Team of the Week: It's Shark infested
It was a weekend of blow-out and borefests, but the one team that made the biggest statement was the Sharks.
Not surprising they dominate our weekly Super Rugby selection, with four members in our starting XV.
The defending champion Reds, another team finding good form after a slow start, are next best with three players. The Highlanders, Crusaders, Stormers (two each), Brumbies and Cheetahs make up the numbers.
The Crusaders get further reward for their big win over the hapless Blues with four members in our back-up squad, followed by the Stormers, Cheetahs, Hurricanes (two each), Rebels, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Waratahs (one each).
Three players return from last week - scrumhalf Will Genia (Reds), No.8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds) and hooker Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks).
Team of the Week - Round 13:
15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders):
He may only have two Test caps to his credit, but on current form the former New Zealand Sevens star will become a regular in the All Black squad.
Bubbling under: Joe Pietersen (Stormers)
14 - Adam Whitelock (Crusaders):
Just because he is a Whitelock? No, not really, he had his best game of the season.
Bubbling under: Gio Aplon (Stormers)
13 - Paul Jordaan (Sharks):
A member of the South African Under-20 squad, this rookie showed maturity well beyond his years. His Sevens skills and pace also came to the fore.
Bubbling under: Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)
12 - Jean de Villiers (Stormers):
Another step towards the Springbok captaincy perhaps? No doubt that he is putting his hand up.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 - Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks):
He has regained that devastating finishing ability, while his workrate is also improving.
Bubbling under: Julian Savea (Hurricanes)
10 - Frederic Michalak (Sharks):
The French maestro may not be the most consistent player in the competition, but when he is on song he is a sight to behold.
Bubbling under: Kurtley Beale (Rebels)
9 - Will Genia (Reds):
It may have been a slow start to the year, be has re-established himself as the world's premier scrumhalf.
Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)
8 - Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
Another player making sure his country's national selectors simply can't ignore him.
Bubbling under: Pierre Spies (Bulls)
7 - Michael Hooper (Brumbies):
He is beginning to push David Pocock in the race for the Wallaby openside berth. Not quite there yet, but Pocock does have reason to be concerned.
Bubbling under: Matt Todd (Crusaders)
6 - Adam Thomson (Highlanders):
He is so much more than just a big ball-carrying loose forward. His workrate is simply phenomenal.
Bubbling under: Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
5 - James Horwill (Reds):
The 'horse power' that drives the Queenslanders' engine room.
Bubbling under: Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders)
4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
This young man will become a real legend of the game if he can stay injury free.
Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)
3 - Owen Franks (Crusaders):
A real scrum monster!
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
He accepted the challenge from his closest rival and in the view of the majority of our panel shaded the contest.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
1 - Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs):
He must be the most energetic prop in the competition.
Bubbling under: Benn Robinson (Waratahs)
Our individual selections!
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 James Horwill, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 James Horwill, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Benn Robinson.
Len Kaplan XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richie McCaw, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Benn Robinson.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week, Round 12: 15 Luke Morahan (Reds), 14 Mark Gerrard (Rebels), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs), 11 Julian Savea (Hurricanes), 10 Kurtley Beale (Rebels), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Liam Gill (Reds), 6 Luke Braid (Blues), 5 Juandre Kruger (Bulls), 4 Rob Simmons (Reds), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week, Round 11: 15 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Andries Strauss (Cheetahs), 11 Digby Ioane (Reds), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Craig Clarke (Chiefs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).
Team of the Week, Round 10: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs), 11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Hika Elliot (Chiefs), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).
Team of the Week, Round Nine: 15 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Andrew Smith (Brumbies), 12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Peter Grant (Stormers), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Sam Cane (Chiefs), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 De Kock Steenkamp (Stormers), 4 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders), 3 Ben Franks (Crusaders), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Chiefs), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week, Round Eight: 15 Joe Pietersen (Stormers), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Pat McCabe (Brumbies), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 CJ Stander (Bulls), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Scott Fardy (Brumbies), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Craig Burden (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).
Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Joe Pietersen (Stormers), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Karl Lowe (Hurricanes), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Kane Thompson (Chiefs), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).
Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 14 Mark Gerrard (Rebels), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Patric Cilliers (Lions), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Dean Greyling (Bulls).
Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Tamati Ellison (Highlanders), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 James O'Connor (Rebels), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Victor Vito (Hurricanes), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).
Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Tim Whitehead (Sharks), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 Gareth Anscombe (Blues), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Anthony Boric (Blues), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs); 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).
Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Phil Burleigh (Highlanders), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Nasi Manu (Highlanders), 7 John Hardie (Highlanders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Chris King (Highlanders), 2 Andrew Hore (Highlanders), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Tim Bateman (Hurricanes), 11 Gio Aplon (Stormers), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs), 8 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 Derick Minnie (Lions), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).