S14: Team of the Week, Round Five
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:42
On top form: Stormers flyer Sireli Naqelevuki - Pic: Doug Fitz-Gerald
Here it is! The next installment of the famous rugby365.com Team of the Week and this week our selection reflects the dominance of two teams over their rivals at the weekend.
As you may have guessed, the Waratahs feature strongly after their 70-point demolition of the Lions, while the Stormers' impressive triumph over the Hurricanes also earn them several spots.
Both the Waratahs and Stormers have four players in our team, with the table-topping Bulls and impressive Reds providing two each. The Highlanders, Crusaders and Brumbies make up the numbers.
Our Bubbling Under selection have a similar trend - with weekend's big winners again prominent. There are four from the Bulls, Stormers and Crusaders each, two Reds and a Hurricane.
Only two players return from last week - lock Andries Bekker (Stormers) and prop Owen Franks (Crusaders).
rugby365.com Team of the Week, Round Five:
15 - Israel Dagg (Highlanders):
He showed how to live off scraps and is a master of making something out of nothing.
Bubbling under: Joe Pietersen (Stormers)
14 - Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers):
It was indeed a close call - brute force against blistering pace. We opted for Naqelevuki after once again looking at his collision with Cory Jane - it was brutal.
Bubbling under: Gerhard van den Heever (Bulls)
13 - Jaque Fourie (Stormers):
His true qualities are shining through in a winning culture and he is a vital cog in an impressive Stormers backline.
Bubbling under: Digby Ioane (Reds)
12 - Berrick Barnes (Waratahs):
He is certainly making sure he is near the front of the line for the Wallabies' No.12 jersey.
Bubbling under: Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
11 - Drew
Mitchell (Waratahs):
Yes, we know it was the kittens they played against, but he still showed some blistering finishing qualities.
Bubbling under: Zac Guildford (Crusaders)
10 - Quade Cooper (Reds):
He does still have a tendency to be over-elaborate, such as his one-handed goose-step knock-on. But without doubt the standout flyhalf of the weekend.
Bubbling under: Morné Steyn (Bulls)
9 - Fourie du Preez (Bulls):
Without peer in the No.9 jersey.
Bubbling under: Kahn Fotuali'i (Crusaders)
8 - Pierre Spies (Bulls):
Teams must have nightmares about Spies when they know their next opponents are the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)
7 - Francois Louw (Stormers):
One of the most underrated loose forwards in the competition.
Bubbling under:
Daniel Braid (Reds)
6 - Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
Another man that moves his huge frame around the park like a midfielder.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)
5 - Andries Bekker (Stormers):
He's adding a physical edge to his game - which is handy when you already have plenty of skill and pace.
Bubbling under: Isaac Ross (Crusaders)
4 - Dean Mumm (Waratahs):
Again, it was the kittens, but Mumm was a monster.
Bubbling under: Anton van Zyl (Stormers)
3 - Owen Franks (Crusaders):
He would have earned a few ticks of approval from the All Black selectors.
Bubbling under: Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes)
2 - Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs):
Ditto numbers 11 and four.
Bubbling under: Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers)
1 -
Ben Alexander (Brumbies):
It was his general play, more than his scrumming ability, that won him our vote.
Bubbling under: Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls)
Our individual selections:
Len Kaplan XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Kieran Read, 7 George Smith, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Alexander.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Ben Alexander.
Tim Hancox XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Alexander.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Ben Alexander.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Ben Hand (Brumbies), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Deon Fourie (Stormers), 1 Ben Robinson (Waratahs).
Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Alby Mathewson (Blues), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Sona Taumalolo Chiefs).
Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Joe Pietersen (Stormers), 14 Digby Ioane (Reds), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Pieter Louw (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Saia Faingaa (Reds), 1 Tony Woodcock (Blues).
Team of the week - Round One: 15 Peter Hynes (Reds), 14 -Digby Ioane (Reds), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 George Whitelock (Crusaders), 6 Liam Messam (Chiefs), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).
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