Team of the Week: WP jou lekka ding
Despite the challenges, rugby365's panel still managed to find enough reason and sanity to reveal our famous weekly selection.
Western Province top the pops this week, with five players in our starting XV.
They are followed closely by the Sharks – reward for their amazing comeback against the Golden Lions – with four players from Durban starting this week.
Griquas, after their upset win over the Free State Cheetahs, have three starters – followed by the Cheetahs (two) and Blue Bulls (one).
There is some reward for the Lions, following an impressive first half before the Sharks took control. Four Lions are in our back-up squad, with further reward for the Sharks (three).
Griquas, Blue Bulls, WP and Cheetahs all have two players bubbling under.
Just two players returns from last week – centre Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls) and wing Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Rounds Four and Five:
15 – Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs):
In both matches last week he was one of the Cheetahs' most potent weapons.
Bubbling under: Duncan Matthews (Blue Bulls)
14 – Seabelo Senatla (Western Province):
Still has his critics, but he is certainly settling down in the 15-man game. Great workrate.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Sharks):
Carrying on his good form. Is higher honours awaiting him?
Bubbling under: Dries Swanepoel (Blue Bulls)
12 – Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls):
Many can't get past his raw power, but he also has some subtle skills.
Bubbling under: Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions)
11 – Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks):
One of the key players in the Sharks' amazing second-half comeback.
Bubbling under: Makazole Mapimpi (Free State Cheetahs)
10 – Andre Swarts (Griquas):
Not as flash as some other flyhalves, but certainly the type of No.10 that can direct the traffic in crucial situations.
Bubbling under: Damian Willemse (Western Province)
9 – Christiaan Meyer (Griquas):
Probably one of the most underrated players in the country.
Bubbling under: Dillon Smit (Golden Lions)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Free State Cheetahs):
His workrate, in a losing cause, says a lot about his character.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
7 – Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks):
Even when the tide was in the favour of the Lions he was a stand-out player. Played a crucial role in turning that tide.
Bubbling under: Shaun McDonald (Griquas)
6 – De Wet Kruger (Griquas):
He was truly an impact player as a second-half replacement.
Bubbling under: Keegan Daniel (Sharks)
5 – Ruan Botha (Sharks):
Tempered his temper and now his class is shining through.
Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Golden Lions)
4 – Chris van Zyl (Western Province):
Unassuming and hardworking lock that gets the job done without much fuss.
Bubbling under: Armand Koster (Free State Cheetahs)
3 – Wilco Louw (Western Province):
There will certainly be a few pundits who will question why he hasn't received a Springboks call-up.
Bubbling under: Ross Geldenhuys (Sharks)
2 – Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province):
Beginning to regain his fitness and form after that lengthy injury lay-off..
Bubbling under: Wilmar Arnoldi (Griquas)
1 – Jacobus Janse van Rensburg (Western Province):
The veteran still knows how to get his body around the field and add value to his team.
Bubbling under: Corne Fourie (Godlen Lions)
Our individual selections:
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Andre Swarts, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 De Wet Kruger, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Jacobus Janse van Rensburg.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 De Wet Kruger, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Armand Koster, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Previous selections:
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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