The Blue Bulls will host the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Final on October 31, after both squeaked to two-point victories in the semifinals at the weekend. The closeness and nature of the games are reflected in our selections.

The Bulls and Cheetahs each have five players in our weekly selection, while Western Province get rewarded with four call-ups for a very commendable performance. The Sharks have just one player in our starting XV and it may reflect the fact that some of their more established players disappointed.

Our Bubbling Under selection features five Cheetahs, five from WP, four from the Bulls and one Sharks.

Those back from Week 14 are fullback Joe Pietersen (Western Province), flyhalf Morne Steyn (Blue Bulls), hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province) and prop Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week, semifinals:

15 - Joe Pietersen (Western Province):
In many ways he has been the revelation of the season for Province and wouldn't look out of place in the midweek games on the Boks' year-end tour.
Bubbling under: Hennie Daniller (Free State Cheetahs)

14 - Gio Aplon (Western Province):
He is not scared to take on the big boys, as his tackles on Derick Kuun and Pierre Spies can attest to.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)

13 - Juan de Jongh (Western Province):
What a find, and another player who won't look out of place in those midweek games in November.
Bubbling under: Jaco Pretorius (Blue Bulls)

12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls):
He did go a bit quiet in the latter stages of the game, but he was very prominent and influential for most part.
Bubbling under: Meyer Bosman (Free State Cheetahs)

11 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs):
He can pack his bags. He will tour with the Springboks.
Bubbling under: Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls)

10 - Morne Steyn (Blue Bulls):
This was a very tough call between two quality players. Steyn certainly has ice running through his veins.
Bubbling under: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State Cheetahs)

9 - JP Joubert (Free State Cheetahs):
He left Pretoria for Bloemfontein to get more game time and rewarded Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske with a standout performance in one of the season's most crucial games.
Bubbling under: Dewaldt Duvenhage (Western Province)

8 - Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls):
He is having an immense season. A fearless player who wears his heart on his sleeve.
Bubbling under: Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs)

7 - Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls):
Another player that should be wearing Green and Gold in November, at least in the midweek games.
Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Western Province)

6 - Heinrich Brussow (Free State Cheetahs):
No doubt the master poacher in South Africa, and the rest of his game is world class as well.
Bubbling under: Francois Louw (Western Province)

5 - Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls):
Was there ever any doubt. Some will say he only stole two balls off Andries Bekker. It so happens those were the two most crucial steals in the game - his timing was perfect and decisive in the context of the game.
Bubbling under: David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs)

4 - Steven Sykes (Sharks):
Just a pity some of his teammates, the Boks in particular, did not look as keen as he did.
Bubbling under: Bakkies Botha Blue Bulls)

3 - WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs):
He was up against the mighty Beast (Tendai Mtawarira) and hammered the man who destroyed the reputation of B&I Lions veteran Phil Vickery. But Mtawarira should not feel too bad, he is not the first and won't be the last to be undone by Nel.
Bubbling under: Brok Harris (Western Province)

2 - Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province):
He once again put his hand up for consideration for national colours with an energetic and forceful display. Those charges upfield had the Bulls defenders scattering all day long.
Bubbling under: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)

1 - Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs):
We know John Smit is still in a state of transit in his conversion to tighthead prop, but Du Preez asked some serious question of the Bok captain. We are sure Smit will be better for the experience.
Bubbling under: Wikus Blaauw (Western Province)

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round 14: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls), 13 Adi Jacobs (Sharks), 12 Doppies la Grange (Golden Lions), 11 Johan Jackson (Golden Lions), 10 Morne Steyn (Blue Bulls), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 4 Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), 3 Kevin Buys (Golden Lions), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week Round 13: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Corne Uys (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls), 10 Morne Steyn (Blue Bulls), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Golden Lions), 5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Team of the Week Round 12: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Fabian Juries (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week Round 11: 15 Fabian Juries (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Jaco Bekker (Griquas), 12 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Juan Hernandez (Sharks), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Heinrich Brussow (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs),

Team of the Week Round 10: 15 Hennie Daniller (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Frikkie Welsh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Juan Martin Hernandez (Sharks), 9 Heinie Adams (Blue Bulls), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Western Province), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wikus Blaauw (Western Province).

Team of the Week - Round Nine: 15 Hennie Daniller (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Chris Jordaan (Sharks), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Basil de Doncker (Leopards), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Burton Francis (Blue Bulls), 9 Michael Bondesio (Leopards), 8 Dewald Potgieter Blue Bulls), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Western Province), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 -Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wikus Blaauw (Western Province).

Team of the Week - Round Eight: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Gerhard van Heerden (Blue Bulls), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Pieter Engelbrecht (Golden Lions), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Herkie Kruger (Golden Lions), 9 Michael Bondesio (Leopards), 8 Willem Alberts (Golden Lions), 7 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week - Round Seven: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Waylon Murray (Sharks), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Monty Dumond (Sharks), 9 Jano Vermaak (Golden Lions), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls).

Team of the Week - Round Six: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 JW Jonker (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Monty Dumond (Sharks), 9 Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Frans Viljoen (Free State Cheetahs), 6 Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls), 5 Nico Breedt (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Gert Muller (Lions), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week - Round Five: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Frans Viljoen (Free State Cheetahs), 6 Johan Wessels (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).

Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Luke Watson (Western Province), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Albertus Buckle (Griquas).

Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Dewald Pretorius (Griquas), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Stefan Watermeyer (Blue Bulls), 11 Bjorn Basson (Griquas), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Willem Alberts (Lions), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Johan Wessels (Free State Cheetahs), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Deon Carstens (Sharks).

Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Blue Bulls), 13 Andries Strauss (Sharks), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Johan Jackson (Lions), 10 Francois Brummer (Blue Bulls), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Willem Alberts (Lions), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 5 Chris Jack (Western Province), 4 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Wian du Preez (Cheetahs).