Team of the Week: New Zealand domination
After their big win over the Stormers, the Crusaders lead the way with four players in our selection this week. The Hurricanes are the next best with three players in the team.
The Highlanders and the Chiefs have one player each in our selection. The Lions, Southern Kings, Jaguares and Bulls are also represented this week, while we have no players from any of the Australian teams in our Team of the Week.
We have an all New Zealand backline with Davids Havili, Seta Tamanivalu and James Lowe in our back three. Vince Aso and Malakai Fekitoa are our two midfielders.
We have Beauden Barrett at No.10 and Aaron Smith at No.9.
In the pack, Warren Whiteley, Matt Todd and Chris Cloete make up our loose trio with Samuel Whitelock and Guido Petti in the second row.
In the front row, we have Ross Geldenhuys, Ricky Riccitelli and Pierre Schoeman.
Team of the Week - Round Nine:
15 - David Havili (Crusaders)
He broke through the Stormers' defence with ease on a few occasions and he racked up the running metres going forward.
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)
14 - Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders)
He showed great skill, power and pace out wide against the Stormers.
Bubbling under: Cory Jane (Hurricanes)
13 - Vince Aso (Hurricanes)
The try-scoring machine was at it again against the Brumbies. He scored three of his team's tries in the win against the Canberra side.
Bubbling under: Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)
12 - Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)
The All Black was in good nick against the Sunwolves. He got his team over the gain line with some strong carries and he scored a try as well.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 - James Lowe (Chiefs)
He was effective with ball in hand against the Western Force and was solid on defence.
Bubbling under: Jamba Ulengo (Bulls)
10 - Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
He was at his best again against the Brumbies. He set up a number of tries and made good decisions around the park.
Bubbling under: Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders)
9 - Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
His service was exceptional once again and he kept the Sunwolves' defence on their toes with his pace off the mark.
Bubbling under: Shaun Venter (Cheetahs)
8 - Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Played out of skin again, especially on defence - he he never missed a tackle against the Jaguares.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)
7 - Matt Todd (Crusaders)
He hardly put a foot wrong against the Stormers and he made his presence felt at the breakdowns.
Bubbling under: Ruan Ackermann (Lions)
6 - Chris Cloete (Southern Kings)
He played a big part in his team's win over the Waratahs. We should see him on the international stage soon.
Bubbling under: Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
5 - Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders)
He continues to show his class on attack and defence. He also did his part in a strong showing in the set pieces as well.
Bubbling under: Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes)
4 - Guido Petti (Jaguares)
The big lock was immense with ball in hand against the Lions and he scored a try as well.
Bubbling under: Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
3 - Ross Geldenhuys (Southern Kings)
Played an integral role in the forward battle against the Waratahs. He was solid in the scrums and busy in open play as well.
Bubbling under: Jeffery To'omaga-Allen (Hurricanes)
2 - Ricky Riccitelli (Hurricanes)
The young hooker's stock rose again with an industrious performance against the Brumbies.
Bubbling under: Agustin Creevy (Jaguares)
1 - Pierre Schoeman (Bulls)
He did some good work in the scrums and he had a few good carries with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Justin Forwood (Southern Kings)
Our individual selections:
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 James Lowe, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Justin Forwood.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 David Havili, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 James Lowe, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week - Round Eight: 15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 14 Toni Pulu (Chiefs), 13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions), 12 Harold Vorster (Lions), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Southern Kings), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Ross Cronje (Lions), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 George Smith (Reds), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Franco Mostert (Lions), 4 Mark Abbott (Hurricanes), 3 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).
Team of the Week - Round Seven: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers), 13 EW Viljoen (Stormers), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 10 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), 7 Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Franco Marais (Sharks), 1 Lucas Noguera (Jaguares).
Team of the Week - Round Six: 15 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), 14 Jacobus van Wyk (Sharks), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12 Richard Buckman (Highlanders), 11 George Bridge (Crusaders), 10 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), 7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs), 6 Akira Ioane (Blues), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Scott Barrett (Crusaders), 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen (Sharks), 2 Tolu Latu (Waratahs), 1 Jacques Van Rooyen (Lions).
Team of the Week - Round Five: 15 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), 14 Matt Duffie (Blues), 13 Francois Venter (Cheetahs), 12 Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels), 11 Melani Nanai (Blues), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares), 8 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 Andisa Ntsila, (Southern Kings), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Luke Romano (Crusaders), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls).
Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 Shota Emi (Sunwolves), 14 Vince Aso (Hurricanes), 13 Jan Serfontein (Bulls), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 Courtnall Skosan (Lions), 10 Mitchell Hunt (Crusaders), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 Pablo Matera (Jaguares), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Marcos Kremer (Jaguares), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).
Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), 14 Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares), 13 Samu Kerevi (Reds), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Kenki Fukuoka (Sunwolves), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Philip van der Walt (Sharks), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes), 2 Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), 13 Nico Lee (Cheetahs), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), 8 Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7 Teboho Mohoje (Cheetahs), 6 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Dominic Bird (Chiefs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Tolu Latu (Waratahs), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché (Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round One: 15 Joaquín Tuculet (Jaguares), 14 Vince Aso (Hurricanes), 13 Rieko Ioane (Blues), 12 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), 11 James Lowe (Chiefs), 10 Ihaia West (Blues), 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares), 8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 5 Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), 4 Rory Arnold (Brumbies), 3 Wilco Louw (Stormers), 2 Hika Elliot (Chiefs), 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers).
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