Top predators dominate our team

Our Currie Cup team of the semifinals is understandably dominated by players from the Lions and the Sharks who will contest the Final in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Their home semifinal victories may have been built on great teamwork (although admittedly the Sharks left it until the second half to do so), but the result was that the individuals in each side were allowed to shine and as such there is only one Cheetah in our team with no Western Province players at all.

There are eight Lions, including five of their backline players, and six Sharks while Cheetahs scrumhalf Piet van Zyl is the only representative of the losing semifinalists.

The losers are better represented in our Bubbling under selection with four Western Province players and five Cheetahs to go with the three each from the Lions and the Sharks.

Here is our team of the semifinals:

15 – Jaco Taute (Lions): He has been in great form all season and as a result has been a regular fixture in our team. He really stepped up on the big stage on Saturday and confirmed that he has what it takes to shine when the pressure is on. Devastating when he joined the line and made Province pay for giving him too much space.
Bubbling under: Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs)

14 – Deon van Rensburg (Lions): A polished performance from the steady right wing. He defended well and made the most of his attacking opportunities. He put Taute in for his crucial try just before the break and even won an important turnover for his team when they were on the back foot.
Bubbling under: JJ Engelbrecht (Western Province)

13 – Doppies la Grange (Lions): The former Lions captain looks back to his old form just in time for the business-end of the tournament after a lengthy injury lay-off. He put together a determined performance against his Springbok opposition, tackling hard and linking well with his teammates.
Bubbling under: Jaque Fourie (Western Province)

12 – Alwyn Hollenbach (Lions): Another Lions player who has stepped up this season to go from promising to impressive, he got past his highly-rated opposite number a few times and made his presence felt on defence as well in a watertight Lions midfield.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Western Province)

11 – JP Pietersen (Sharks): A hard-working performance from the Springbok flyer, he came off his wing and got involved in the game despite having limited opportunities to stretch his legs and did not really put a foot wrong.
Bubbling under: Michael Killian (Lions)

10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions): An accomplished performance from the young pivot. He controlled the game well, kicking intelligently and releasing his backline when he got the chance. His accurate goal-kicking kept his side in the drivers seat and he showed a cool head under pressure.
Bubbling under: Pat Lambie (Sharks)

9 – Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs): Underlined his serious promise by producing the goods despite being pressurised by the big Sharks pack. His service is speedy and of high quality and he looks a great prospect for the future.
Bubbling under: Conrad Hoffman (Sharks)

8 – Joshua Strauss (Lions): The Lions skipper revelled in the pressure cauldron of this intense knock-out clash and led the way by flying at the Lions’ much vaunted rivals on both attack and defence. His commitment proved to be inspirational for his team who followed his example well.
Bubbling under: Nick Köster (Western Province)

7 – Willem Alberts (Sharks): The big battering ram got his team on the front foot regularly by taking on Cheetahs defenders and smashing them back in contact. He is a key player for the defending champions who rely on physical domination up front to get their game going.
Bubbling under: Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs)

6 – Derick Minnie (Lions): He was everywhere and typified the determined effort of his side as he tackled, carried, won line-out ball and generally refused to take a backwards step against some of the big names in the Province team.
Bubbling under: Keegan Daniel (Sharks)

5 – Franco van der Merwe (Lions): The Lions stalwart was at the forefront of their impressive efforts in the tight exchanges and made a great break in midfield skipping between two defenders and galloping into the 22.
Bubbling under: Izak van der Westhuizen (Cheetahs)

4 – Jean Deysel (Sharks): Busted his way over the gainline regularly, providing the kind of muscle that the Sharks second row was sorely missing in the first half of the tournament.
Bubbling under: Wikus van Heerden (Lions)

3 – Jannie du Plessis (Sharks): An intense display from the Bok tighthead, he was dominant in the scrums and got around the park well in open play considering how much rugby he has played recently in a green and gold jersey.
Bubbling under: Pat Cillers (Lions)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): A typically bullocking performance, he carried the ball up with gusto and made a nuisance of himself on defence – putting in some big hits, competing for the ball on the ground and even ripping the ball clean off the opposition.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks): Worked hard and was rewarded with his try which seemed to swing the momentum in favour of his team. Another high quality display which saw him get over the advantage line regularly and prove his value in the set-pieces.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Cheetahs)

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round 14: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dawie Steyn.

Team of the week, Round 13: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Danie Dames, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Alwayn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.

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.