Team of the Week: WP jou lekka ding
Western Province may have drawn twice this season, but they are sitting pretty at the top of the Currie Cup standings at the halfway stage.
The unbeaten Province team has been rewarded for their efforts this past weekend, when they displaced the previously table-topping Sharks, by dominating our famous weekly selection.
There are nine WP players in our selection - five in the starting XV and another four bubbling under.
The Golden Lions, who continued their march up the table with a win over Griquas, also received reward with four players in our starting XV and another two in our back-up squad.
The Bulls (three), Free State Cheetahs (two) and Griquas (one) are the other teams represented in our starting XV.
The Bulls have five players bubbling under, while the Sharks and Cheetahs (two) make up the numbers.
Four players returned from last week - centre Johann Sadie (Free State Cheetahs), wing Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), lock Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions) and prop Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Five:
15 - Gio Aplon (Western Province):
If only he could take his Currie Cup form onto the Test stage. At the very least he deserves another chance.
Bubbling under: Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions)
14 - Gerhard van den Heever (Western Province):
Probably not the most consistent player, but when he is on form he is devastating.
Bubbling under: Andries Coetzee (Golden Lions)
13 - Johann Sadie (Free State Cheetahs):
This was a rough call, as both nominations came from losing teams and both had Springboks opposite of them. In the end we flipped a coin.
Bubbling under: Louis Ludik (Sharks)
12 - Howard Mnisi (Griquas):
The backline find of the season. If he can take this form onto the Super Rugby stage next year the sky is the limit.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Blue Bulls)
11 - Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province):
The little magician weaved his magic and left the Sharks defenders bewildered for what may just be the try of the season.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Blue Bulls)
10 - Handré Pollard (Blue Bulls):
Another very tough call, with two young players showing the depth there is in South Africa at flyhalf level.
Bubbling under: Kurt Coleman (Western Province)
9 - Tiaan Meyer (Golden Lions):
He has taken a roundabout way to get here. After missing out on the Sharks Currie Cup squad, an injury crisis at scrumhalf opened the door for him at the Golden Lions. He may just have forced his foot in the door.
Bubbling under: Charl McLeod (Sharks)
8 - Willie Britz (Golden Lions):
He would probably have a good game at prop as well ... well sort of. He is one of the most livewire players in the competition.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
7 - Rynhardt Elstadt (Western Province):
Another of those 'utility' forwards who seldom lets his team down.
Bubbling under: Pieter Labuschagne (Free State Cheetahs)
6 - Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions):
Again put his sublime skills on display.
Bubbling under: Wiaan Liebenberg (Blue Bulls)
5 - Franco an der Merwe (Golden Lions):
Again showed why he is constantly on the fringes of Springbok selection. Invaluable to the Lions' cause.
Bubbling under: Lodewyk de Jager (Free State Cheetahs)
4 - Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls):
He will mature with time and could develop into a real second row monster.
Bubbling under: Michael Rhodes (Western Province)
3 - Frik Kirsten (Blue Bulls):
He may be prone to the occasional penalty, but showed why he is starting ahead of a Springbok.
Bubbling under: Pat Cilliers (Western Province)
2 - Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province):
In Cape Town they like them fast and furious. Size simply doesn't matter.
Bubbling under: Mbongeni Mbonambi (Blue Bulls)
1 - Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs):
Another tough choice. Nyakane continues to remind the Bok selectors of his values - just in case the back door opens.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
Our individual selections:
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Rynhard Elstadt, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 SP Marais (Sharks), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Johann Sadie (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 10 Fred Zeilinga (Sharks), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 7 Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Johannes Prinsloo (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 4 Michael Rhodes (Western Province), 3 Pat Cilliers (Western Province), 2 Kyle Cooper (Sharks), 1 Trevor Nyakane (Free State Cheetahs).
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).