Red and Black ... almost nothing else

Published: Monday, 4. July, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

Only one player from outside the Reds and Crusaders got a look-in into the rugby365.com Team of the Week and even then that nearly caused a riot.
Stormers must take it on the chin after failing to pitch | Super Rugby at a glance!

Jaque Fourie, the Stormers' outside centre managed to sneak his way into a team otherwise dominated by the sides that managed to reach the Final.

The Crusaders dominate out team, with 10 members in the starting XV, after dismissing a very ordinary Stormers team with relative ease. The Crusaders also have five members in our back-up selection.

And the Reds provide four members, with Fourie's selection a major issue with some of our panel members. The Reds have 10 players 'bubbling under'.

As was to be expected, a number of last week's team are back - fullback Tom Marshall (Crusaders), centre Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), wing Zac Guildford (Crusaders), No.8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), lock Brad Thorn (Crusaders) and prop Owen Franks (Crusaders).

rugby365.com Team of the Week, semifinals:

15 - Tom Marshall (Crusaders):
His dream season continues- a meteoric rise if ever there was one.
Bubbling under: Jono Lance (Reds)

14 - Rod Davies (Reds):
Unanimous after a hat-trick ... enough said!
Bubbling under: Sean Maitland (Crusaders)

13 - Jaque Fourie (Stormers):
This caused heated debate and nearly a riot, but majority rule ... much to the chagrin of some 'selectors'.
Bubbling under: Robbie Fruean (Crusaders)

12 - Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders):
Offload and all, he raced clear of the competition.
Bubbling under: Ben Tapuai (Reds)

11 - Zac Guilford (Crusaders):
Not a weekend of many opportunities for left wings.
Bubbling under: Digby Ioane (Reds)

10 - Quade Cooper (Reds):
Classic Cooper. On current Super Rugby form he must be higher rated than even the great Dan Carter.
Bubbling under: Dan Carter (Crusaders)

9 - Will Genia (Reds):
His combination with Cooper will be crucial in the Final.
Bubbling under: Andy Ellis (Crusaders)

8 - Kieran Read (Crusaders):
There is Read and then the pack ... in the distance.
Bubbling (far) under: Radike Samo (Reds)

7 - Richie McCaw (Crusaders):
He is always a pretty special. Not bad for his first game back.
Bubbling under: Beau Robinson (Reds)

6 - Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
He was a colossus and dominated All Black rival Jerome Kaino.
Bubbling under: George Whitelock (Crusaders)

5 - Sam Whitelock (Crusaders):
He is going to be a huge asset to the All Blacks this year!
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)

4 - Brad Thorn (Crusaders):
Like good red wine...
Bubbling under: Rob Simmons (Reds)

3 - Owen Franks (Crusaders):
Not much debate here.
Bubbling under: Greg Holmes (Reds)

2 - Corey Flynn (Crusaders):
Another one of the Crusaders' bearded wonders.
Bubbling under: Saia Faingaa (Reds)

1 - Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders):
It is going to be hard to keep him out of the All Black team this year.
Bubbling under: Ben Daley (Reds)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Jono Lance, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Jono Lance, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Andy Ellis,  8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Play-offs: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Charlie Faumuina.

Team of the Week, Round 18: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Charlie Faumuina.

Team of the Week, Round 17: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 François Hougaard, 8 Kieran Read, 7 David Pocock, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round 16: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Ben May.

Team of the Week, Round 15: 15 Ben Smith, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round 14: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round 13: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Robbie Fruean, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round 12: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Kieran Read, 7 David Pocock, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Team of the Week, Round 11: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Luke Romano, 3 John Afoa, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Team of the Week, Round 10: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 James Paterson, 13 Jared Payne, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Chris King, 2 John Smit, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round Nine: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 John Afoa, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Ben Franks.

Team of the Week, Round Eight: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 WP Nel, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Isia Toeava, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Will Genia, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Matt Todd, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Ben Franks.

Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Schwalger.

Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Tane Umaga, 11 Kade Poke, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 John Afoa, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.