Team of the Week: Top of the pops
With the Hurricanes enjoying a bye, the Blues suffering another defeat and the Crusaders underperforming, it was players from the Highlanders and the Chiefs that caught our attention.
The Highlanders lead the way with three players in our team, while the Chiefs are close behind with two.
The Jaguares, Sharks, Lions and the Melbourne Rebels all have two players in our XV as well. Other teams represented this week are the Reds and Bulls.
In the backline, we have Ben Smith at fullback and Sibusiso Nkosi and Soloman Alaimalo on the wings. Matias Orlando and Samu Kerevi are the two midfielders this week.
Nicolas Sanchez is at flyhalf and Michael Ruru is our No.9.
In the pack, Amanaki Mafi, Dillon Hunt and Shannon Frizell make up our back row. The second row consists of Lodewyk de Jager and Brodie Retallick.
In the front row, we have Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Jacques van Rooyen.
Team of the Week – Round 10:
15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders)
He is still causing opposing teams some anxiety when he has the ball. The Blues were next team to enjoy a masterclass.
Bubbling under: Warrick Gelant (Bulls)
14 – Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks)
He made a number of important tackles out wide in the win against the Stormers and he got his side over the gain line on a number of occasions with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: John-Ben Kotze (Bulls)
13 – Matias Orlando (Jaguares)
He made a staggering amount of tackles in the win over the Brumbies and he ran good lines on attack as well.
Bubbling under: Rob Thompson (Highlanders)
12 – Samu Kerevi (Reds)
He was the Reds' main attacking weapon against the Chiefs. He was hard to stop out wide and he scored two tries as well.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 – Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs)
He continued his fine form against the Reds. He was elusive with ball in hand and orchestrated a number of line breaks.
Bubbling under: Manasa Mataele (Crusaders)
10 – Nicolas Sanchez (Jaguares)
He controlled proceedings nicely in the win over the Brumbies. He showed great vision and awareness on attack and he was solid on defence.
Bubbling under: Handré Pollard (Bulls)
9 – Michael Ruru (Melbourne Rebels)
He was exceptional on attack against the Bulls. He broke through the Bulls defence on a few occasions and he scored his team's only try of the game.
Bubbling under: Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs)
8 – Amanaki Mafi (Melbourne Rebels)
It was another industrious performance by the best No.8 in Super Rugby at the moment. He put his body on against the Bulls with a number of carries and he racked up the running metres once again.
Bubbling under: Hacjivah Dayimani (Lions)
7 – Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)
He was a man possessed on defence for the Highlanders.
Bubbling under: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks)
6 – Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
He was the star of the show in the Highlanders' win over the Blues. He was aggressive with ball hand, he made his tackles and don't forget he scored three tries as well.
Bubbling under: Pablo Matera (Jaguares)
5 – Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls)
South Africa's number one lock was busy as usual in Round 10. His all-round performance was hard to ignore against the Rebels.
Bubbling under: Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders)
4 – Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
His skills in open play were on display again. He brings so much to the Chiefs' attack and he is a force in the physical stuff as well.
Bubbling under: Matt Philip (Melbourne Rebels)
3 – Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
Solid in the scrums and outstanding in open play against the Stormers.
Bubbling under: Jiwan Koo (Sunwolves)
2 – Malcolm Marx (Lions)
He won a number of turnovers for the Lions in Sydney and he was a monster when he carried the ball.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Bulls)
1 – Jacques van Rooyen (Lions)
He gave another good account of himself in the scrums and played his part in open play as well.
Bubbling under: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Our individual selections:
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 John-Ben Kotze, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Alex McLeod XV: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jackson Hemopo, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Jiwan Koo, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Warren Fortune XV: Warrick Gelant, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week – Round Nine: 15 Warrick Gelant (Bulls), 14 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares), 13 Curtis Rona (Waratahs), 12 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes), 10 Handré Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Melbourne Rebels), 8 Amanaki Mafi (Melbourne Rebels), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Jaguares), 2 Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Bulls).
Team of the Week – Round Eight: 15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 14 Manasa Mataele (Crusaders), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Madosh Tambwe (Lions), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Joe Powell (Brumbies), 8 Isi Naisarani (Brumbies), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Albertus Smith (Lions), 5 Francois Mostert (Lions), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Seven: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Amanaki Mafi (Rebels), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Marco van Staden (Bulls), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Bulls).
Team of the Week – Round Six: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Matt Proctor (Hurricanes), 12 Bill Meakes (Melbourne Rebels), 11 Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Thomas Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 13 Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Dewald Duvenage (Stormers), 8 Amanaki Mafi (Melbourne Rebels), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Taniela Tupou (Reds), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 Melani Nanai (Blues), 10 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4 Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes), 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 David Havili (Crusaders), 14 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Handré Pollard (Bulls), 11 George Bridge (Crusaders), 10 Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders), 9 Brad Weber (Chiefs), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Billy Harmon (Crusaders), 6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes), 5 Adam Coleman (Melbourne Rebels), 4 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).
Teams of the Week – Round Two: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Sylvian Mahuza (Lions), 13 Rob Thompson (Highlanders), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 7 Pieter Labuschagne (Sunwolves), 6 Roelof Smit (Bulls), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Lions), 2 James Parsons (Blues), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Damian de Allende (Stormers), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), 10 Robert du Preez (Sharks), 9 Ross Cronje (Lions), 8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers), 7 Cyle Brink (Lions), 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 5 John Schickerling (Stormers), 4 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 3 Nahuel Tétaz Chaparro (Jaguares), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).
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