Super Rugby: Team of Round 10

No Crusaders this time folks, and a surprise at fly-half as we bring you our team of players that we think did the business in Round Ten.

No Crusaders this time folks, and a little surprise at fly-half as we bring you our team of players that we think did the business in Round Ten.

The Highlanders' win over the tournament favourites (erm, the Crusaders – but the Reds are right up there too!), really caught our attention and sees four southerners in the mix as a result.

The Western Force (three) celebrated victory for the first time in front of their home fans this season with a win over reigning champions and perennial Super Rugby heavyweights the Bulls.

The Reds made it a record seven Super Rugby wins on the trot after seeing off the Waratahs, however can count themselves a wee bit unlucky not to have more than one player this week.

The Chiefs (two), Sharks (two) and Blues (one) fill out the rest of this week's positions following wins over the Lions, Hurricanes and Rebels (one) respectively.

15 Mils Muliaina (Chiefs): After an injury-interrupted start to the season, Muliaina returned to Super Rugby with a bang against the Lions. The Chiefs skipper was explosive on the counter-attack and rock-solid under the high ball. Welcome back!

14 James Paterson (Highlanders): In for the injured Kade Poki, Paterson had some mighty big shoes to fill but did so with aplomb. Two scintillating tries – his first included skinning All Black Israel Dagg along the touchline. A story to tell the grandkids one day.

13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs): Getting back to his best form after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. But it looked like Kahui had never left as he carved up the Lions would-be tacklers on attack and was a brick wall on defence.

12 James O'Connor (Force): Put the boot into the Bulls thanks to a string of well-struck penalties, whilst causing the defending champions all sorts of trouble in the midfield – a position that has quite literally made him the centre of attention.

11 Rene Ranger (Blues): The enigmatic winger had been relatively quiet in the last couple of games but showed just how lethal and unstoppable he can be when he plays to his potential.

10 Tony Brown (Highlanders): The veteran Highlanders pivot keeps out Reds fly-half Quade Cooper after an impressive showing against the Crusaders. Super Cooper had a mixed game despite his first half brilliance against the Waratahs. Missing a few stars, the Highlanders needed 36-year-old Brown to step up – and he didn't disappoint.

9 Will Genia (Reds): No somersaulting required to get our attention. Genia, forced to work his magic behind a retreating pack, produced a solid effort to get the nod this week.

8 Ben McCalman (Force): Maybe it's just coincidence that the last three number eights chosen have all come from games where they were opposite Bulls' hard man Pierre Spies. Nothing personal Pierre! But McCalman's all-round performance against a Bok-laden pack – or team even – was a joy to watch.

7 Scott Waldrom (Chiefs): Two tries aside, Waldrom was a thorn in the Lions' side at the breakdown and his man-of-the-match gong afterwards was well deserved.

6 Jarrad Hoeata (Highlanders): Who needs Adam Thomson when you got this guy? Ok, the Highlanders really need Thomson, but will be thrilled to have a class act in the form of Hoeata who can cover at lock or the back row. Put in the big hits, and ran hard all night.

5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force): The undisputed king of the second row. Sharpe is having a stellar year, and outclassed the world's best (arguably) in the form of Victor Matfield.

4 Hugh Pyle (Rebels): The young lock has been a revelation with his consistency and hard running in an erratic side. No stranger with the tryline either!

3 Chris King (Highlanders): Huffed and puffed and blew the Crusaders' scrum down. King has been on the fringes of a top class performance, and finally got one in Nelson against the mighty Crusaders.

2 John Smit (Sharks): Silenced his critics with one of his most memorable outings in a Sharks jersey. The debate is still out as to where he should play for the Boks – but for now, that answer was plain to see against the Hurricanes.

1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks): Say it with us: “Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeast!”

Team of Round One: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 13 Rob Horne (Waratahs), 12 Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 James O'Connor (Force), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Lions), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls).

Team of Round Two: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Rob Horne (Waratahs), 12 Julian Huxley (Rebels), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Danny Cipriani (Rebels), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), 7 Josh Strauss (Lions), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Team of Round Three: 15 Pat McCabe (Brumbies), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Shaun Treeby (Highlanders), 11 Kade Poki (Highlanders), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders), 4 Isaac Ross (Chiefs), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Wyatt Crocket (Crusaders).

Team of Round Four: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Sean Maitland (Crusaders), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 10 James O'Connor (Western Force), 9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Willem Alberts (Sharks), 6 Richard Brown (Western Force), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Sam Wykes (Western Force), 3 CJ van der Linde (Stormers), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 John Schwalger (Hurricanes).

Team of Round Five: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rene Ranger (Blues), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 10 Peter Grant (Stormers), 9 Alby Mathewson (Blues), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Ben Daley (Reds).

Team of Round Six: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rod Davies (Reds), 13 Jaques Fourie (Stormers), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Nick Phipps (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Beau Robinson (Reds), 6 Willem Alberts (Sharks), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Alister Campbell (Rebels), 3 Greg Somerville (Rebels), 2 Deon Fourie (Stormers), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).