Team of the Week: Round Two
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:17
The enforcer: Bulls lock Bakkies Botha
It was to be expected, but after their record, 59-26, win over the Blues the Bulls dominate our selection this week.
The Bulls have four players in our weekly selection, while the Brumbies are the only other team with more than one player - three.
The rest is spread throughout the competition - with the Blues, Crusaders, Chiefs, Sharks, Stormers, Western Force, Hurricanes and Lions all getting a look in.
Three players return from last week - centre Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), No.8 Pierre Spies (Bulls) and prop Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).
Team of the Week - Round Two:
15 - Zane Kirchner (Bulls):
He is coming into his own now that he is gaining getting more experience of Super Rugby. He may not be there just yet, but if he keeps developing Kirchner could challenge for a place in the Bok team in the future.
14 - Rene Ranger (Blues):
He may have sullied
his performance with that high/late tackle. But he remains a class act.
13 - Casey Laulala (Crusaders):
We received a blasting from the readers when he didn't make it last week and as if to prove us wrong, he produced another stunning performance.
12 - Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies):
As his name says, he is pure Stirling.
11 - Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs):
His team may not have come away with the win, but he can't be faulted for his effort in a losing cause.
10 - Morne Steyn (Bulls):
He has really come into his own and matured as a flyhalf this year. The way he controls the game allows those beefy forwards to get the momentum that makes them such a fearsome force.
9 - Rory Kockott (Sharks):
He was the spark that saw the Sharks come from behind to post a comprehensive win.
8 - Pierre Spies (Bulls):
So athletic
and so powerful. A class act.
7 - George Smith (Brumbies):
Still one of the world's premier openside flanks and a mainstay for the Brumbies.
6 - Duane Vermeulen (Stormers):
Last week he was a star at No.8, this week he reproduced that form at flank. He is going to be crucial to the Stormers' cause this year.
5 - Nathan Sharpe (Western Force):
He is the rock in a Force pack that is not endowed with too may World Class players. Sharpe is a key element in the plans of Perth-based team - as leader and player.
4 - Bakkies Botha (Bulls):
If they didn't know about it before, the Blues will now know why he is the enforcer at both Super Rugby and International level.
3 - Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes):
There seems to be a shortage of really good tighthead props, but Tialata is one of the few that puts his hand up every week.
2 -
Stephen Moore (Brumbies):
There seems to be a vast improvement in the forward play of the Australian teams and Moore is one of the players who has stepped up.
1 - Heinke van der Merwe (Lions):
He is sending a very loud message to the Springbok selectors - not just about his awesome scrumming power, but also his general play.
Our individual selections:
Ebrahim Moerat XV: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Liam Messam, 6 George Smith, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 George Smith, 6 Duane Vermeulen, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 George Smith, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week - Round One: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Digby Ioane (Reds), 13 Rob Horne (Waratahs), 12 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 11 Henno Mentz (Lions), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 5 David de Villiers (Cheetahs), 4 Adriaan Fondse (Stormers), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).
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