Super 14 Team of the Week

After the Aucklanders' demolition job of the Bulls over the weekend, it's no surprise that our XV of the Week has a slightly blue look to it.

After the Aucklanders' demolition job of the previously unbeaten Bulls over the weekend, it's no surprise that our XV of the Week has a slight blue look to it.

It was always going to take a rousing performance to end the Bulls' Super 14 winning streak and the Blues delivered exactly that. For their efforts, four Blues players get the nod this week.

The Chiefs aren't far behind with three spots following their seventh consecutive win over the Highlanders, while the Waratahs' five-try haul over the Cheetahs also didn't go unnoticed and win two places.

As always, you don't necessarily have to win games to make the cut, as the Reds found out after Round Eight's loss to the Sharks – both teams producing two players apiece.

And finally the Force have more to celebrate than just their first win of the campaign, after winning two votes in our latest selections.

15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs): Keeps out countryman Peter Hynes (Reds) after an impressive display at full-back in the wet. Beale has his critics, but even they will find it tough finding anything wrong with the utility back's display at fifteen, where he seems to have found a new lease on life.

14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues): The Rocketman was at it again against the Bulls and is playing like the old Joe we used to know – tearing opposition defence to shreds and threatening the whitewash throughout.

13 Will Chambers (Reds): Bagged a well-earned double – though some may argue the first try was forward – and was a menace on attack and defence all night in Durban. A shame he couldn't celebrate an accomplished performance with a victory.

12 Stephen Donald (Chiefs): Dan Carter's understudy for the All Blacks number ten jersey was simply brilliant in the Chiefs midfield, and accumulated 17 points for his efforts thanks to a solo-effort try with the rest coming from his boot.

11 Digby Ioane (Reds): Catch him if you can! Ioane is having a stellar season for the Reds and part of the Queenslanders success in 2010 – even though they lost against the Sharks – is because of this guy.

10 Mike Delany (Chiefs): This was by far the toughest decision, and Reds pivot Quade Cooper can feel a bit hard done by. However Delany gets the nod for paving the way to victory by setting up two crucial tries and orchestrating the Chiefs back-line to perfection. Simply flawless.

9 Brendon Leonard (Chiefs): It takes two to tango and part of Delaney's man-of-the-match display was put down to the service of this man. Leonard has struggled to hit the right notes, but kept Jimmy Cowan and his big mouth quiet for the majority match – a pretty hard thing to do.

8 Matt Hodgson (Force): Made the Stormers look like a light drizzle with a barnstorming display at number eight and his form suggests he could step up to the role with the Wallabies as well.

7 Jerome Kaino (Blues): The Blues targeted the Bulls strength in the forwards and the defending champs were unable to command up front as they usually do, largely thanks to Kaino's commanding work at the breakdown and the contact point. His athleticism to carry and break tackles went a long way in ending the Bulls' unbeaten run.

6 Jacques Botes (Sharks): Two man-of-the-match gongs in two weeks sums up Botes' revival in the Sharks jersey. His work at the breakdown turned the game around for the Sharks, while his vital try was the turning point of last weekend's must-win encounter with the Reds.

5 Nathan Sharpe (Force): Missed out last week, but gets the nod head and shoulders above everyone else after leading the Force to their first victory of the season – albeit thanks to a last-minute drop-goal!

4 Steven Sykes (Sharks): Sykes was a pillar of strength for the Sharks in the line-out, while his support play around the park was outstanding. With Johann Muller nursing a busted finger, Sykes has taken on the extra responsibilities with aplomb.

3 Al Baxter (Waratahs): He didn't last the entire game, but did enough – including touching down for a first Super Rugby try in his 100th match for the Waratahs – to help his team thrash the Cheetahs.

2 Keven Mealamu (Blues): The Blues forwards were led superbly by skipper Mealamu, who also delivered a ready supply of ball for his team to pile on the pressure which led to a super victory.

1 Charlie Faumuina (Blues): The Blues outmuscled the Bulls up front where unheralded prop Faumuina was outstanding and laid the foundation for victory.

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 Isreal Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Six: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 8