Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round 12
OPINION: The Hurricanes continue to produce performances that suggest they are the Crusaders' biggest threat.
Maybe not flawless, but they win the games they should and are justly rewarded in the famous @rugby365com selection.
The other big winners were the Bulls, who like the Hurricanes have four players staring.
The Highlanders, despite their draw, have two starters. The Sharks, Crusaders, Jaguares, Chiefs and Brumbies (one each) make up the numbers.
The real reward for the Sharks - for their amazing draw with the Crusaders in Christchurch, comes in our back-up squad, where they have four players bubbling under.
The Highlanders, Jaguares, Brumbies and Crusaders have two players each in our back-up squad. The Reds, Bulls and Chiefs have one player each.
Three players returned from last week - flank Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), lock Rudolph Snyman (Bulls) and prop Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls).
* Did we get it right this week? See our team below:
Team of the Week – Round 12:
15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders):
Still the best fullback in the world. Rock solid on defence and always threatening on attack. So smooth that he makes it look easy.
Bubbling under: Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares)
14 - Wes Goosen (Hurricanes):
It is such a pity he won't get near the All Black team - unless there is a rash of injuries. He has amazing acceleration off the mark and is certainly a great finisher.
Bubbling under: Henry Speight (Brumbies)
13 - Lukhanyo Am (Sharks):
Jesse Kriel's injury has left him as in pole position for the Springbok jersey, but on current form, he should be first- choice anyway.
Bubbling under: Rob Thompson (Highlanders)
12 - Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes):
Powerful as always with ball in hand, beating defenders almost at will, making a couple of clean breaks and scoring a crucial try.
Bubbling under: Samu Kerevi (Reds)
11 - George Bridge (Crusaders):
Another player that is hitting for form at just the right time, as the All Black coach and selectors starting to seriously think about World Cup selections.
Bubbling under: Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares)
10 - Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes):
He showed just how dangerous he can be when he gets it right on attack. After some mediocre games, he has finally issued a serious challenge to Richie Mo'unga for the All Black No.10 jersey.
Bubbling under: Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
9 - Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares):
As the French would say, he was a 'petit general'. He was the heart and soul of the Argentinian team.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
8 - Duane Vermeulen (Bulls):
Was physical and at his most brutal best. Most will remember his 60-metre dash for a crucial intercept try. However, there was other equally impressive carries, plenty of dominant tackles and a couple of turnovers.
Bubbling under: Daniel du Preez (Sharks)
7 - Ardie Savea (Hurricanes):
Dome may suggest Savea wasn't as prominent as usual but the Hurricanes would have been in big trouble without him in that desperate final quarter.
Bubbling under: Marco van Staden (Bulls)
6 - Luke Jacobson (Chiefs):
Showed great touches with the ball in hand and some dominant tackling, to go with his work on the ground.
Bubbling under: Phillip Van Der Walt (Sharks)
5 - Rudolph Snyman (Bulls):
Enormous workrate and some sublime skills. An energetic and entertaining performer.
Bubbling under: Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
4 - Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders):
A real workhorse that kept going the full 80 minutes. In one play he handled three times - each time going to ground, but getting back to his feet and back in to play the ball again.
Bubbling under: Ruben van Heerden (Sharks)
3 - Trevor Nyakane (Bulls):
Maybe his fitness was an issue in the recent past, but his workrate is improving and beginning to match his immense scrumming power.
Bubbling under: Alan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
2 - Folau Fainga'a (Brumbies):
His critics will say he had an armchair ride to the tryline each time. However, it was not just the hat-trick that convinced us. Plenty of carries and his tackle count was into double figures.
Bubbling under: Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
1 - Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls):
A man on a mission - a World Cup missing. Certainly giving Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus a pleasant poser.
Bubbling under: Atunaisa Moli (Chiefs)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Cubelli, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 George Bridge, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Cubelli, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Folau Fainga'a, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week - Round 11: 15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Braydon Ennor (Crusaders), 12 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 11 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Dan du Preez (Sharks), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 4 Cobus Wiese (Stormers), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls).
Team of the Week – Round 10: 15 Melani Nanai (Blues), 14 Matt Faddes (Highlanders), 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 Semisi Masirewa (Sunwolves), 10 Bernard Foley (Waratahs), 9 Tate McDermott (Reds), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Cyle Brink (Lions), 6 Jahrome Brown (Brumbies), 5 Izack Rodda (Reds), 4 Rory Arnold (Brumbies), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Harry Hoopert (Reds).
Team of the Week – Round Nine: 15 Tom Banks (Brumbies), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), 12 Burger Odendaal (Bulls), 11 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders), 9 Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares), 8 Paul Schoeman (Bulls), 7 Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers),
Team of the Week – Round Eight: 15 – Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 14 – Will Jordan (Crusaders), 13 – Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), 12 – Ma’a Nonu (Blues), 11 – Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 10 – Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders), 9 – Will Genia (Melbourne Rebels), 8 – Dan du Preez (Sharks), 7 – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 – Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), 5 – Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 4 – Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 – Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders), 2 – Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Reds), 1 – Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round Seven: 15 David Havili (Crusaders), 14 Jack Maddocks (Rebels), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Ma’a Nonu (Blues), 11 Semisi Masirewa, (Sunwolves), 10 Hayden Parker (Sunwolves), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Angus Cottrell (Rebels), 6 Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), 3 Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders), 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi (Stormers), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week – Round Six: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Sunwolves), 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Nic Groom (Lions), 8 Akira Ioane (Blues), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Ned Hanigan (Waratahs), 5 Rob Simmons (Waratahs), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Billy Meakes (Rebels), 11 Wes Goosen (Hurricanes), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies), 7 Liam Wright (Reds), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5 John Schickerling (Stormers), 4 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 3 Carlü Sadie (Lions), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Scott Sio (Brumbies).
Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Will Jordan (Crusaders), 14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 5 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 4 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 3 Carlü Sadie (Lions), 2 Codie Taylor (Crusaders), 1 Dylan Smith (Lions).
Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Sunwolves), 13 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), 12 Michael Little (Sunwolves), 11 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), 5 Uwe Helu (Sunwolves), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Hiroshi Yamashita (Sunwolves), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).
Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Tom Banks (Brumbies), 14 Chance Peni (Brumbies), 13 Jordan Petaia (Reds), 12 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 11 George Bridge (Crusaders), 10 Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), 9 Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares), 8 Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies), 7 Albertus Smith (Lions), 6 Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), 5 Josh Dickson (Highlanders), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Joe Moody (Crusaders).
Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14 Jack Maddocks (Rebels), 13 Braydon Ennor (Crusaders), 12 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), 11 Rosko Specman (Bulls), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Bulls), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Lions), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (Bulls), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), 1 Dylan Smith (Lions).
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