western Province).

Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls), 14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 13 Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 12 Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), 11 Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Piet van Zyl (Blue Bulls), 8 Daniel du Preez (Sharks), 7 Kobus van Dyk (Western Province), 6 Johannes Prinsloo (Blue Bulls), 5 Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls), 4 Tyler Paul (Sharks), 3 Michael Kumbirai (Western Province), 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi (Western Province), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Blue Bulls).

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Rosco Specman (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 11 Enver Brandt (Griquas), 10 George Whitehead (Griquas), 9 Dillon Smit (Golden Lions), 8 Uzair Cassiem (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Sias Koen (Griquas), 6 Kobus van Dyk (Western Province),5 Marvin Orie (Golden Lions), 4 Jeremy Jordaan (Pumas), 3 Justin Ackerman (Golden Lions), 2 Pieter Jansen (Golden Lions), 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls), 14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 13 Hennie Skorbinski (Pumas), 12 Clinton Swart (Griquas), 11 Duncan Matthews (Blue Bulls), 10 Shaun Reynolds (Golden Lions), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Pumas), 8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), 6 Johannes Prinsloo (Blue Bulls), 5 Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls), 4 Carl Wegner (Free State Cheetahs), 3 Johannes Coetzee (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Jaco Visagie (Blue Bulls), 1 Charles Marais (Free State Cheetahs).

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