Team of the Week: Two to tango
It is no mean feat to travel to Pretoria and not concede any tries against the Bulls and that is exactly what WP did to claim a five-point victory. Fullback Cheslin Kolbe displayed why he is such a dangerous player as he bagged the first try of the match and then set up the next.
His performance made him the overwhelming favourite among all of our selectors, besides good old Mr Ed – who tried to sneak in a Lion. Other notable standout players from that match which handed them starting spots are WP's Juan de Jongh, Nizaam Carr, Bongi Mbonambi and Steven Kitshoff while the Bulls' Jamba Ulengo is the lone Pretoria ranger.
Travis Ismaiel, Lappies Labuschagne, Marcel van der Merwe, Dries Swanepoel, Marvin Orie (all Bulls), Seabelo Senatla, Robert du Preez, Jean Kleyn and Rynhardt Elstadt (all WP) did enough to claim a spot in the bubbling under category.
The Free State Cheetahs travelled to Johannesburg to face the Golden Lions and gave the home side a massive scare, coming within minutes of handing the Johannesburg side their first defeat of the campaign. However, a lack of discipline in the closing minutes cost them dearly.
Sergeal Petersen, Francois Venter and Teboho Mohoje (all Cheetahs) gave performances worthy of a starting place while the Lions' Marnitz Boshoff, Ross Cronje, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Lourens Erasmus and Julian Redelinghuys got the nod.
A further four Lions players crept into the backup positions while the Cheetahs has a further two players of their own there.
Team of the Week: Currie Cup, Semi-final:
15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province)
The pocket rocket proved all his doubters wrong with a stellar, match-winning performance.
Bubbling under: Andries Coetzee (Golden Lions)
14 Sergeal Petersen (Free State Cheetahs)
Continued his good form and remained a constant threat in a dramatic encounter.
Bubbling under: Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls)
13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
Got the scoreboard rolling and remained a thorn in the Lions' side throughout.
Bubbling under: Dries Swanepoel (Blue Bulls)
12 Juan de Jongh (Western Province)
It had to take something special to dethrone the incumbent from this spot but the WP captain showed why is he so highly regarded.
Bubbling under: Howard Mnisi (Golden Lions)
11 Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls)
Pace, power and an all-round gutsy performance that saw him attempt to spark his side to get over the line.
Bubbling under: Seabelo Senatla (Western Province)
10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions)
It's as if he has a lazer attached to his boot that allows him to split the uprights at will.
Bubbling under: Robert du Preez (Western Province)
9 Ross Cronje (Golden Lions)
Got the backline firing with brisk, cleans service and remains dangerous around the fringes.
Bubbling under: Shaun Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
8 Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
Big performance from a big player that helped snuff the Bulls' attacks.
Bubbling under: Niell Jordaan (Free State Cheetahs)
7 Teboho Mohoje (Free State Cheetahs)
Did all the hard grafting that got the Cheetahs to within an inch of victory.
Bubbling under: Lappies Labuschagne (Blue Bulls)
6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions)
Big moments calls for big players to put their hands up and the Lions captain did just that.
Bubbling under: Rynhardt Elstadt (Western Province)
5 Franco Mostert (Golden Lions)
Nothing flash and executes the basics perfectly.
Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Blue Bulls)
4 Lourens Erasmus (Golden Lions)
It's not often that a young player stands out as much as he did since making his debut earlier in the season.
Bubbling under: Jean Kleyn (Western Province)
3 Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions)
The rock of the Lions scrum put in another big performance to gain the upperhand.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
2 Bongi Mbonambi (Western Province)
Came out tops at his old home ground and was a solid anchor at scrum time.
Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions)
1 Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
Handed his side the upperhand at scrum time and his general play was pretty much near-perfect.
Bubbling under: Jacques van Rooyen (Golden Lions)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Marcell van der Merwe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
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