Team of the week: Two-horse race

The Lions and Highlanders, who scored the two most impressive victories of the round, dominate our selection.

There are five Lions and four Highlanders in our starting XV, with more award for them in our back-up squad – three more Highlanders and three Lions bubbling under.

In our first-choice selection the remainder of the squad is made up of two Hurricanes; while the Crusaders, Brumbies, Stormers and Sunwolves have one each.

Below the Lions and Highlanders – in our back-up squad – we have Jaguares, Brumbies, Sunwolves (all two), Crusaders, Waratahs and Cheetahs (one each).

Just two players return from last week – wing Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) and No.8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders).

Team of the week – Round 12:

15 – Israel Dagg (Crusaders):

Even in a losing cause he outplayed All Black rival Ben Smith and showed he is still good to wear the national team jersey.

Bubbling under: Joaquín Tuculet (Jaguares)

14 – Waisake Naholo (Highlanders):

In line for comeback of the year. A monster on attack.

Bubbling under: Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves)

13 – Lionel Mapoe (Lions):

Again sent new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee a message: I am international quality.

Bubbling under: Matt Faddes (Highlanders)

12 – Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions):

Not just big and strong. Combines well with Mapoe.

Bubbling under: David Havili (Crusaders)

11 – Wes Goosen (Hurricanes):

The young South African-born flyer could be in a black shirt with a silver fern on the chest in the not too distant future.

Bubbling under: Patrick Osborne (Highlanders)

10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions):

In monsoon like conditions he produced some of the most sublime skillset displays seen this year. Showed he does have all the attributes required of a Bok flyhalf, even if his goal-kicking requires some work.

Bubbling under: Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)

9 – Aaron Smith (Highlanders):

It is his decision-making that is most impressive and often sets him apart in crucial contests.

Bubbling under: Tomas Cubelli (Brumbies)

8 – Luke Whitelock (Highlanders):

He played like a man possessed, someone with a point to prove – and he certainly made a statement to the Crusaders.

Bubbling under: Warren Whiteley (Lions)

7 – David Pocock (Brumbies):

He has changed his game dramatically in the last few weeks – fewer breakdown steals, but far more effective on defence and in carrying the ball.

Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

6 – Elliot Dixon (Highlanders):

At times it seemed there were 15 Dixons on the field. He kept popping up everywhere.

Bubbling under: Jaco Kriel (Lions)

5 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers):

No doubt he has the inside line for the Springbok No.5 jumper.

Bubbling under: Franco Mostert (Lions)

4 – Tim Bond (Sunwolves):

He was the spark in a Sunwolves pack that held its own in all aspects, but the scrums.

Bubbling under: Lodewyk De Jager (Cheetahs)

3 – Julian Redelinghuys (Lions):

Showed this past weekend just how much the Lions missed him. A solid set piece means a solid platform for the team to launch that famous running game.

Bubbling under: Ramiro Herrera (Jaguares)

2 – Malcolm Marx (Lions):

The young man has made great strides this year. A bright future awaits him.

Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Brumbies)

1 – Reg Goodes (Hurricanes):

He has run into some serious from and the South African could be in line for an All Black call-up.

Bubbling under: Masataka Mikami (Sunwolves)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 David Havili, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 David Pocock, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Reggie Goodes.

Wynona Louw XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Reg Goodes.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Lionel Mapoe,  12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Tim Bond, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Reg Goodes.

Previous selections:

Team of the week – Round 11: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 11 Jone Macilai-Tori (Crusaders), 10 Garth April (Sharks), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Stephan Lewies (Sharks), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 Josh Hohneck (Highlanders), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders).

Team of the week – Round 10: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Matt Proctor (Hurricanes), 12 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Michael Leitch (Chiefs), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Hendrik Tui (Reds), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Reg Goodes (Hurricanes).

Team of the week – Round Nine: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels), 12 David Havili (Crusaders), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 Chris Cloete (Southern Kings), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 Vincent Koch (Stormers), 2 Shota Horie (Sunwolves), 1 Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels).

Team of the week – Round Eight: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 EltonJantjies (Lions), 9 Francois de Klerk (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Jason Jenkins (Bulls), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls).

Team of the week – Round Seven: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Patrick Osborne (Highlanders), 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Warren Whiteley, (Lions), 7 Liam Gill (Reds), 6 Hendrik Tui (Reds), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Jason Jenkins (Bulls), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Dyllan Smith (Lions).

Team of the week – Round Six: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Paul Schoeman (Cheetahs), 7 Sean McMahon (Rebels), 6 Cyril-John Velleman (Southern Kings), 5 Lopeti Timani (Rebels), 4 Luke Jones (Rebels), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 James Parsons (Blues), 1 Toby Smith (Rebels).

Team of the week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), 13 Seta Tamanivalu (Chiefs), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Michael Leitch (Chiefs), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Roelof Smit (Bulls), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Jaguares), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).

Team of the week – Round Four: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Santiago Cordero (Jaguares), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 George Moala (Blues), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Martin Landajo (Jaguares), 8 Jimmy Tupou (Crusaders), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Blade Thomson (Hurricanes), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Chris Eves (Hurricanes.

Team of the week – Round Three: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Matt Toomua (Brumbies), 11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders, 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the week – Round Two: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Francois de Klerk (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the week – Round One: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Tamati Ellison (Rebels), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 10 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), 8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers), 7 Blake Gibson (Blues), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Sam Carter (Brumbies), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers).

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