Super 14 Team of the Tournament

As the champion Bulls brought at an end to the last ever Super 14 season, there's still some unfinished business as to who reigned supreme in 2010.

As the champion Bulls brought at an end to the last ever Super 14 season, there's still some unfinished business as to who reigned supreme in 2010.

Congratulations to the Bulls on winning their third Super Rugby title, however lifting the coveted silverware didn't necessarily secure them a place in the Super XV. Gulp!

Our Super 14 Team of the Tournament has rather been judged on the number of appearances in our selections throughout the season which therefore only sees three Bulls making the final cut.

In fact, as I write this, three of my colleagues have already sought refuge in the Witness Protection Program…

15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders): The number fifteen jersey had Dagg's name all over it throughout the tournament, though the future All Blacks star did get some strong competition from Kurtley Beale towards the end. A shame he couldn't celebrate top notch performances with many victories, but that's all about to change next year with talk of Dagg heading to greener – or more like red and black – pastures…
Close but no cigar: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)

14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues): The Rocketman was back to his brilliant best this season and was a regular in our weekly selections based on his game-breaking outings for the Blues. Big, fast and unstoppable – Ireland and Wales beware!
Close but no cigar: Lachie Turner (Waratahs)

13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers): A class act on defence and attack, Fourie, lured from the struggling Lions, paid back every penny spent on him in the off-season by the Stormers and was one of the main reasons for his newly adopted team's success in 2010. Head and shoulders the premier outside centre in South Africa – and the entire competition – this season.
Close but no cigar: Rene Ranger (Blues)

12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls): Without a doubt the most consistent inside centre of the tournament. Olivier pulled out all the stops – literally – to stamp his authority as one of the best defenders wearing the number twelve jersey, while his contribution with ball in hand wasn't far off either.
Close but no cigar: Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes)

11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders): This was a close one, with the hard-working Crusaders flyer shading Drew Mitchell by the skin of his teeth. Mitchell had a solid season for the Waratahs following his move from Perth, but Guildford edged the Wallaby speedster by one vote! Hopefully they'll get a chance to determine who the real deal is come the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup…
Close but no cigar: Drew Mitchell (Waratahs)

10 Quade Cooper (Reds): Bulls' fans may cry foul with this decision (and all the others), but the votes don't lie. Cooper's break-through season for the Reds was nothing short of extraordinary. With Berrick Barnes out of the picture, Cooper took his opportunity to literally run the show with both hands and didn't disappoint – ultimately winning over not only our vote, but Robbie Deans' too after being chosen ahead of Matt Giteau for the Wallaby number ten spot.
Close but no cigar: Morne Steyn (Bulls)

9 Will Genia (Reds): When there's lightning, there's always thunder – that sums up Genia's partnership with Cooper for the Reds. His team may not have made it to the top four, but the Reds' stand-in skipper played every game as if it were a final. In short, Genia was influential throughout the season for the Queenslanders.
Close but no cigar: Fourie du Preez (Bulls)

8 Pierre Spies (Bulls): Another tough decision to make between two quality number eights, who ended with equal votes. Spies and Vermeulen never put a foot wrong for their respective teams, but if the Final was anything to by – Spies won this battle hands down. A constant danger with ball in hand, Spies sucks in defenders and gets over the gain line with relative ease.
Close but no cigar: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)

7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs): Before his brain implosion in the semi-final against the Stormers, Waugh was his usual combative self for the Waratahs and proved to be a handful once again for the opposition. This obviously wasn't enough to make the Wallabies squad this year, but the veteran openside certainly gets our vote.
Close but no cigar: Juan Smith (Cheetahs)

6 Schalk Burger (Stormers): Burger proved to be a natural born leader during the Stormers campaign, and led his team heroically from the front. The new laws meant the Bok flanker had the ascendancy at the breakdown, while his work rate was excellent on attack and he was always physical in the tackle.
Close but no cigar: Adam Thomson (Highlanders):

5 Andries Bekker (Stormers): The tallest player in the competition has made our XV of the Week the most times out of all players selected this season, and is no surprise really he makes it here again. Was outshone by Victor Matfield in the Final, but was the stand-out lock prior to the Soweto spectacle.
Close but no cigar: Victor Matfield (Bulls)

4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs): Always industrious in the loose, Mumm was a constant threat for the Waratahs with his rampaging runs that would lead to some form of points being scored – if not by him, then somebody else.
Close but no cigar: Nathan Sharpe (Force)

3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes): Scrummed well for the 'Canes, refused to relent on defence and was a force at the gain line.
Close but no cigar: WP Nel (Cheetahs)

2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders): This position was the closest of them all, but it was the Highlanders rake that came out tops. Rutledge picked his jumpers off regularly and showed rabid enthusiasm in the tight-loose and open play on attack and defence.
Close but no cigar: Gary Botha (Bulls)

1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls): The form loosehead in the competition proved his worth with another powerful display in the Final. He may not be too familiar with the tryline like Australian counterpart Ben Alexander, but excelled in everything else a prop is meant to do.
Close but no cigar: Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

Super 14 Team of the Tournament: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls).