Team of the Week: Feline fever
The Defending Golden Lions sneaked into the play-offs with an impressive come-from-behind win over the Sharks, while the table-topping Free State Cheetahs stamped their authority on the tournament with a commanding win over Griquas.
They are both rewarded with five player each in our starting XV.
The Boland Cavaliers are the only other tem with more than on player in our first-choice selection - two. Western Province, the Sharks and Pumas have one player each.
There is further reward for the Lions in our back-up squad, where thy have four more players - the same as the Boland Cavaliers.
The Cheetahs (three) also get some additional reward, with Western Province (three) and Griquas (one) the other teams represented.
Two players return from last week - flanks Uzair Cassiem (Free State Cheetahs) and Albertus Smith (Golden Lions).
Team of the week - Round Nine:
15 - Andries Coetzee (Golden Lions):
Two great runners - Coetzee and Cheslin Kolbe - with he former make a slightly bigger impact on the final outcome of the Lions' very important win.
Bubbling under: Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province)
14 - Logan Basson (Boland Cavaliers):
He wont be staying at Boland for long if he shows this kind if form. Expect some up-country offer to come his way soon.
Bubbling under: Ederies Arendse (Griquas)
13 - Johnny Kotze (Western Province):
Outshone his more illustrious teammate on his inside.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
12 - Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions):
His statistics may not be good enough for Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, but his form is good enough to help the Lions win crucial matches.
Bubbling under: Nico Lee (Free State Cheetahs)
11 - Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions):
It is not just his blistering pace, but also his reading of the game that makes him such a big threat.
Bubbling under: Raymond Rhule (Free State Cheetahs)
10 - Theuns Kotze (Boland Cavaliers):
His experience of a couple of World Cups with Namibia showed.
Bubbling under: Jaco van der Walt (Golden Lions)
9 - Shaun Venter (Free State Cheetahs):
A key player in the Cheetahs' unbeaten run into the play-offs.
Bubbling under: Marnus Hugo (Boland Cavaliers)
8 - Niell Jordaan (Free State Cheetahs):
He is making some strong claims to higher honours.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
7 - Uzair Cassiem (Free State Cheetahs):
Another player who has come along in leaps and bounds this season.
Bubbling under: Jacques Engelbrecht (Boland Cavaliers)
6 - Albertus Smith (Golden Lions):
He adds dynamics and leadership to a Lions team that almost lost it way this season.
Bubbling under: Shaun Adendorf (Boland Cavaliers)
5 - Reniel Hugo (Free State Cheetahs):
The heart and soul of the vastly improved Cheetahs tight forward unit.
Bubbling under: Bobby de Wee (Golden Lions)
4 - Ruan Ackermann (Golden Lions):
Utility is a tag that sits well with him and he always gives 100 percent - whether that is at lock or on the flank.
Bubbling under: Shaun McDonald (Boland Cavaliers)
3 - Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks):
Showed why he is part of the wider Springboks squad. It was one of his best performances of the year.
Bubbling under: Wilco Louw (Western Province)
2 - Frank Herne (Pumas):
A stalwart in a team that has had a very tough season.
Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions)
1 - Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs):
No doubt he is one of the form players of the Currie Cup competition.
Bubbling under: Dylan Smith (Golden Lions)
Our individual selections:
Ethienne Reynecke XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Logan Basson, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Rohan Janse v Rensburg, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Neill Jordaan, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Shaun Adendorf, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Shaun McDonald, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruan Ackermann, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dylan Smith.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Logan Basson, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Shaun Venter,8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Shaun McDonald, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Logan Basson, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruan Ackermann, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Previous selections:
Team of the week - Round Eight: 15 Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls), 14 Werner Kok (Western Province), 13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Huw Jones (Western Province), 11 Rayno Benjamin (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Robert du Preez (Western Province), 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (Western Province), 8 Hanro Liebenberg (Blue Bulls), 7 Uzair Cassiem (Free State Cheetahs), 6 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), 5 Bobby de Wee (Golden Lions), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), 3 Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions), 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi (Western Province), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Blue Bulls).
Team of the week - Round Seven: 15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 14 Rayno Benjamin (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Nico Lee (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Huw Jones (Western Province), 11 Raymond Rhule (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Niel Marais (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Piet van Zyl (Blue Bulls), 8 Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), 5 Reniel Hugo (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), 3 Ruan Dreyer (Golden Lions), 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Blue Bulls).
Team of the week - Round Six: 15 Andries Coetzee (Golden Lions), 14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 13 Jacques Nel (Golden Lions), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Elgar Watts (Griquas), 9 Ross Cronje (Golden Lions), 8 Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), 7 Roelof Smit (Blue Bulls), 6 Albertus Smith (Golden Lions), 5 Reniel Hugo (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), 3 Tom Botha (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Blue Bulls).
Team of the week - Round Five: 15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 13 Nico Lee (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls), 10 Robert du Preez (Western Province), 9 Piet van Zyl (Blue Bulls), 8 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 7 Kobus van Dyk (Western Province), 6 Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls), 5 Marvin Orie (Blue Bulls), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the week - Round Four: 15 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 14 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 13 Huw Jones (Western Province), 12 Clinton Swart (Griquas), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Inny-Christian Radebe (Sharks), 9 Dillon Smit (Golden Lions), 8 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 7 Victor Sekekete (Golden Lions), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Ruan Botha (Sharks), 4 Ruan Ackermann (Golden Lions), 3 Pieter Scholtz (Golden Lions), 2 Frank Herne (Pumas), 1 Corné Fourie (Golden Lions).
Team of the week - Round Three: 15 Adriaan Coertzen (Griquas), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Nico Lee (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Clinton Swart (Griquas), 11 Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks), 10 Fred Zeilinga (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Rudi van Rooyen (Griquas), 8 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 7 Jannes Kirsten (Blue Bulls), 6 Paul Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Reniel Hugo (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 1 Dylan Smith (Golden Lions).
Team of the week - Round Two: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Koch Marx (Golden Lions), 13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Howard Mnisi (Golden Lions), 11 Anthony Volmink (Golden Lions), 10 Fred Zeilinga (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Ross Cronje (Golden Lions), 8 Renaldo Botha (Pumas), 7 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 6 Paul Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Lourens Erasmus (Golden Lions), 4 Jason Jenkins (Blue Bulls), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 2 Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the week - Round One: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Jade Stighlingh (Blue Bulls), 13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Andrew Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Jano Vermaak (Western Province), 8 Arno Botha (Blue Bulls), 7 Jannes Kirsten (Blue Bulls), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Stephan Lewis (Sharks), 4 Jason Jenkins (Blue Bulls), 3 Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs).
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