Super 14 Team of the Week

Strange things happen in rugby, and it's not gone unnoticed in our office that this week's selection doesn't include a single Bull.

Strange things happen in rugby, and it's not gone unnoticed in our office that this week's selection doesn't include a single Lion-crushing Bull.

Why? Simple. The Bulls delivered a terrific team performance to run 50 past the Lions on Saturday, but not many individuals stood out, while other teams performed to a lower level than the sum of their parts, even if one or two parts stood out a mile.

Given the Bulls' huge togetherness ethic, do you think they'd have it any other way?

There's an all-Kiwi back-line, reflecting the fact that scoring tries – or in one case setting them up – gets you noticed, while the forwards are a more mixed bunch, two South Africans and three each from Australia and New Zealand.

15 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs): He inches further and further into the spotlight with each step and shimmy and break, but this weekend saw the 20-year-old from Counties Manukau raise his game to a new level. We wonder what he'll be like after Tana Umaga gets to him in the ITM Cup this year… Patrick Lambie and Cory Jane were unlucky to miss out.

14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues): Not many wingers shone this week for exceptional attacking rugby, but Rokocoko excelled in both taking attacking chances and backing it up with solid work at the back under a hail of high kicks.

13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) and 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes duo tore it up all night in Dunedin, feeding off the excellent work of Aaron Cruden and with Nonu creating the gaps for Conrad Smith to run through. A fine combination performance from the All Black pair.

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs): Has apparently been ruled out of the rest of the season with a shoulder problem – goodness knows what he'll be like when that's cured. Always seems to have more time than anyone else, which is often the sign of a really classy player.

10 Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes): The first time Cruden has stepped up to the mark properly since he made his debut in the Super 14 this season, but here was a glimpse of a shining talent with the ball in hand.

9 Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders): He's feisty customer, but when the chips are down, as they so often were for his team against the Hurricanes, you'd only want this guy on your side. Can we forgive him his little tirade at referee Vinny Munro? We can if he plays like this.

8 Steven Setephano (Highlanders): Unhailed during the match, but with six line breaks and several tackles, this guy was a standout from the weekend.

7 Liam Messam (Chiefs): Scored one, set up another and would have been one of the stars of a winning team had Stephen Donald landed his kicks.

6 Matt Hodgson (Force): Tireless tackler against some of the best in the business. It says something emphatic about you when you can outshine an All Black trio of loosies.

5 Andries Bekker (Stormers): The tallest guy in the tournament is at it again. Another try, another set of busts and carries… on form, there is just no way he cannot be a Springbok for this Tri-Nations.

4 Nathan Sharpe (Force): Captain Fantastic was an inspiration to his team, constantly popping up to take the ball forward and constantly popping up to make another tackle. Indomitable.

3 WP Nel (Cheetahs): Another unsung hero, but he caused all manner of problems for his opposite number Toby Smith in the scrum and was a key element in the numerous forward drives that got the Cheetahs back in the game in Hamilton.

2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders): Another tight forward to somehow find the energy to carry and tackle like an extra loose forward.

1 Ben Daley (Reds): When the Reds were on the rack, Daley was there to steady things up under pressure and make a number of telling hits around the fringes, meaning the Stormers found go-forward ball all too hard to come by.

Compiled by Danny Stephens

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 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 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Michael Paterson (Hurricanes), 3 Brok Harris (Stormers), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 John Smit (Sharks).

Round Seven: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Lachie Turner (Waratahs), 13 Digby Ioane (Reds), 12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 11 Julian Huxley (Brumbies), 10 Daniel Halangahu (Waratahs), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Victor Vito (Hurricanes), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (