It was a weekend in which a few New Zealand teams started to make serious strides up the Super 14 — with two, the Chiefs and Highlanders, the most impressive.

The Sharks are carrying the South African flag at the top of the Super Rugby standings, but the standout performances came from the Kiwis.

The Highlanders this week provide the biggest selection for our team, five, followed closely by the four from the Chiefs.

They are the only teams with more than one member in our side — with the Blues, Lions, Brumbies, Sharks, Waratahs and Crusaders making up the numbers.

Three players are back from last week — with Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs) on the left wing this week after wearing our No.14 jersey last week, centre Jaque Fourie (Lions) and prop Clint Newland (Highlanders) also getting another call-up.

Team of the Week - Round Seven:

15 - Mils Muliaina (Chiefs): He makes it all look so simple - very destructive in a classy way.

14 - Anthony Tuitavake (Blues): We know there will be a huge outcry for Lelia Masaga and he did make a compelling case. We just felt that on the evidence of the weekend, even with the Blues having lost, Tuitavake was the best right wing on display.

13 - Jaque Fourie (Lions): Yes, Richard Kahui was a class act and Jean de Villiers probably also deserves an honourable mention, but even All Black Conrad Smith was full of praise for the way Fourie cut the Hurricanes' line to ribbons at the weekend.

12 - Tyrone Smith (Brumbies): In a weekend of difficult choices, we felt that Smith shone in a game where his team was overpowered by some brutal defence. Yet, he managed to breach the advantage line on a number of occasions.

11 - Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs): As a member of the most lethal back division in the competition, he thoroughly deserves his place.

10 - Stephen Donald (Chiefs): He was the general that directed the troops into the war zone, and they won the battle with ease. Pure All Black this man and he will be a great stand-in for Dan Carter. In fact, they probably won't miss Carter at all if Donald continues with his impressive form.

9 - Rory Kockott (Sharks): Yes, Luke Burgess made a strong case, Brendon Leonard was the best Kiwi on display and Jimmy Cowan had a field day behind a dominant pack. But Kockott, as cheeky as he is, was a livewire that troubled the Brumbies all afternoon. Tough call this one.

8 - Sione Lauaki (Chiefs): What a brute of a man, the engine that drives the Chiefs pack and gives them front-foot ball.

7 - Phil Waugh (Waratahs): Another position where we debated long and hard, but Waugh's breakdown dominance in Auckland was the key to a historic win.

6 - Adam Thomson (Highlanders): He is the form flank in New Zealand at present, if not the entire competition.

5 - Isaac Ross (Crusaders): In a game which produced very little in terms of constructive rugby, Ross was the shining light. He made the Stormers tight five look second rate.

4 - Hayden Triggs (Highlanders): Yes, Brad Thorn had a good game and Bakkies Botha tried, but Triggs shaded the two esteemed internationals.

3 - Clint Newland (Highlanders): You can say what you want about his hairstyle, it is his rugby that talks the loudest.

2 - David Hall (Highlanders): In any front row that hopes to dominate, the hooker has to be solid and he was solid to the core against the previously unbeaten Bulls.

1 - Jamie Macintosh (Highlanders): In South Africa there is the cult figure from the Sharks called 'The Beast'. This guys is a real BEAST!

Our individual selections:

Ebrahim Moerat XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Phil Waugh, 5 Bakkies Botha, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Macintosh.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Macintosh.

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).

Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 14 Rene Ranger (Blues), 13 Casey Laulala (Crusaders), 12 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 14 Cameron Shepherd (Western Force), 13 Casey Laulala (Crusaders), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Peter Hynes (Reds), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Justin Collins (Blues), 5 Hugh McMeniman (Reds), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 2 Willie Wepener (Lions), 1 Tony Woodcock (Blues).

Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Adi Jacobs (Sharks), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Hosea Gear (Hurricanes), 10 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 5 Jason Eaton (Hurricanes), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week - Round Five: 15 Mark Gerrard (Brumbies), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 12 Berrick Barnes (Reds), 11 Peter Hynes (Reds), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Brendon Leonard (Chiefs), 8 Leroy Houston (Reds), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Ali Williams (Blues), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Ben Daley (Reds).

Team of the Week - Round Six: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Colin Slade (Crusaders), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 George Naoupu (Highlanders), 7 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 6 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 5 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 Willie Wepener (Lions), 1 Chris King (Highlanders).

365

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