Team of the Week: Top drawer
The Crusaders are not the only New Zealand side represented in our selection. The Highlanders are also represented with three players, while the Hurricanes and Blues have one player each in our team.
The Stormers, Sharks, and the Waratahs also have two players each in our team. The Lions, who beat the Sharks, only have one player in our selection.
In the back three, we have Jordie Barrett, Jacobus van Wyk and George Bridge. Malakai Fekitoa and Rohan Janse van Rensburg are our choices for the midfield.
At No.10 we have Robert du Preez with Aaron Smith at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Michael Hooper and Akira Ioane make up or back three, while in the second row we have Crusaders' duo Samuel Whitelock and Scott Barrett.
Our front row consists of Coenraad Oosthuizen, Tolu Latu and Jacques van Rooyen.
Team of the Week – Round Six:
15 – Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
Showed great maturity at the back against the Reds and was a constant threat with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Sarel Marais (Stormers)
14 – Jacobus van Wyk (Sharks)
Broke through a number of tackles against the Lions. He also scored a brilliant try and set up another for Coenraad Oosthuizen.
Bubbling under: Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers)
13 – Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)
The All Black gave the Rebels plenty of problems out wide and he scored two good tries as well.
Bubbling under: Tim Bateman (Crusaders)
12 – Richard Buckman (Highlanders)
Produced a powerful display in the midfield and got his team over the advantage line more often than not with some strong carries.
Bubbling under: Daniel du Plessis (Stormers)
11 – George Bridge (Crusaders)
He was absolutely amazing on attack against the Waratahs. He got plenty of ball and used it do good use by racking up nearly 200 running metres and scoring a try as well.
Bubbling under: Courtnall Skosan (Lions)
10 – Robert du Preez (Stormers)
Played a key part in his team's dominance out wide against the Cheetahs. He was also solid on defence as well.
Bubbling under: Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
He showed why is one of the best in the world. His work rate around the park, especially his speed to the ruck, was second to none.
Bubbling under: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs)
8 – Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers)
Scored three tries against the Cheetahs and showed some great skill with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Luke Whitelock (Highlanders)
7 – Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
He played like a man possessed against the Crusaders, especially on attack and he scored a try as well,
Bubbling under: Matt Todd (Crusaders)
6 – Akira Ioane (Blues)
His physicality helped the Blues up front against the Western Force and never missed a tackle on defence as well.
Bubbling under: Jaco Kriel (Lions)
5 – Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders)
The captain plays his heart out every week and it was no different against the Waratahs. His work rate was amazing once again.
Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
4 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Secured good quality ball for the Crusaders in the line-out and he was a monster in the physical exchanges against the Waratahs.
Bubbling under: Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) .
3 – Coenraad Oosthuizen (Sharks)
Had a few powerful carries against the Lions and he scored a memorable try as well.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)
2 – Tolu Latu (Waratahs)
Once again the terrorised the opposition at the breakdowns and he made some big hits on defence.
Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1 – Jacques Van Rooyen (Lions)
He was solid in the scrums and gave a good account of himself in open play as well.
Bubbling under: JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers)
Our individual selections:
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 David Havili, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Jordie Barret, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques Van Rooyen.
Warren Fortune XV: Sarel Marais, 14 Jacobus van Wyk, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 George Bridge, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Jacques Van Rooyen.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 14 Matt Duffie (Blues), 13 Francois Venter (Cheetahs), 12 Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels), 11 Melani Nanai (Blues), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares), 8 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 Andisa Ntsila, (Southern Kings), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls).
Teams of the Week – Round Four: 15 Shota Emi (Sunwolves), 14 Vince Aso (Hurricanes), 13 Jan Serfontein (Bulls), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 Courtnall Skosan (Lions), 10 Mitchell Hunt (Crusaders), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Marcos Kremer (Jaguares), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).
Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Kenki Fukuoka (Sunwolves), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes), 2 Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Nico Lee (Cheetahs), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Teboho Mohoje (Cheetahs), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Dominic Bird (Chiefs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Tolu Latu (Waratahs), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché (Cheetahs).
Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Joaquín Tuculet (Jaguares), 14 Vince Aso (Hurricanes), 13 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Ihaia West (Blues), 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 5 Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), 4 Rory Arnold (Brumbies), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Hika Elliot (Chiefs), 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers).
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