Team of the Week: Shark infested
It was a weekend that produced plenty for the post-match debates, but also saw the Sharks rise to the top of the Currie Cup standings.
And the men from Durban have been rewarded for their hard work with six spots in our famous weekly selection.
The Free State Cheetahs, who just edged Western Province into second place on points difference, have four players in our starting XV.
Province (three) and Golden Lions (two) make up the numbers.
There is further reward for the Sharks in our back-up squad, with another three players bubbling under.
The Lions, WP and Blue Bulls also have three each, while the Cheetahs (two) and Griquas (one) make up the numbers.
Five players returned from last week - fullback SP Marais (Sharks), flank Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), lock Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), prop Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs), although he moved from tighthead to loosehead, and hooker Kyle Cooper (Sharks).
Team of the Week - Round Four:
15 - SP Marais (Sharks):
On a fast track to higher honours at this rate.
Bubbling under: Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions)
14 - Odwa Ndungane (Sharks):
The wise old head makes up for his lack of pace. Amazing workrate.
Bubbling under: Deon Helberg (Golden Lions)
13 - Johann Sadie (Free State Cheetahs):
He is showing why all he needed was more game time and now living up to the promise he showed before departing Cape Town.
Bubbling under: Louis Ludik (Sharks)
12 - Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs):
His combination with Johann Sadie has produced some magical moments all year.
Bubbling under: Damian de Allende (Western Province)
11 - Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province):
He may not be the most impressive defender, but our panel feels this hot stepper was the best on show this weekend.
Bubbling under: Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions)
10 - Fred Zeilinga (Sharks):
The rookie continues to make great strides in his first year in the senior ranks.
Bubbling under: Francois Brummer (Griquas)
9 - Charl McLeod (Sharks):
He again reminded the national selectors that there are some good depth at No.9 in South Africa.
Bubbling under: Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs)
8 - Jacques Botes (Sharks):
The veteran is playing like a spring chicken since he was handed the captaincy.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
7 - Derick Minnie (Golden Lions):
All he needs to do now is learn to catch the ball from restarts.
Bubbling under: Jean Deysel (Sharks)
6 - Johannes Prinsloo (Free State Cheetahs):
The panel had to flip a coin on this one or the debate would have lasted till next week.
Bubbling under: Deon Fourie (Western Province)
5 - Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions):
Again showed why he is constantly on the brink of Springbok selection.
Bubbling under: Lodewyk de Jager (Free State Cheetahs)
4 - Michael Rhodes (Western Province):
Another flank who made a successful conversion to lock.
Bubbling under: Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls)
3 - Pat Cilliers (Western Province):
certainly adding some stability to the WP scrum.
Bubbling under: Frik Kirsten (Blue Bulls)
2 - Kyle Cooper (Sharks):
Another tough decision, with the panel eventually settling on the two Sharks players.
Bubbling under: Craig Burden (Sharks)
1 - Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs):
The naughty boy has come good!
Bubbling under: Morné Mellett (Blue Bulls)
Our individual selections:
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 SP Marais, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Previous selections:
Team of the week - Round Three: 15 SP Marais (Sharks), 14 Deon Helberg (Golden Lions), 13 Louis Ludik (Sharks), 12 Howard Mnisi (Griquas), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), 7 Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 4 Teboho Mohoje (Free State Cheetahs), 3 Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Steph Roberts (Griquas).
Team of the week - Round Two: 15 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 14 SP Marais (Sharks), 13 Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls), 12 Damian de Allende (Western Province), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Willie Britz (Golden Lions), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions), 5 Grant Hattingh (Blue Bulls), 4 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 3 Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 CJ van der Linde (Golden Lions).
Team of the week - Round One: 15 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 14 Nico Scheepers (Griquas), 13 Nicolaas Hanekom (Golden Lions), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Philip van der Walt (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg (Golden Lions), 6 Johannes Prinsloo (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Hugo Kloppers (Golden Lions), 4 Lodewyk de Jager (Free State Cheetahs), 3 Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas), 2 Willie Wepener (Blue Bulls), 1 Morné Mellett (Blue Bulls).