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Team of the Week: Masters of attack

New Zealand has eight players in our XV after their 54-34 win over Australia in Round One. 

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Australia and South Africa have three players each in our selection, while Argentina are also represented with one player.

Israel Folau, Henry Speight and Rieko Ioane are our choices for the back three. In the midfield, we have Ryan Crotty at No.13 and Kurtley Beale at No.12.

Beauden Barrett gets the nod at flyhalf with Aaron Smith at No.9

In the pack, Kieran Read, Jaco Kriel and Liam Squire make up our loose trio. Samuel Whitelock and Eben Etzebeth beat the rest for spots in our second row.

Finally, our front row consists of Coenraad Oosthuizen, Agustin Creevy and Joe Moody.

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Team of the Week – Round One:

15 – Israel Folau (Australia)

He caused the All Blacks a few problems out wide with his power and pace and he scored a great try as well.

Bubbling under: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)

14 – Henry Speight (Australia)

He was elusive with ball in hand and he made the All Blacks looked amateurish on defence in the second half.

Bubbling under: Ben Smith (New Zealand)

13 – Ryan Crotty (New Zealand)

It was another intelligent display by the midfielder. He scored two tries against the Wallabies.

Bubbling under: Jesse Kriel (South Africa)

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12 – Kurtley Beale (Australia)

He showed how good he was in creating opportunities out wide.

Bubbling under: Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)

11 – Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

The deadly finisher was at his peak against the Wallabies. He scored two tries and created another for teammate Damian McKenzie.

Bubbling under: Courtnall Skosan (South Africa)

10 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

It was another masterful display from the flyhalf. His vision on attack is second to none.

Bubbling under: Elton Jantjies (South Africa)

9 – Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

He showed once again why he is one of the best players in the world. His decision-making and distribution was excellent.

Bubbling under: Martin Landajo (Argentina)

8 – Kieran Read (New Zealand)

He put in a few bone-crunching tackles and he gave his side some power on attack as well.

Bubbling under: Uzair Cassiem (South Africa)

7 – Jaco Kriel (South Africa)

He was effective at the breakdowns and a key player on defence for the Springboks.

Bubbling under: Sam Cane (New Zealand)

6 – Liam Squire (New Zealand)

The All Blacks certainly did not miss Jerome Kaino. Squire smashed through the Wallabies defence a number of times and he scored a try as well.

Bubbling under: Siyamthanda Kolisi (South Africa)

5 – Samuel Whitelock (New Zealand)

He was a prominent figure in the set-piece and an integral part of a powerful All Black pack.

Bubbling under: Francois Mostert (South Africa)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

He was a colossus in the physical exchanges and he just gave the Boks some raw power in the set pieces.

Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

3 – Coenraad Oosthuizen (South Africa)

He dominated his opponent at scrum time in the win over Argentina in Port Elizabeth

Bubbling under: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

2 – Agustin Creevy (Argentina)

The captain was all over the park for his team's cause. He carried the ball powerfully and battled hard at the breakdowns as well.

Bubbling under: Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

1 – Joe Moody (New Zealand)

he did some serious work in open play and he was solid as ever in the scrums in Sydney.

Bubbling under: Scott Sio (Australia)

Our individual selections:

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Joe Moody.

Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Reiko Ioane, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Joe Moody.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Francois Mostert, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Joe Moody.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Joe Moody.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Scott Sio.

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