Pride of Lions in our team

The Lions are the kings of the jungle and appropriately top the Currie Cup table and dominate the rugby365.com Team of the Week.

Western Province were the unfortunate recipients of a 42-25 defeat at the hands of a ruthless Lions side, who have now secured a home semifinal.

For their excellent performance the Lions have earned six places in our team, while Griquas (three), the Pumas (two), the Leopards (two), the Sharks (one) and the Blue Bulls (one) make up the numbers.

Griquas produced the shock of the weekend by beating the Bulls 48-44 in Kimberley in a thrilling match that wins them six places in the ‘Bubbling under’ selection, while the Cheetahs (four), Lions (two), Pumas (two) and  Bulls (one) are all in the mix.

Returning from last week is Lions golden boy Jaco Taute, who makes it three in a row, while hard working Pumas flank Jaco Bouwer is back fro a second week running.

Team of the Week – Round 13:

15 – Jaco Taute (Lions): He was simply the best player of the weekend by a country mile and has grown in stature tremendously with a very bright future ahead of him.
Bubbling under: Rudi Vogt (Griquas)

14 – Danie Dames (Leopards): Back from the World Cup having done the business for Namibia and you could see what playing against world class wings has done for him. He scored a fantastic try and has a serious turn of pace.
Bubbling under: Wilhelm Loock (Pumas)

13 – JW Jonker (Pumas): What he lacks in skill he makes up for in his ability to put in some incredible tackles. He was more than a handful for his former teammates to deal with.
Bubbling under: Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

12 – Alwyn Hollenbach (Lions): Not long ago he was a forgotten name in rugby circles, and now you can hardly imagine a Lions backline without him. Hollenbach is so reliable and strong at inside centre that he’s forced Doppies la Grange to shift to No.13.
Bubbling under: Matthew Rosslee (Griquas)

11 – Michael Killian (Lions): A tough sprint between Killian and Rocco Jansen, but the Lions speedster was quick and clever, choosing wisely when to cut infield or stay out wide.
Bubbling under: Rocco Jansen (Griquas)

10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions): Finally! After weeks of bubbling under, the Lions playmaker delivers an excellent performance once again and gets the nod. His cause was helped by the absence of Cheetahs starlet Johan Goosen this weekend.
Bubbling under: Riaan Viljoen (Griquas)

9 – Jano Vermaak (Blue Bulls): He brings such energy to the game and is a constant threat around the fringes, while having a quick pass to get the backs moving making him invaluable.
Bubbling under: Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs)

8 – Warren Whiteley (Lions): A lanky loose forward with some speed behind him, and he made it count with a great break down the touchline, to add to some handy work as a ball carrier.
Bubbling under: Leon Karemaker (Griquas)

7 – Jaco Bouwer (Pumas): Simply breathtaking to watch him fight for every ball and as hard working as any flank in the country. He is so often an unsung hero and he scored what was nearly a match-winning try.
Bubbling under: Jacques Potgieter (Blue Bulls)

6 – Derick Minnie (Lions): A stalwart in the Lions back row these days and worth his weight in gold in the rucks and mauls.
Bubbling under: Corné Steenkamp (Pumas)

5 – Brad Mockford (Leopards): A big strong performance from the tall man, who dominated the tight phases of the game and bullied the Sharks pack at times.
Bubbling under: Franco van der Merwe (Lions)

4 – Jean Deysel (Sharks): Although he may be more used to playing on the side of the scrum he made a huge impact in the second row. He carried the ball like a loose forward and showed some great handing skills, while also bringing in his physicality to bash defender out of the road.
Bubbling under: Hedrik Roodt (Griquas)

3 – Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas): He edges out Pat Cilliers, who only lasted 50 minutes and has made a name for himself in Kimberley this season. A tough tighthead who was able to more than hold his own against a Springbok front row at the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Pat Cilliers (Lions)

2 – Ryno Barnes (Griquas): Not the most mobile hooker, but he made his presence known at the rucks and handled the line-out duties brilliantly.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

1 – Ivann Espag (Griquas): A staunch front ranker who defied the odds by taking apart Springbok tighthead Werner Kruger at scrum time.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Cheetahs)

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round 12: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jonathon Mokuena, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Team of the Week, Round 11: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dawie Steyn.

Team of the Week, Round 10: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Team of the Week, Round Nine: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round Eight: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Jan Andre Marais, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Ivann Espag.

Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Barry Geel, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11, JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Pat Lambie, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Stephen Dippenaar, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 PW Van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ashwin Scott, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Corné Fourié.