Team of the Week: Nice spread
With just three matches you would expect some teams to dominate rugby365's famous weekly selection.
And so it is – with the Blues Bulls and Sharks getting the bulk of the starting players after their victories over Western Province and the Pumas respectively.
They have five players each in the starting XV.
The Free State Cheetahs, who overpowered the Boland Cavaliers provide three starters and WP two.
There's plenty of reward for the Cheetahs in our backup team, where they have another six places. The Bulls and Sharks (four each) are again tied, while the Cavaliers have one spot.
Team of the week – Round One:
15 – Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs):
He is carrying some fine form into the Currie Cup with him and will be one of the Cheetahs' biggest attacking weapons this season.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
14 – Jade Stighlingh (Blue Bulls):
The 23-year-old is the complete wing – big, strong and very fast. He is definitely one to watch this season if he stays injury free.
Bubbling under: Sergeal Petersen (Free State Cheetahs)
13 – Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs):
He is, without doubt, one of the most unfortunate players not to have made the Springbok cut for the Rugby Championship.
Bubbling under: Dries Swanepoel (Blue Bulls)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks):
He may find the Currie Cup is the perfect platform to regain the form and confidence he lost during an erratic Super Rugby campaign.
Bubbling under: William Small-Smith (Free State Cheetahs)
11 – Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls):
His finishing ability is well-documented and he is busy maturing as an allround wing.
Bubbling under: Raymond Rhule (Free State Cheetahs)
10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks):
The Currie Cup may be the perfect platform for him to settle as the Sharks' first-choice No.10. Still raw, but oodles of talent.
Bubbling under: Fred Zeilinga (Free State Cheetahs)
9 – Jano Vermaak (Western Province):
Good to see him back and injury free. He will be an invaluable asset to the WP cause.
Bubbling under: Piet van Zyl (Blue Bulls)
8 – Arno Botha (Blue Bulls):
Injuries have derailed his progress in recent years. An injury-free season may just see him challenge for higher honours again.
Bubbling under: Philip van der Walt (Sharks)
7 – Jannes Kirsten (Blue Bulls):
This young man is coming along in leaps and bounds. We will most likely see his name often in this weekly selection.
Bubbling under: Jacques Engelbrecht (Boland Cavaliers)
6 – Keegan Daniel (Sharks):
His energy, leadership and experience could take the Sharks a long way in this year's competition.
Bubbling under: Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
5 – Stephan Lewis (Sharks):
Another player that could use the Currie Cup as a launch pad for higher honours if he keeps improving. He may lack a touch of consistency, though.
Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Blue Bulls)
4 – Jason Jenkins (Blue Bulls):
Another bright young prospect who is already living up to the promise he showed as a junior.
Bubbling under: Carl Wegner (Free State Cheetahs)
3 – Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks):
He may not be everybody's cup of tea, but there are some good reasons why he was called up to the Springboks squad – even if it as a late replacement.
Bubbling under: Tom Botha (Free State Cheetahs)
2 – Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province):
Perhaps the Currie Cup is indeed the right place for him to get some much-needed game time and regain his form.
Bubbling under: Franco Marais (Sharks)
1 – Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs):
He is, without doubt, the stand-out player of the weekend – he could do not wrong.
Bubbling under: Dale Chadwick (Sharks)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Jade Stighlingh, 13 Dries Swanepoel 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Jade Stighlingh, 13 Francois Venter, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
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