It was to be expected - they are unbeaten and had comprehensively beaten the team second on the standings. That is why the Stormers dominate our weekly selection.

Following what must be one of the most impressive defensive performance - not to discount a few great counter attacks - the Stormers provide seven members of our starting XV. The Cheetahs with three and Bulls with two are the only other teams with more than one - while the Chiefs, Reds and Hurricanes (one each) make up the numbers.

The Hurricanes dominate our back-up squad with five players 'Bubbling Under' - followed by three Bulls, two Crusaders and one each from the Rebels, Stormers, Chiefs, Reds and Cheetahs.

Only three players return from last week - centre Jean de Villiers (Stormers), lock Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) and prop WP Nel (Cheetahs).

Team of the Week - Round Seven:

15 - Joe Pietersen (Stormers):
Having watched his form improve over the last few weeks, one wonders why his French club,  Bayonne, allowed him to languish on the bench so much the past two seasons. Often players need to be given game time to find form and he has done that since his return to Cape Town.
Bubbling under: Andre Taylor (Hurricanes)

14 - Lelia Masaga (Chiefs):
He may be nicknamed the Flash, but he was pure class at the weekend as he showed that he is more than just a finisher.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)

13 - Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs):
He certainly showed some of the 'magic' that made him a start on the IRB Sevens circuit. Admittedly, the Lions offered feeble resistance, but even when they did he still showed plenty of playmaking skills that confounded their defences.
Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)

12 - Jean de Villiers (Stormers):
He was written off by many at the start of the season, but like a true professional he answered his critics in the best way possible - on the field!
Bubbling under: James O'Connor (Rebels)

11 - Bryan Habana (Stormers):
Another of the Stormers' veteran who were told - repeatedly - that their 'sell-by' date was up. Yeah, right! He is still pure class.
Bubbling under: Zac Guilford (Crusaders)

10 - Morné Steyn (Bulls):
He had some 'off days' earlier in the season, but last Saturday was not one of them. What is most impressive is that he is silencing those critics who still claim he only has a metronomic boot and can't get his backline going.
Bubbling under: Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)

9 - Francois Hougaard (Bulls):
There are still those who feel he is better suited to playing on the wing, but what a talent to have - starting at scrumhalf, having a blinder and then shifting to wing without missing a beat.
Bubbling under: Dewaldt Duvenage (Stormers)

8 - Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
Like his team, he made a slow start to the season, but at the weekend he made great strides in taking his game back to the heights of 2011 - where he was a consistent performer in the championship-winning Reds outfit.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)

7 - Karl Lowe (Hurricanes):
He made a mockery of the Sharks at the breakdown and won a number of crucial turnovers to help his team to an impressive win.
Bubbling under: Tanerau Latimer (Chiefs)

6 - Siya Kolisi (Stormers):
Without doubt one of the finds of the season.
Bubbling under: Jack Lam (Hurricanes)

5 - Andries Bekker (Stormers):
He laid down another serious marker in his quest to be the new Springbok No.5.
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)

4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
The most consistent performer this season and he is also one of the youngest.
Bubbling under: James Broadhurst (Hurricanes)

3 - WP Nel (Cheetahs):
His powerful scrumming and ball-carrying ability played a big role in his team's dominance.
Bubbling under: Werner Kruger (Bulls)

2 - Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs):
For weeks now he has been knocking on the door, this weekend he simply bashed it down and walked into our team.
Bubbling under: Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls)

1 - Steven Kitshoff (Stormers):
Another one of those 'just out of the teenage category' that is entertaining us with his skills this season.
Bubbling under: Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs)

Our individual selections!

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 WP Nel, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Beau Robinson, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 WP Nel, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jack Lam, 5 James Horwill, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss , 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Jan de Koning XV: Joe Pietersen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), 9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders), 8 Kane Thompson (Chiefs), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).

Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 14 Mark Gerrard (Rebels), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Juandré Kruger (Bulls), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Patric Cilliers (Lions), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Dean Greyling (Bulls).

Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks), 14 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 13 Tamati Ellison (Highlanders), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 10 James O'Connor (Rebels), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Victor Vito (Hurricanes), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 5 Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Arizona Taumalolo (Chiefs).

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).