Team of the Week: In the jungle...

The animals, Springboks and Lions, dominate our famous weekly selection after the final weekend of June internationals.


The Boks, with four players in our starting XV, just edge the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand (three each).


All three are also well represented in our back-up squad.


The other staring places go to Australia (two), Scotland, Italy and France (one each).


The Bok have five players bubbling under, followed by Australia, New Zealand (three each), B&I Lions (two), Scotland and France (one each).


Just one player returns from last week - centre Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand).


Team of the week - Internationals, Week Three:


15 - Willie le Roux (South Africa):

The excitement that he brings to the game makes it easy to forgive him a few blunders.

Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (New Zealand)


14 - Israel Folau (Australia):

What a debut. He certainly lived up to the hype and produced a stunning effort to get past one defender and over another for his second try.

Bubbling under: Ben Smith (New Zealand)


13 - JJ Engelbrecht (South Africa):

He may not be the finished article just yet, but for the Springboks he is one of the finds of the season.

Bubbling under: Brian O'Driscoll (British and Irish Lions)


12 - Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand):

The transformation from his Super Rugby form to Test match performances shows his remarkable talents.

Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (South Africa)


11 - George North (British and Irish Lions):

The manner in which he exposed the Wallaby defence with that 60-metre arching run for the Lions' first try was something to behold.

Bubbling under: Rene Ranger (New Zealand)


10 - Jonathan Sexton (British and Irish Lions):

He finally settled the argument over the Lions No.10 jersey.

Bubbling under: Morné Steyn (South Africa)


9 - Will Genia (Australia):

He did his best to get the Wallabies into their running game, but something went awry on his outside.

Bubbling under: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)


8 - Kieran Read (New Zealand):

Simply the best!

Bubbling under: Wycliff Palu (Australia)


7 - Alasdair Strokosch (Scotland):

It is not just his match-winning score, but his effort for the full 80 minutes - that never-say-die attitude.

Bubbling under: Willem Alberts (South Africa)


6 - Francois Louw (South Africa):

His value to the Springbok cause can't be measured in just statistics.

Bubbling under: Thierry Dusautoir (France)


5 - Paul O'Connell (British and Irish Lions):

His absence, having been ruled out with a fractured arm, will be felt by the Lions. It is amazing that he finished last Saturday's game with that broken bone in his arm - shows the stuff he is made off.

Bubbling under: Flip van der Merwe (South Africa)


4 - Luke Romano (New Zealand):

He may have missed a couple of tackles, but his workrate and influence on the game in a bruising encounter with a willing French team makes it easy to overlook those hiccups.

Bubbling under: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)


3 - Martín Castrogiovanni (Italy):

He was visibly angry when he got yanked from the field, as he was clearly enjoying himself and having a major influence on the game.

Bubbling under: Adam Jones (British and Irish Lions)


2 - Adriaan Strauss (South Africa):

Apart from the red mist that descended when the Samoan nutcracker massaged his testicles, he had another of his typical influential games.

Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Australia)


1 - Thomas Domingo (France):

He was at the forefront of a much-improved French effort, especially in the scrums.

Bubbling under: Benn Robinson (Australia)


Our individual selections:


Nick Tatham XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Israel Folau, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George North, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.


Paul Dobson XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Martín Castrogiovanni, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Benn Robinson.


Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Israel Folau, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Thomas Domingo.


Jan de Koning XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Israel Folau, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Thomas Domingo.


Previous selection:


Team of the week - Internationals, Week Two: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 13 Paul Williams (Samoa), 12 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Tusi Pisi (Samoa), 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan), 8 Taiasina Tuifua (Samoa), 7 Siya Kolisi (South Africa), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Will Skelton (Waratahs), 3 Adam Jones (British and Irish Lions), 2 Wayne Ole Avei (Samoa), 1 Mako Vunipola (British and Irish Lions).


Team of the week - Internationals, Week One: 15 Willie le Roux (South Africa), 14 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (South Africa), 12 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa), 10 Morné Steyn (South Africa), 9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Arno Botha (South Africa), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina (France), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini (Italy), 2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa), 1 Alberto de Marchi (Italy).