Who's hot...and who's not!

57-54: Madagascar beat Namibia

It is time for Planet Rugby's weekly wrap of who has their name in lights right now...and who is making the oval ball headlines for the wrong reasons.

You can't touch this!

Madagascar: An extra-time 57-54 win over Namibia saw Madagascar claim the Africa Cup Division 1B title on home soil. That success in front of a whopping 40,000 supporters helped the country jump up 14 positions in the latest IRB World Rankings, equalling their highest ever standing of 42nd. What is also worth noting was that this competition doubled as the start of the Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifying process in the continent. A superb effort - hats off to Madagascar.

Sharks: Where to start from their impressive victory over the Bulls on Friday? The front-row battle - dubbed the Springbok probables v the possibles in pre-game - was distinctly one-sided in Durban as Tendai Mtawarira and the Du Plessis duo dominated Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger and Chiliboy Ralepelle. Further back and the stock of Marcell Coetzee continues to soar as the young flank was tireless alongside Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski, furthering question marks over whether Pierre Spies warrants his place in South Africa's XV. 32-10 bonus-point win - not bad without Pat Lambie and Willem Alberts.

Stuart Lancaster: He has got it right once again with his EPS selection as Lancaster picks on form, meaning James Haskell and David Strettle drop out of the main 32. The duo haven't done much wrong in truth but others have been performing better while the return to fitness of flanker Tom Wood also comes as a boost. One gripe we do have is the absence of versatile Gloucester back Jonny May in the main group. May oozes international class.

Sonny Bill Williams: The market dictates player wages. His move to Japan is proof he puts bums in seats. Those who tag the centre as being a money-grabber must realise that rugby still remains light years behind soccer in terms of wages so why begrudge him cashing in?

Frederic Michalak: The Sharks fly-half has been in red hot form for France and the Sharks in recent weeks. Playing at fly-half, Michalak was at the forefront of les Bleus' second Test response against Argentina and he showed that that performance was not a fluke when he pulled the strings in the Sharks back-line during a memorable victory over the Bulls. The Frenchman is joining Toulon at the end of the Super Rugby campaign which could give the Top 14 outfit's coach Bernard Laporte a selection headache. Michalak was signed as a scrum-half but his recent form at number 10 could see him vying with Jonny Wilkinson.

Bbbrrrr... Someone throw another log on the fire!

Robbie Fruean: Cast your mind back to the outcry when Steve Hansen decided to leave Fruean out of his innaugral squad as new All Blacks boss. Many were unhappy with the decision back then...and now? The Crusader has not fired since Round 10 when he scored a brace of tries and that's led to Todd Blackadder moving him to bench duty this week for their final regular-season match. A good game from Adam Whitelock and he may stay there.

Highlanders: Spare a thought for the Dunedin outfit who ended their season on a three-match losing streak, which ultimately cost them a spot in the play-offs. The three defeats - to the Crusaders, Chiefs and Reds - came at a bad time and with them being the only team on a bye for this weekend's final round of round-robin matches, they will not be able to influence their own or any other side's fate in the race for the knockouts. It's time to get set for 2013.

Waratahs: If the Highlanders think they are on a bad run, what must be going through the minds of the Waratahs players? They have lost seven successive matches - only winning four out of fifteen - and are languishing in eleventh spot in the standings on 35 points, well short of play-off contention. Head coach Michael Foley took over the reins from Chris Hickey, who at the time of his departure was criticised by 'Tahs supporters for the franchise's dour style. Well, there hasn't been much change as Foley hasn't really deviated from Hickey's blueprint. There has been a change in their results though as they made the play-offs in 2011 by finishing fifth on the table. How they must be wanting Drew Mitchell back on song.

By Adam Kyriacou and David Skippers