Team of the Week: Super Stormers
The Cape side has five players in our starting XV – two more than the Brumbies, who thrashed the Hurricanes on Friday.
The Highlanders, Sharks, Rebels, Cheetahs, Chiefs, Lions and Blues are also represented in our starting team with one player each.
Ben Smith, Odwa Ndungane and Raymond Rhule make up the back three with Tamati Ellison and Charlie Ngatai in the midfield. Robert du Preez gets the pick at flyhalf after a heated debate and Tomas Cubelli is at scrumhalf.
In the pack we have Frans Malherbe, Stephen Moore and JC Janse van Rensburg in the front row, while in the second row Sam Carter and Eben Etzebeth got the nods, with Brodie Retallick coming close.
In the back row we have Jaco Kriel and Blake Gibson as the two flanks with Nizaam Carr getting the No.8 spot ahead of Warren Whiteley.
Team of the Week – Round One:
15 – Ben Smith (Highlanders)
The fullback scored two brilliant tries and was a constant threat to the Blues defence – beating defenders with his pace and guile.
Bubbling under: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
14 – Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
The 35-year-old veteran showed he still has a lot of speed, scoring two tries in his team's emphatic win over the Kings.
Bubbling under: Henry Speight (Brumbies)
13 – Tamati Ellison (Rebels)
He ripped the Force's defence apart on a few occasions in the midfield and had a hand in two of the Rebels three tries.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Cheetahs)
12 – Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)
His incisiveness on attack was a handful for the Crusaders and also held his own in defence.
Bubbling under: Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
11 – Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs)
The pace and strength of the big man was something to behold. He beats defenders with ease when in full flight and can be physical in the tackle as well.
Bubbling under: Tevita Li (Blues)
10 – Robert du Preez (Stormers)
Scored 23 of his team's 33 points, which included a try. His decision making in the No.10 settled his team and his accurate boot kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Bubbling under: Ihaia West (Blues)
9 – Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies)
Judging by his performance against the Hurricanes, the scrumhalf was a brilliant signing for the Brumbies. His quick service at the breakdown laid the foundation for the Brumbies' attack.
Bubbling under: Martin Landajo (Jaguares)
8 – Nizaam Carr (Stormers)
With Duane Vermeluen gone, the spotlight fell firmly on Carr ahead of the Bulls match and he delivered. He carried the ball strongly and was a nuisance at the breakdown. He defended well and won a couple of line-outs.
Bubbling under: Warren Whiteley (Lions)
7 – Blake Gibson (Blues)
His physicality definitely left some Highlanders' players with headaches. He ran over defenders with ball in hand and put in some bone crunching tackles on defence.
Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
6 – Jaco Kriel (Lions)
The Lions' star player carried out a huge workload in attack an on defence and was an integral part in the Johannesburg team's success on Saturday.
Bubbling under: Pablo Matera (Jaguares)
5 – Sam Carter (Brumbies)
The Wallaby lock was simply awesome in open play, on attack and in defence, and also ensured his team secured possession from the line-outs.
Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
He put the Bulls under immense pressure in the line-outs by stealing some of their ball. He carried the ball with his usual aggression and got a try as well.
Bubbling under: Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)
3 – Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
His impact off the bench in the second half was felt in the scrums against the Bulls. His one of the best tightheads in the game at the moment.
Bubbling under: Greg Holmes (Reds)
2 – Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
Scored a try and created another in his team's demolition of the Hurricanes. He was just everywhere.
Bubbling under: Malcom Marx (Lions)
1 – JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers)
Just like Malherbe, he came off the bench and the Stormers' scrum went to another level. It was a good debut in the blue and white jersey for the big man.
Bubbling under: Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
Our individual selections:
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
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