Super 14 Team of the Week

Results from Round Thirteen saw the Bulls tie up top spot while the Reds fell completely out of the running in the Super 14 play-off race.

Results from Round Thirteen saw the Bulls seal top spot while the season's entertainers, the Reds, dropped completely out of the play-off running.

The competition's penultimate weekend of the regular-season was once again a treat to watch with Friday's game at Loftus arguably the pick. The fallout regarding that pass continues…

But enough of that, let us get down to our XV and there is once again a nice blend of teams involved as the 'Tahs, 'Canes and Sharks had good wins.

15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) – One of the seven try-scorers for the Waratahs, Beale created constant problems for the Chiefs and is growing in confidence at full-back. Honourable mentions must go to Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies) and Colin Slade (Crusaders).

14 Hosea Gear (Hurricanes) – The Hurricanes literally hit top Gear thanks to this man, the big winger exploding with three tries against the Reds to show he's back to his best after missing six straight matches in the first half of the season with a serious knee injury.

13 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks) – The 'old man' of Super Rugby gave his team's back-line the inventiveness and flair that they had been missing for most of their campaign. Playing in his last season, Terblanche showed enough skill and pace to suggest he could carry on for a few more years…

12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies) – Giteau is saving his best for last this season for the Brumbies. The Wallaby playmaker was able to take advantage of some of the Highlanders' 45 missed tackles with telling line-breaks while he also never missed a kick at goal.

11 Francois Hougaard (Bulls) – The controversial last-minute try that stole a win from the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld aside, Hougaard was a danger whenever he touched the ball. His first try also gave the Bulls the impetus needed to claw their way back.

10 Berrick Barnes (Waratahs) – Barnes' shift to fly-half after spending the last few weeks at inside centre proved a masterstroke, the Wallaby scoring a try and having a hand in several others in a 12-point game with two conversions and a penalty.

9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs) – The smallest man on the field put in the biggest performance once again in Bloemfontein, and finds himself ahead of Sharks scrum-half Rory Kockott as our first-choice number nine this week.

8 Ben Mowen (Waratahs) – The Wallaby number eight slot is up for grabs at the moment due to Wycliff Palu being on the treatment table and Mowen can surely be one name pencilled onto the draft sheet. His pace off the base was one facet that kept the Chiefs honest and he was well worthy of his try.

7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders) – Several pundits were starting to question whether the great man had lost his touch a little going off this 2010 season. But the game at Loftus put paid to such views as McCaw was immense against a strong back-row. Carrying and leading, he was a hurt skipper at the end.

6 Jean Deysel (Sharks) – This was a tough decision but the way in which Deysel took on the Stormers trio of Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen was very impressive indeed. Not many knock back the Springbok flank but this Shark certainly matched his opposite number up front.

5 Kane Douglas (Waratahs) – It is hard to believe that Douglas is only 20 years of age after watching him grow into the light blue jersey this season. Devastating speed off the mark is just one strength this guy has while Saturday's aggression in the tight was complimented well wider out against the Chiefs.

4 Victor Matfield (Bulls) – Like all good players, the Bulls lock and captain is starting to hit form at just the right time. A fortnight ago against the Sharks he was used as pretty much their sole jumper in the lineout, but this week we saw Matfield the scorer as his intelligence shone through against the 'Saders.

3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes) – Graham Henry cannot ignore the man who can be recognisable by all that tape strapping his boots to his feet. Tialata has stepped his performances up a gear this season and Friday's showing against the Reds saw his stock rise even further. A starter for the All Blacks?

2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies) – While his rival for the Wallaby jersey, Tatafu Polota-Nau, is destructive, Moore's extra something in his game should see him remain as Robbie Deans' number one. A strong display in the loose again while his combination with prop Ben Alexander seems to get better and better.

1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) – Simple. He got his chance and took it. 'The Beast' was definitely at his best on Saturday and proved just why he is still considered one of the most destructive looseheads in the game. The question is, why was he not given more starts?

Previous selections:

Round One: 15 James O'Connor (Force), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Tanerau Latimer (Chiefs), 6 Deon Stegmann (Bulls), 5 Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), 1 Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls).

Round Two: 15 Paul Williams (Blues), 14 Tamati Ellison (Hurricanes), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

Round Three: 15 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 14 Leila Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Luke Burgess (Waratahs), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 De Kock Steenkamp (Stormers), 3 Laurie Weeks (Reds), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Round Four: 15 Luke Morahan (Reds), 14 David Smith (Hurricanes), 13 Robert Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Daniel Braid (Reds), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Nico Breedt (Cheetahs), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Five: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), 11 Drew