The pickings were slim, so it was obvious that two teams dominated our weekly Super Rugby selection.

Not only did the Sharks and Crusaders dominate in their respective play-off matches, but their players were also mostly superior.

There are eight Crusaders in our starting XV, with six Sharks and just a solitary Reds player.

The back-up squad also reflects their dominance - six each from the Sharks and Crusaders, two Bulls and one Reds player.

Three players return from last week - wing JP Pietersen (Sharks), flank Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) and lock Luke Romano (Crusaders).

Team of the Week - Play-offs:

15 - Israel Dagg (Crusaders):
Easily dealt with the Bulls' wayward kicking.
Bubbling under: Louis Ludik (Sharks)

14 - JP Pietersen (Sharks):
He may have featured in the midfield at times this season, but he remains one of South Africa's premier wings.
Bubbling under: Adam Whitelock (Crusaders)

13 - Paul Jordaan (Sharks):
He may not have been a regular starter earlier in the season, but he has firmly established himself in a vastly improved backline.
Bubbling under: Robbie Fruean (Crusaders)

12 - Ryan Crotty (Crusaders):
It was a close call, but the Crusader edged his Sharks rival after some heated debate.
Bubbling under: Tim Whitehead (Sharks)

11 - Digby Ioane (Reds):
One of the Reds who continued fighting to the bitter end.
Bubbling under: Zac Guilford (Crusaders)

10 - Dan Carter (Crusaders):
He again showed the chasm in class between himself and the rest.
Bubbling under: Frederic Michalak (Sharks)

9 - Andy Ellis (Crusaders):
By far the best on a weekend when most scrumhalves did not exactly cover themselves in glory.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Bulls)

8 - Richie McCaw (Crusaders):
He has so much class that he can play almost anywhere on the field and won't disgrace himself.
Bubbling under: Scott Higginbotham (Reds)

7 - Marcell Coetzee (Sharks):
Truly one of the finds of the season.
Bubbling under: Matt Todd (Crusaders)

6 - Keegan Daniel (Sharks):
He has grown in stature this season and should be a fixture in the Springbok team on form alone.
Bubbling under: Jacques Potgieter (Bulls)

5 - Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders):
He was at the heart of a Crusaders engine that steamrolled the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Anton Bresler (Sharks)

4 - Luke Romano (Crusaders):
If Whitelock was the engine that drove the vehicle, Romano was the spark that got it all going.
Bubbling under: Willem Alberts (Sharks)

3 - Owen Franks (Crusaders):
Showed up the Bulls' scrum deficiencies in a big way.
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)

2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
Again showed why he is regarded as the premier hooker in world rugby.
Bubbling under: Corey Flynn (Crusaders)

1 - Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks):
The Beast was at his most destructive best.
Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)