Team of the Week: Green dozen
It may provoke some debate, but South Africa headline rugby365's famous weekly selection, following their demolition of Wales.
Not only are there six Springboks in our starting XV, but another six in our back-up squad give us a green dozen.
New Zealand are not doing too bad, as their three starters and five back-up players see them in second place – well ahead of the rest.
England, who have the same number as the All Blacks starting, are next best – but with just one player in our back-up squad.
After this it is a bit of a scrap.
England, Argentina and Australia (one each) make up the numbers in our first-choice selection.
France, Australia and Ireland also have one each bubbling under.
Just three players return from last week – flyhalf Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), scrumhalf Fourie du Preez (South Africa) and No.8 Duane Vermeulen (South Africa).
Teams of the Week – June, Round Two:
15 – Willie le Roux (South Africa):
Was there ever any doubt?
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (New Zealand)
14 – Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina):
The one Argentinean who looked comfortable against a good Irish team.
Bubbling under: Manu Tuilagi (England)
13 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand):
The All Blacks are going to miss him this week.
Bubbling under: JP Pietersen (South Africa)
12 – Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand):
Not the perfect outing – as he slipped a couple of tackles – but still invaluable to the All Black cause.
Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (South Africa)
11 – Bryan Habana (South Africa):
Still knows his way to the tryline, especially if given half a chance.
Bubbling under: Julian Savea (New Zealand)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (Ireland):
He is truly pulling the string for an Irish team that is busy moving on after the departure of one of their backline legends.
Bubbling under: Morné Steyn (South Africa)
9 – Fourie du Preez (South Africa):
The Springboks just look so much smoother with him at scrumhalf.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (South Africa):
Tackled, carried, harried and – best of all – was huge in the line-outs, including two steals.
Bubbling under: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
7 – Michael Hooper (Australia):
Not flawless, but he gets 100 percent for effort.
Bubbling under: Willem Alberts (South Africa)
6 – Tom Wood (England):
He may not have carried as much and as far as some other, but on defence and in the line-outs he towered above his rivals.
Bubbling under: Francois Louw (South Africa)
5 – Geoff Parling (England):
His physical presence and line-out prowess are well documented, but making 20 tackles take some doing.
Bubbling under: Victor Matfield (South Africa)
4 – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand):
For some time now the muscle and enforcer in the All Black team.
Bubbling under: Alexandre Flanquart (France)
3 – David Wilson (England):
His work on defence gave him the edge in a right contest.
Bubbling under: Sekope Kepu (Australia)
2 – Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa):
A bit off his best, but still well head of the rest.
Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)
1 – Gurthrö Steenkamp (Springboks):
After being written off he was so devastating that Wales was forced to replace the Hair Bear (Adam Jones) after half-an-hour.
Bubbling under: Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Tom Wood, 5 victor Matfield, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Lucas González Amorosino, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Danny Care, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Lucas González Amorosino, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rory Best, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Previous selections:
Teams of the Week – June, Round One: 15 Israel Folau (Australia), 14 Adam Ashley Cooper (Australia), 13 Manu Tuilagi (England), 12 Wynand Olivier (World XV), 11 Nick Cummins (Australia), 10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Duane Vermeulen (South Africa), 7 Chris Robshaw (England), 6 James Haskell (England), 5 Sam Carter (Australia), 4 Bakkies Botha (South Africa), 3 Carl Hayman (World XV), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia), 1 Sona Taumalolo (World XV).
