The big boys are back
The Springboks are back, and that fact is reflected in our Currie Cup team of the week which has six Boks in the line-up after the last round of fixtures before the play-offs.
The Sharks lead the way this week after their demolition of the table-topping Lions, with three of their Boks who only played for forty minutes making our cut such was the impact that they made at Kings Park.
The Cheetahs, their semifinal opponents this weekend, have three players in the mix after their victory over the Griquas as do the Blue Bulls who ran rampant against the poor Leopards in a vain attempt to qualify for the play-offs.
The Leopards are not the only team not represented in our selection with the Lions joining them for the first time this season after their underwhelming display against the Sharks.
The team is rounded off by the Griquas and the Pumas who have one player each as they bow out of the competition.
Team of the Week - Round 14:
15 - Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs): Another good outing for the tall fullback with the booming boot. He is seldom caught out of position and has the valuable ability to keep the opposition pinned back in their own half.
Bubbling under: Patrick Lambie (Sharks)
14 - JJ Engelbrecht (Western Province): One last impressive game at Newlands in a Province jersey for this devastating runner. He has really caught the eye this season with his strong running and searing pace out wide.
Bubbling under: Deon van Rensburg (Lions)
13 - Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs): A solid display from the skilful outside centre, he does the basics incredibly well and reads the game better than most.
Bubbling under: JW Jonker (Pumas)
12 - Jean de Villiers (Western Province): The Springbok veteran was deadly on attack and opened up plenty of space for the players outside him. He also managed to shut the Pumas midfield down effectively and led his side well.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Blue Bulls)
11 - Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls): Ran in a second half hat-trick as the game opened up even further and revelled in the space he was given by the seemingly disinterested Leopards. He can be lethal in games such as this and he certainly made the opposition pay for giving him so much room to work with.
Bubbling under: Johan Jackson (Pumas)
10 - Frederic Michalak (Sharks): Controlled the game well by mixing things up nicely including some nifty little chip-kicks and great off-loading, to go with a 100 percent goal-kicking record.
Bubbling under: Demetri Catrakilis (Western Province)
9 - Sarel Pretorius (Griquas): Dangerous around the fringes of the ruck and finished the game by scoring a try - a fitting way to end his time in a Griquas jersey. He will be sorely missed next year when he goes to Australia.
Bubbling under: Nic Groom (Western Province)
8 - Ryan Kankowski (Sharks): Made a huge impact on his return from injury with a characteristically free-running performance. He certainly made the most of the space he was given and punished the Lions who allowed to him to stretch his legs far too often.
Bubbling under: CJ Stander (Blue Bulls)
7 - Jacques Potgieter (Blue Bulls): Got his team on the front foot time and again with his tireless running and looks to be a real star of the future for the Pretoria side. He runs great angles and gets over the gain line with ease.
Bubbling under: Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
6 - Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs): This young player has plenty of potential and he showed it by producing a high work rate and impressive support play against the Griquas. His two tries were just reward for a good day at the office.
Bubbling under: Corne Steenkamp (Pumas)
5 - Juandre Kruger (Blue Bulls): Towering presence in the line-outs and got involved in open play as well. Showed a good turn of pace to score from a standing start at close range, but his real value is in the engine room.
Bubbling under: Izak van der Westhuizen (Cheetahs)
4 - Willem Alberts (Sharks): Made an obvious impact when he came on in the second row at half-time. Put in some massive hits and generally bullied his old team the Lions. A typically powerful display that underlined his versatility.
Bubbling under: Willem Serfontein (Pumas)
3 - Jannie du Plessis (Sharks): His impact, along with his brother Bismarck and Alberts, was plain to see when they came on after half-time. Had things his own way at scrum-time showing why he is the best tighthead in the country.
Bubbling under: Ashley Buys (Pumas)
2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): Took the game and a few Lions players by the scruff of the neck when he was introduced. He is simply a class above everyone else at the moment and seemed to be an unstoppable force at times.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
1 - Dawie Steyn (Pumas): A very shrewd signing for the Bulls, he showed his value by dominating the Province front row and getting stuck in in the tight exchanges.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Cheetahs)
Previous selections:
Team of the week, Round 13: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Danie Dames, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Alwayn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.
Team of the Week, Round 12: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jonathon Mokuena, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Team of the Week, Round 11: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Team of the Week, Round 10: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Team of the Week, Round Nine: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Dean Greyling.
Team of the Week, Round Eight: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Jan Andre Marais, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Ivann Espag.
Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Barry Geel, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Dean Greyling.
Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11, JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling.
Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Pat Lambie, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Stephen Dippenaar, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 PW Van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ashwin Scott, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Corné Fourié.