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S14 Team of the Week
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Tue, 12 May 2009 07:26
The Chiefs may have been overtaken by the Bulls at the top of the Super 14 standings at the weekend, but they showed their championship credentials by disposing of the Hurricanes.
And it is justified that they dominate our weekly selection.
There are five Chiefs in our team this week, with three other teams - the Stormers, Crusaders and Bulls - with two each.
The Blues, Lions, Waratahs and Sharks make up the numbers.
Five players return from last week and a few of them are regulars. Wing Rene Ranger (Blues), centre Richard Kahui (Chiefs), wing Bryan Habana (Bulls), No.8 Pierre Spies (Bulls) and prop John Smit (Sharks) are all back.
Team of the Week Round 13: 15 - Joe Pietersen (Stormers):
Where have they been hiding him all season? If you think that he was behind players like Wylie Guman and Sireli Naqelevuki in the Stormers queue, you have to question some of their team
selections.
14 - Rene Ranger (Blues):
Despite his team's inconsistent form, he has been one of the standout players and a constant threat.
13 - Richard Kahui (Chiefs):
The much-talked about duel was 'rained out', but there were enough on show for us to decide that Kahui deserves to edge James O'Connor and Ryan Cross in a close selection battle.
12 - Callum Bruce (Chiefs):
Under the circumstances it called for calm heads and sound tactical kicking. Bruce gave his team the edge when they needed it most, late in the second half.
11 - Bryan Habana (Bulls):
Simply sublime and as the headlines screamed - back to his best!
10 - Stephen Donald (Chiefs):
No need for New Zealanders to worry about who will replace the injured Dan Carter in the mid-year internationals. Donald has been consistent and is a class act.
9 - Jano Vermaak
(Lions):
It's not surprising that there has been talk of Vermaak being a 'surprise' call-up to the Springbok team this year. It won't be that much of a surprise and he'll deserve it.
8 - Pierre Spies (Bulls):
He's finally put paid to the question mark about whether he can perform in a tight match when his team is under pressure. In fact he was one of the key players that helped turn it around at the weekend.
7 - Phil Waugh (Waratahs):
He made life decidedly unpleasant for what is a quality Sharks looser trio. His battle with George Smith for the Wallaby jumper is heating up.
6 - Kieran Read (Crusaders):
He is showing, time and again, why he was selected for the All Blacks last year. He is sure to be around for a long time to come.
5 - Kevin O'Neill (Chiefs):
The All Blacks need not worry about injuries concerns to their frontline locks. O'Neill is going to add many
more to his single Test cap for the All Blacks.
4 - AJ Venter (Stormers):
It was a game in which the senior players needed to stand up and Venter showed why he has 25 Test caps for South Africa. He may not have been a consistent performer in recent years, but when he is on song, he is a class act.
3 - John Smit (Sharks):
It was noticeable how the Sharks scrum settled once he came on. Just a pity some of the other players didn't take the cue from the Bok captain.
2 - Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs):
This one caused some debate, but we went for De Malmanche, who has been in fine form in recent weeks, based on his bullocking runs and strong defence.
1 - Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders):
If there is one thing that New Zealand have an abundance of it is quality props. Quite a few of them hail from the Crusaders.
Our individual selections:Ebrahim
Moerat XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Stirling Mortlock, 13 James O'Connor, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Kevin 'O'Neill, 4 AJ Venter, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Kieran Read, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 John Smit, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Kieran Read, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 AJ Venter, 3 John Smit, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
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).
Team of the Week - Round Seven: 15 Mils Muliaina (Chiefs), 14 Anthony Tuitavake (Blues), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Tyrone Smith (Brumbies), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Sione
Lauaki (Chiefs), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Isaac Ross (Crusaders), 4 Hayden Triggs (Highlanders), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 David Hall (Highlanders), 1 Jamie Macintosh (Highlanders).
Team of the Week - Round Eight: 15 Louis Ludik (Lions), 14 Lachie Turner (Waratahs), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Dwayne Sweeney (Chiefs), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Faifili Levave (Hurricanes), 5 Johann Muller (Sharks), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 John Smit (Sharks), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week Round Nine: 15 Mark Gerrard (Brumbies), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Ryan Cross (Western Force), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), 7 Heinrich Brüssow
(Cheetahs), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 David de Villiers (Cheetahs), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 David Hall (Highlanders), 1 Jamie McIntosh (Highlanders).
Team of the Week Round 10: 15 Leon MacDonald (Crusaders), 14 Jared Payne (Crusaders), 13 Ryan Cross (Western Force), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Henno Mentz (Lions), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Isaac Ross (Crusaders), 4 Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 Willie Wepener (Lions), 1 Tony Woodcock (Blues).
Team of the Week Round 11: 15 Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Digby Ioane (Reds), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 David Smith (Hurricanes), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 6 Heinrich Brüssow
(Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Derrick Kuün (Bulls), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls).
Team of the Week Round 12: 15 Leon MacDonald (Crusaders), 14 Rene Ranger (Blues), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 John Smit (Sharks), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).