Super Rugby: Team of Round 15

This week goes to show that you don't have to win games to book a place in our XV, as illustrated by the Crusaders and Force.

This week goes to show that you don't have to win games to book a place in our XV, as illustrated by the Crusaders and Force.

Despite losing out to the Reds and Hurricanes respectively, we've opted for two Crusaders and two Force players, who we thought did the business in Round 15.

The same can be said of the Cheetahs, who have one player to show for their losing efforts against the Bulls (two).

Of course, lets not take anything away from the winners – the Reds (two), Hurricanes (two), Sharks (two) and Lions (two) are all on show!

15 Cameron Shepherd (Western Force): The Wallaby full-back was a sensation at the back for the Force – contributing 18 of his side's points thanks to his unerring boot and a try. A shame it was all in vain.

14 JP Pietersen (Sharks): Best game in a long time for the Bok wing who is slowly but surely hitting the heights of 2007. Pietersen was a revelation out wide for the Sharks against the Waratahs – bagging a try in the process.

13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders): Beats his namesake from the Cheetahs (Ebersohn) to this week's selection, following a strong display in midfield for the Crusaders that kept the Reds on their toes throughout.

12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes): Two tries for the All Blacks midfielder, who has been under a bit of pressure throughout the season from some chap by the name of Sonny Bill Williams. Nonu was back to his destructive self against the Force though – largely due to the return of partner in crime, Conrad Smith.

11 Bjorn Basson (Bulls): Hardly put a foot wrong against his former team-mates and opened the scoring with a superb try in the corner for his current team-mates.

10 Dan Carter (Crusaders): His team may have lost the game, but Carter won the battle of the pivots – outshining Quade Cooper in all facets of play at 10. He just has the ability to create something out of nothing.

9 Will Genia (Reds): Just about every good attacking move the Reds pulled off revolved around the nippy scrum-half, who set up one try and scored another.

8 Josh Strauss (Lions): Pulverised the Highlanders with his battering runs and tackling. Picked up a try for the Lions – not the winning touchdown, but a crucial one nonetheless!

7 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs): Johnson makes the cut for the third week in a row. He's added a hard edge to his game of late that has enabled him to become the complete package.

6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds): A real thorn in the Crusaders' side – the Aussie flanker has been immense for the Reds this year, and really came into his own against the likes of McCaw, Read and Whitelock.

5 Nathan Sharpe (Force): Over the hill? Far from out. Instead, Sharpe gets through a mountain-load of work for his team and nearly, nearly led his team to a memorable win over the Hurricanes.

4 Wikus van Heerden (Lions): Ok, this guy scored the match-winning try for the Lions! And his face at the end of the game told the full story – sweated blood, sweat and tears for his team towards a historic victory.

3 Werner Kruger (Bulls): Dropped anchor against the Cheetahs and kept the Bulls' South African rivals' scrum at bay.

2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): Powerful performance from the Bok heavyweight who never gave an inch.

1 John Schwalger (Hurricanes): Tough position to call this week – but after viewing the highlights reel, Schwalger popped up everywhere for the Hurricanes and was a real force against, erm… the Force (sorry – ed!).

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).

Team of Round Seven: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues),14 Kade Poki (Highlanders), 13 Digby Ioane (Reds), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Luke Morahan (Reds), 10 Danny Cipriani (Rebels), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Gareth Delve (Rebels), 7 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 6 Jack Lam (Hurricanes), 5 Hugh Pyle (Rebels), 4 Sam Wykes (Western Force), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Team of Round Eight: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders, 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds, 9 Luke Burgess (Waratahs), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Matt Todd (