Team of the Week: On a rampage

There is no doubt that the Bulls win over the Reds will stand out for obvious reasons and it is also not surprising that they dominate our weekly Super Rugby selection.

We won’t bore you with all the records that the Bulls set at the weekend, or rather those unwanted records conceded by the Reds. What we will tell you is that five Bulls made it into our starting XV and another two are in our back-up selection.

The Hurricanes, following their fine come-from-behind win over the Blues, are next best with three members starting – followed by the Stormers, Sharks (two each), Crusaders, Rebels and Lions (one each).

The Brumbies may not have any starters, despite their fine win over the Highlanders, but in a weekend of close calls they have three players in our Bubbling Under squad. The Cheetahs (three), Hurricanes, Sharks, Highlanders, Western Force, Waratahs, Crusaders and Blues also feature here.

Just three players return from last week – flank Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), lock Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) and hooker Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round Five:

15 – Andre Taylor (Hurricanes):
The New Zealand conveyor belt of high-quality attacking fullbacks is still functioning at 100 percent capacity. A few All Blacks will be having some sleepless nights about international selection this year.
Bubbling under: Jesse Mogg (Brumbies)

14 – Mark Gerrard (Rebels):
The old warhorse has still gone a few miles left in those legs. Or maybe his experiences over the years have taught him a few shortcuts? Either way, he showed that he is a class player.
Bubbling under: Cory Jane (Hurricanes)

13 – Conrad Smith (Hurricanes):
He is, without doubt, the standout midfielder in New Zealand. But then again, he has been for a while… with apologies to Ma’a Nonu’s occasional bursts of brilliance.
Bubbling under: Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

12 – Wynand Olivier (Bulls):
He still has plenty of detractors, but even they will have to admit the seasoned Bok was in fine form at the weekend.
Bubbling under: Meyer Bosman (Sharks)

11 – Bryan Habana (Stormers):
They say form is temporary, class is permanent. As cliched as that is, Habana silenced his critics in the best way possible.
Bubbling under: Hosea Gear (Highlanders)

10 – Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes):
It was a big debate – two No.10s had close wins, another a runaway win and the fourth a close defeat, with one of the best tries of the season thrown in. In the end Barrett won the vote based  on his influence in the ‘Canes’ crucial try right at the end against the Blues. He also landed the match-winning conversion.
Bubbling under: Morné Steyn (Bulls)

9 – Andy Ellis (Crusaders):
It was decided by the flip of a coin eventually, but, as one selector said, at least the right decision was reached.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Bulls)

8 – Pierre Spies (Bulls):
He has had so many questions asked about his ability and form this season, but in his own unassuming way he is answering them in the best way possible. He gave the phrase ‘Leading from the front’ new meaning.
Bubbling under: Ben Mowen (Brumbies)

7 – Jacques Potgieter (Bulls):
He may as well be nicknamed ‘The Wild Thing’, as Potgieter flies into rucks and tackles with no regard for his own body. And, yes, he may be prone to the occasional penalty, but there is no doubting his influence on the game.
Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Brumbies)

6 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks):
He is like a fresh breath of air in a well-established loose forward combination at the Durban-based franchise. Jean Deysel may have to play off the bench longer than he anticipates.
Bubbling under: Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs)

5 – Juandré Kruger (Bulls):
Yes, Andries Bekker is a class act and a quality Springbok, but Kruger will certainly keep him on his toes and wouldn’t disgrace the national team either.
Bubbling under: Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
This young man can start taking the measurements for his Bok blazer now.
Bubbling under: Dean Mumm (Waratahs)

3 – Patric Cilliers (Lions):
How the Sharks, given their current injury situation, must rue having let him go to the Lions. He may still be some way down the national pecking order, but he is climbing steadily towards the top.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
Simply the best. Was there ever any doubt?
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

1 – Dean Greyling (Bulls):
Those Reds inside backs must still be having nightmares about this bearded ‘monster’ charging at them all game long.
Bubbling under: Tony Woodcock (Blues)

Our individual selections:

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Michael Hooper, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 André Taylor, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dean Greyling.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Patric Cilliers, Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dean Greyling.

Previous selections:

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).