Team of the Week: Blowing up a storm

It is indeed an interesting mix in our weekly Super Rugby selection, as the second half of season starts to gather pace.

The Hurricanes, after their impressive 35-19 demolition of the hapless Blues, provide four members of our starting XV to top the table.

The Reds, Bulls and Cheetahs have two each, while the Brumbies, Western Force, Chiefs, Crusaders and Sharks make up the numbers.

And if you wondered about the Crusaders, they have four members ‘bubbling under’, followed by the Cheetahs and Chiefs (three each), while the Reds (two), Highlanders, Brumbies and Bulls (one each) make up the numbers.

Only one player return from last week – flank Michael Hooper (Brumbies).

Team of the Week – Round 11:

15 – Andre Taylor (Hurricanes):
It is not difficult to see why so many New Zealand pundits feel he is as exciting as Christian Cullen – one of the most balanced runners of all time.
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)

14 – Cory Jane (Hurricanes):
Injuries may have limited his game time in 2011, but this season he is showing why he was such a sensation when he first burst onto the scene as a Sevens star in 2006.
Bubbling under: Henry Speight (Brumbies)

13 – Conrad Smith (Hurricanes):
He may not be as flash as some of the other players, but careful analysis of his game will reveal his true creative and defensive value to the Hurricanes.
Bubbling under: Richard Kahui (Chiefs)

12 – Andries Strauss (Cheetahs):
Even if you ignore some of the big hits, his all-round play was invaluable to the Cheetahs getting an important win.
Bubbling under: Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs)

11 – Digby Ioane (Reds):
He again showed that, along with Will Genia, how crucial he will be if the Reds hope to remain in the play-off race.
Bubbling under: Bjorn Basson (Bulls)

10 – Morné Steyn (Bulls):
He has come in for some severe criticism this season, especially as a result of his misfiring boot, but this past weekend produced one of his most impressive all-round performances in years.
Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)

9 – TJ Perenara (Hurricanes):
With All Black regulars like Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan misfiring badly this year, Perenara is not a bad bet for the national team.
Bubbling under: Will Genia (Reds)

8 – Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
There were times when it seemed he was taking on the entire Crusaders pack on his own.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)

7 – Michael Hooper (Brumbies):
It is not difficult to see why legendary Australian flank George Smith rates Hooper as a future Wallaby.
Bubbling under: Matt Todd (Crusaders)

6 – CJ Stander (Bulls):
He certainly doesn’t look like a player in his debut Super Rugby season – now one of the most talked about loose forwards in South Africa.
Bubbling under: Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs)

5 – Nathan Sharpe (Western Force):
As the player with the most Super Rugby caps you would expect his legs to start getting tired, yet he matches the youngsters step-for-step every week.
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)

4 – Craig Clarke (Chiefs):
Up against one of the Lions’ most reliable players, he showed his qualities by dominating the veteran.
Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)

3 – Owen Franks (Crusaders):
It was, without doubt, one of the most dominant scrum performances of the season and the Crusaders’ main weapon in a tight game.
Bubbling under: WP Nel (Cheetahs)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
Just in case somebody wondered who South Africa’s premier hooker is, he sent them a timely reminder.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

1 – Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs):
Forget the odd penalty he gave away against the Force, he remains the best poaching prop in the business.
Bubbling under: Ben Franks (Crusaders)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4  Luke Romano, 3  WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Ben Franks.

Timmy Hancox XV:  15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 André Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Ben Alexander.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Jan de Koning XV:  15 Andre Taylor, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Nic White, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round 10: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs), 11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Hika Elliot (Chiefs), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).

Team of the Week, Round Nine: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Andrew Smith (Brumbies), 12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Peter Grant (Stormers), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 De Kock Steenkamp (Stormers), 4 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders), 3 Ben Franks (Crusaders), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Chiefs), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week, Round Eight: 15 Joe Pietersen (Stormers), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Pat McCabe (Brumbies), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Craig Burden (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).

Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Joe Pietersen (Stormers), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Karl Lowe (Hurricanes), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Kane Thompson (Chiefs), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).

Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 14 Mark Gerrard (Rebels), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Patric Cilliers (Lions), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Dean Greyling (Bulls).

Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Tamati Ellison (Highlanders), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 James O’Connor (Rebels), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Victor Vito (Hurricanes), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).

Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Tim Whitehead (Sharks), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 Gareth Anscombe (Blues), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Anthony Boric (Blues), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs); 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).

Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Phil Burleigh (Highlanders), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Nasi Manu (Highlanders), 7 John Hardie (Highlanders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Chris King (Highlanders), 2 Andrew Hore (Highlanders), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Tim Bateman (Hurricanes), 11 Gio Aplon (Stormers), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs), 8 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 Derick Minnie (Lions), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).