Team of the Week: Kiwis rule

The Hurricanes have three players in our team, while the Crusaders and the Blues have two players each

Other teams represented in our XV are the Highlanders, Jaguares, Brumbies, Stormers, Sharks and Lions.

Ben Smith, Santiago Cordero and Nemani Nadolo make up or back three with Tevita Kuridrani and George Moala in the centres.

Elton Jantjies and Martin Landajo are our halfbacks. Jimmy Tupou, Ardie Savea and Marcell Coetzee are our loose trio.

For the tight five we have Pieter-Steph du Toit and Blade Thomson in the second row, while Charlie Faumuina, Malcom Marx and Chris Eves are our choices for the front row positions.

Team of the week - Round Four:

15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders)

No surprises with this selection. It was like the Waratahs were chasing shadows when he had the ball.

Bubbling under: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)

14 - Santiago Cordero (Jaguares)

Made a number of metres going forward with ball in hand and gave the Chiefs plenty of problems with his speed and agility.

Bubbling under: Dom Shipperley

13 - Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)

Was a handful at times with his big frame and speed in the midfield and had a big hand in his team's only try on the weekend.

Bubbling under: Kieron Fonotia (Crusaders)

12 - George Moala (Blues)

A strong performance by the centre. He was aggressive with ball in hand and got over the advantage line on a number of occasions against the Reds.

Bubbling under: David Havili (Crusaders)

11 - Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders)

His explosive power and speed was too much for the Southern Kings to handle. He broke through the defensive line a few times and scored two tries on Saturday.

Bubbling under: James Lowe (Chiefs)

10 - Elton Janjies (Lions)

He was fantastic on attack against the Cheetahs. He controlled the game brilliantly and scored a try and created another.

Bubbling under: Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)

9 - Martin Landajo (Jaguares)

He was a live wire in the Jaguares backline against the Chiefs. His quick service and ability to spot a gap gave his team some great momentum going forward.

Bubbling under: Nick Frisby (Reds)

8 - Jimmy Tupou (Crusaders)

Assisted in two of his team's tries against the Southern Kings and made a nuisance of himself at the breakdowns.

Bubbling under: Michael Leitch (Chiefs)

7 - Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

The big man made light work of a porous Western Force defence and played a key part in many of his team's attacks.

Bubbling under: Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers)

6 - Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)

He was like a predator at the breakdowns and put in a strong defensive showing as well. The Springbok is getting better with every game he plays this year.

Bubbling under: Elliot Dixon (Highlanders)

5 - Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)

It was another workmanlike performance from the big lock on attack and defence. He was also his reliable self at the line-outs once again.

Bubbling under: Mark Abbott (Hurricanes)

4 - Blade Thomson (Hurricanes)

He was brilliant in open play against the Force and we do love to see a lock running into space!

Bubbling under: Eben Eztebeth (Stormers)

3 - Charlie Faumuina (Blues)

We like our props to do more on the field than just scrum and Faumuina continues to deliver in open play with ball in hand.

Bubbling under: Frans Malherbe (Stormers)

2 - Malcom Marx (Lions)

He was simply outstanding again with ball in hand and carved up the Cheetahs defence with his bullocking runs. A powerful display by the big man.

Bubbling under: Dane Coles (Hurricanes)

1 - Chris Eves (Hurricanes)

Was solid in the scrum, but it was his performance on attack that certainly caught one's eye.

Bubbling under: Paddy Ryan (Waratahs)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 George Moala, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Chris Eves.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 George Moala, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Jimmy Tupou, 7 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Charles Faumuina, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Chris Eves. 

Previous selections:

Team of the week - Round Three: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Matt Toomua (Brumbies), 11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders, 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 David Pocock (Brumbies), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the week - Round Two: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Lions), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Francois de Klerk (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Malcom Marx (Lions), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).

Team of the week - Round One: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Tamati Ellison (Rebels), 12 Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), 11 Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 10 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), 8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers), 7 Blake Gibson (Blues), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Sam Carter (Brumbies), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers).

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