Team of the Week: Red tide is in

They have been written off for the better part of the season, but on Sunday the Reds made their most emphatic statement of intent this year.

It is thus not surprising that the defending champions dominate our weekly Super Rugby selection, following their amazing 42-27 demolition of the Chiefs.

In all, the Reds provide five members of our starting XV, with the Rebels (the other surprise package this past weekend), the Hurricanes, the Bulls and the Sharks (two each) making up the bulk of the squad. The Chiefs and Blues (one each) complete our selection.

Following their shock win over the seven-time champion Crusaders, the Rebels get further recognition in our back-up squad. Along with the Hurricanes (three each), they provide the most members of the Bubbling Under selections.

The Sharks and Highlanders (two each) are next best, followed by the Crusaders, Stormers, Reds, Bulls and Chiefs (one each).

Three players return from last week – centre Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), No.8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds) and hooker Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks).

Team of the Week – Round 12:

15 – Luke Morahan (Reds):
A lot has been said about Morahan having the ‘X-Factor’ and he is certainly beginning to display those skills.
Bubbling under: Julian Huxley (Rebels)

14 – Mark Gerrard (Rebels):
The old warhorse turned on the charm again at the weekend, especially those classy out-of-hand kicks.
Bubbling under: Cory Jane (Hurricanes)

13 – Conrad Smith (Hurricanes):
He again showed why he is regarded as New Zealand’s premier outside centre.
Bubbling under: Robbie Fruean (Crusaders)

12 – Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs):
Slightly more subdued than in his debut Super Rugby season in 2011, but certainly a lot more effective. He has learnt a lot about the little nuances of the game and is not off-loading everything anymore.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Stormers)

11 – Julian Savea (Hurricanes):
This powerfully built speedster is proving to be equally as devastating at senior level as he was as a junior.
Bubbling under: Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)

10 – Kurtley Beale (Rebels):
He may have featured most often at fullback for the Wallabies, but he is showing that he is equally at home as a flyhalf. Step aside Quade Cooper!
Bubbling under: Ben Lucas (Reds)

9 – Will Genia (Reds):
The old Genia magic is back!
Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

8 – Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
He has become the Reds’ enforcer… the physical edge they lacked earlier in the season.
Bubbling under: Gareth Delve (Rebels)

7 – Liam Gill (Reds):
The tournament’s premier poacher.
Bubbling under: CJ Stander (Bulls)

6 – Luke Braid (Blues):
Along with his brother, Daniel, they made a mockery of the toothless Lions.
Bubbling under: Nick Crosswell (Highlanders)

5 – Juandre Kruger (Bulls):
Andries Bekker may have started the season as the country’s premier No.5, but he is already looking over his shoulder at a charging Bull.
Bubbling under: Hugh Pyle (Rebels)

4 – Rob Simmons (Reds):
Based on this form he will be hard to keep out of the Wallaby squad.
Bubbling under: Steven Sykes (Sharks)

3 – Werner Kruger (Bulls):
It is not just his match-winning try, but was his overall work-rate that won him the vote.
Bubbling under: Ben May (Hurricanes)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
He is making sure his claims to a Springbok starting spot cannot be ignored.
Bubbling under: Andrew Hore (Highlanders)

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks):
The Beeaaast is back!
Bubbling under: Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Corey Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Ben May, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 WP Nel, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Arizona Taumalolo.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Arizona Taumalolo.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round 11: 15 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Andries Strauss (Cheetahs), 11 Digby Ioane (Reds), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Craig Clarke (Chiefs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).

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).