Team of the Week: Sharks unlimited
Some teams just have the knack for getting up in the big games. The Sharks did more than just get up for the game, they showed their qualities as a team and individuals.
The men from Durban provide five members of our starting XV, to top the list, followed by the Hurricanes (three), Highlanders and Cheetahs (both two). The Chiefs, Bulls and Stormers (one each) make up the numbers.
It doesn't end there for the Sharks. They have three more members in our Bubbling Under selection, along with the Chiefs (also four), the Hurricanes, Western Force, Cheetahs (all two), Highlanders and the Lions (one each).
Four players return from last week - flyhalf Frederic Michalak (Sharks), flank Adam Thomson (Highlanders), lock Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) and hooker Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks).
Team of the Week - Round 14:
15 - Andre Taylor (Hurricanes):
Maybe the Rebels' defence is not the most fortified in the competition, but Taylor can make any defence look ordinary.
Bubbling under: Patrick Lambie (Sharks)
14 - Alapati Leiua (Hurricanes):
He can play in the centres as well, but has proven this year that he is more effective on the wing.
Bubbling under: JP Pietersen (Sharks)
13 - Tamati Ellison (Highlanders):
He has proven to be one of the Highlanders' most astute signings this year.
Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)
12 - Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs):
The more mature Sonny Bill is far more effective than the flashy version of 2011. He now has the substance that he lacked last year.
Bubbling under: Phil Burleigh (Highlanders)
11 - Willie le Roux (Cheetahs):
He admits that fullback is his best position, he can also play flyhalf, but on the wing he is a try-scoring machine.
Bubbling under: Julian Savea (Hurricanes)
10 - Frederick Michalak (Sharks):
On current form he is an option for the French national team again ... if they bother to watch his games. He certainly showed all his international class.
Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)
9 - TJ Perenara (Hurricanes):
All Black coach Steve Hansen may think that Perenara is till 'too young' for Test rugby, but we just on current form only - if you're good enough you are 'old enough' for us!
Bubbling under: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs)
8 - Keegan Daniel (Sharks):
He showed exactly why Heyneke Meyer has called him into the Springbok training squad.
Bubbling under: Josh Strauss (Lions)
7 - Willem Alberts (Sharks):
The big man is back ... in full glory.
Bubbling under: David Pocock (Western Force)
6 - Adam Thomson (Highlanders):
He is still churning out world class performances and showing no signs of showing down.
Bubbling under: Marcel Coetzee (Sharks)
5 - Wilhelm Steenkamp (Bulls):
He hasn't had too many starts this season, so he needed to grab the chance that came his way.
Bubbling under: Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
One of those players who comes up with a quality performance week-after-week, whether his team wins or loses.
Bubbling under: Craig Clarke (Chiefs)
3 - WP Nel (Cheetahs):
Doesn't he just love scoring tries. But Nel does so much more, especially in the tight exchanges and he was up against Australia's premier prop.
Bubbling under: Ben Afeaki (Chiefs)
2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
Some cynics from the Western Cape asked why Tiaan Liebenberg was not in the Bok training squad. Du Plessis gave them many reasons.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
1 - Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks):
There were some acrobatic displays from the kick-offs, but the Beast is beginning to produce the allround performances that made him the country's premier loosehead prop.
Bubbling under: Coenraad Oosthuizen (Cheetahs)
Our individual selections!
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 David Pocock, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Len Kaplan XV: 15 André Taylor, 14 David Raikuna, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 David Pocock, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel , 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 WP Nel, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week, Round 13: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Adam Whitelock (Crusaders), 13 Paul Jordaan (Sharks), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Frederic Michalak (Sharks), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 James Horwill (Reds), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).
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).