Saffex
Status:
Rugby Legend
Posts: 4840 |
Team of the week
March 20, 2012, 21:23:03
I said Eben Etzebeth was a class act, the kid has made the team of the week 3 out of 4 times - not bad for a 20 year old Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 - Riaan Viljoen (Sharks): He is growing into his role as the Sharks' last line of defence and while we have known about his booming boot for some time, he is now also beginning to show some of his attacking abilities. Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders) 14 - Cory Jane (Hurricanes): He may have upset Jimmy Cowan with his pelvic thrusts after the try, but we are not holding that against him. He remains a quality finisher. Bubbling under: Lachlan Mitchell (Rebels) 13 - Tamati Ellison (Highlanders): His arrival back from Japan has been met with much fanfare and he is certainly good value for the money the cash-strapped franchise forked out to get him back in New Zealand. Bubbling under: Jackson Willison (Chiefs) 12 - Jean de Villiers (Stormers): He said that he lifts his game for the big occasions and they don't come much bigger than facing Ma'a Nonu. There's no doubting that he has plenty of life left in that body. Bubbling under: Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs) 11 - Willie le Roux (Cheetahs): He may well qualify as the find of the season and certainly one of the best recruits for Griquas - to the benefit of the Cheetahs. Bubbling under: Bryan Habana (Stormers) 10 - James O'Connor (Rebels): He was everything that was good about the Rebels and although he moved to centre at half-time, he started at flyhalf and that is where we selected him. Bubbling under: Patrick Lambie (Sharks) 9 - Charl McLeod (Sharks): He showed glimpses of the form that made him a Springbok and if he keeps improving he will be hard to keep out the national team again. Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) 8 - Victor Vito (Hurricanes): He is starting to run into some good form and as one of the senior players in a very young squad he is having a big influence on the Hurricanes' improved form. Bubbling under: Matt Hodgson (Western Force) 7 - David Pocock (Western Force): He was always expected to make an impact at the breakdown, but his leadership skill and allround game are also coming along in leaps-and-bounds. Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers) 6 - Marcell Coetzee (Sharks): The Sharks have known about him for some time and he had some stand-out performances on the domestic scene last year, but the young man is stepping up on a much bigger stage and not looking out of place. Bubbling under: Adam Thomson (Highlanders) 5 - Brodie Retallick (Chiefs): He is not just a stand-out player, but certainly one of the most consistent performers in the competition. No doubt the All Blacks selectors will already have his name pencilled in. Bubbling under: Nathan Sharpe (Western Force) 4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers): This young man is going to be a legend in the game if he continues to improve as he has. And then people wondered where the next 'Bakkies Botha' would come from. The answer is: 'Cape Town.' Bubbling under: Jandré Marais (Sharks) 3 - Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs): These burly Tongan props are making quite an impact on the competition ... literally. Bubbling under: Charlie Faumuina (Blues) 2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): He may have had a 'slow' start to the season, but the Bok is back to his brutal best. Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs) 1 - Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs): He scored his customary try and did everything else that has made him such a cult figure in New Zealand. Bubbling under: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) Our individual selections! Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Arizona Taumalolo. Len Kaplan XV: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Matt Hodgson, 7 David Pocock, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Arizona Taumalolo. Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Paul Dobson XV: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Victor Vito, 7 David Pocock, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Jan de Koning XV: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Will Genia, 8 Victor Vito, 7 David Pocock, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Arizona Taumalolo. Previous selections: Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Tim Whitehead (Sharks), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 Gareth Anscombe (Blues), 9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Anthony Boric (Blues), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs); 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs). Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Robbie Robinson (Chiefs), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Phil Burleigh (Highlanders), 11 Hosea Gear (Highlanders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Nasi Manu (Highlanders), 7 John Hardie (Highlanders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Chris King (Highlanders), 2 Andrew Hore (Highlanders), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers). Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Tim Bateman (Hurricanes), 11 Gio Aplon (Stormers), 10 Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs), 8 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 7 Derick Minnie (Lions), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).
|