There is a fairly even spread of teams represented in our Team of the Week, however there is no space for even one player from the stable of traditional powers the Blue Bulls.

Western Province lead the way this week with four players in the team while Griquas - their opponents in a 12-try classic in Kimberley - are represented by three of their forwards.

There will be some serious concern in Pretoria as the Blue Bulls find themselves down in sixth position on the standings with time running out to get back into the reckoning for semifinal spots. They only managed to get one player into the bubbling under team and will need to make a big step up if they are to challenge the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend.

The Sharks were the team to do the damage at Loftus Versveld on Saturday and they have three players in our team, with the Cheetahs and Lions following close behind with two each.

Here is our Currie Cup Team of the Week for Round Eight:

15 - Jaco Taute (Lions): Yet another good performance sees him named in our team for the fourth consecutive week. Showed his all-round ability in Nelspruit by providing the usual counter-attacking threat from the back, tackling hard, setting up a try for Michael Killian and driving his way over like a tight forward for a five-pointer of his own.
Bubbling under: Louis Ludik (Sharks)

14 - Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks): This young gas-man is going places and it looks likely to be over the tryline more often than not. A powerful runner who is devastating when given the opportunity and he showed his considerable finishing ability against the Blue Bulls on Saturday.
Bubbling under: Deon van Rensburg (Lions)

13 - Johann Sadie (Western Province): Another 'regular' in our team this season, he has the valuable ability to sniff out space and attack it which creates plenty of chances for teammates running off him. His combination of searing pace and good awareness makes him a particularly tricky customer.
Bubbling under: Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

12 - Meyer Bosman (Sharks): He may have come in for some criticism since his move to the Sharks but he showed his value at Loftus Versveld by defending his channel manfully, kicking some vital long range penalties and even ripping the ball off a tight forward to put Lwazi Mvovo away for the try which took the game away from the hosts.
Bubbling under: Alwyn Hollenbach (Lions)

11 - JJ Engelbrecht (Western Province): The lanky flyer got plenty of opportunities to impress as his team looked to play with some width and he cashed in by scoring two tries. He certainly is not lacking for strength or pace and is a very committed runner.
Bubbling under: Michael Killian (Lions)

10 - Elton Jantjies (Lions): He seems to be growing in confidence every week and has added some encouraging tactical maturity to the creative spark which makes him such a dangerous playmaker. Released his backline well in Nelspruit and showed that he can adapt his game when his team is under pressure.
Bubbling under: Frederic Michalak (Sharks)

9 - Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs): This nippy customer is clearly keen to make his mark and was a constant threat around the fringes as well as providing crisp service for his backline as the Cheetahs ran the Leopards ragged.
Bubbling under: Conrad Hoffman (Sharks)

8 - Nick Köster (Western Province): Illustrated his immense value on attack with an imposing display in Kimberley, he is playing with confidence and managed to stamp his authority on a game with plenty of star performers.
Bubbling under: Boom Prinsloo (Cheetahs)

7 - Davon Raubenheimer (Griquas): Another notable performance from this relentless competitor who is becoming something of a talisman for his team, he seems to pop up everywhere and his high work rate was rewarded with two tries on Saturday.
Bubbling under: Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)

6 - Corne Steenkamp (Pumas): A brave contribution on his return from injury. He never gave up and was central to his team's second-half revival as he led from the front once again. Must be commended for his never-say-die attitude which saw him playing with a dislocated finger after being treated several times during the match.
Bubbling under: Warwick Tecklenburg (Blue Bulls)

5 - Martin Muller (Griquas): The heart and soul of the Griquas pack, he played a leading role in the set-pieces and really took the game to his former teammates in the tight exchanges.
Bubbling under: Izak van der Westhuizen (Cheetahs)

4 - Jan Andre Marais (Sharks): This young lock was highly impressive in only his second start for the defending champions and chose a great platform to establish his potential as he outplayed Springbok Flip van der Merwe at Loftus Versfeld.
Bubbling under: Rudi Mathee (Pumas)

3 - Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs): The move to tighthead has clearly not slowed him down as he showed by barging his way over for two tries against the Leopards. He is always hungry for work and relishes playing in the kind of space he was afforded in Potchefstroom.
Bubbling under: Pat Cillers (Lions)

2 - Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province): Led from the front in his old hometown and capped another bullocking display with a perfectly weighted kick upfield which led to his team's final try and sealed victory for the Cape side.
Bubbling under: Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

1 - Ivann Espag (Griquas): Stood his ground against seasoned veteran Brok Harris at scrum-time and was ever-present in open play, looking for work and carrying the ball up with ferocity.
Bubbling under: Marcel van der Merwe (Cheetahs)

Previous selections:

Team of the Week, Round Seven: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Barry Geel, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Dean Greyling.

Team of the Week, Round Six: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach,  11, JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling.    

Team of the Week, Round Five: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Pat Lambie, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round Four: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Team of the Week, Round Three: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corne Steenkamp, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Team of the Week, Round Two: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Stephen Dippenaar, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Corne Steenkamp, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 PW Van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Team of the Week, Round One: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ashwin Scott, 10 Freddie Michalak, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Corne Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Corne Fourié.