Super Rugby: Team of Round 17

A knock-out feel gripped Super Rugby action over the weekend, which made stand-out showings all the more vital to the standings.

A knock-out feel gripped Super Rugby action over the past weekend, which made stand-out performances all the more critical to the play-off race.

Saturday proved that the Bulls are not champions for nothing as they showed all of their experience to out-scrap the Stormers in Cape Town.

Other notable results came in Perth where the Reds did just enough to seal a weekend off on July 3, the Crusaders managed to defeat the Blues, Kurtley Beale once again inspired the 'Tahs to a win, while the Sharks fought tooth and nail to claw their way back from 30-9 down to pick up what could be a vital extra point in Jo'burg.

15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs): Is there anything this guy can't do? Beale has become a shoo-in for the Wallaby number fifteen jersey after yet another faultless, tireless and seemingly limitless performance for the improving Waratahs.

14 JP Pietersen (Sharks): Quiet early on but the Bok's class ultimately shone when it mattered most. Pietersen showed solidity and calmness in Johannesburg, with his upcoming battle with Bjorn Basson already whetting the appetite.

13 Tom Carter (Waratahs): A hat-trick of tries improves this Wallaby long shot's chance of sneaking into Robbie Deans' thinking. In truth, Adam Ashley-Cooper has been out of form so it's not an impossibility that Carter could be called in for the trip.

12 Pat McCabe (Brumbies): If the aforementioned Deans is looking for versatility then he need look no further than this Brumby. Playing at 12 last week after doing a swap with Christian Lealiifano, the nuggety McCabe was superb and claimed a try in the process.

11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders): Missing the attacking prowess of Sean Maitland and Israel Dagg is of course a blow, which is why the Crusaders need efforts like this from Guildford.

10 Patrick Lambie (Sharks): This was a toss-up between the young Springbok and Dan Carter. The latter was good for the Crusaders but with two assists and a try, the mesmeric Lambie gets the nod and goes into facing Morne Steyn a confident…man?

9 Jano Vermaak (Lions): It is no secret that Vermaak is way down the pecking order for a Rugby World Cup spot with South Africa, but as long as he keeps playing like this for the Lions, he will be a happy number nine. Unlucky to be on the drawing side.

8 Kieran Read (Crusaders): Richie McCaw's absence meant that Read once again needed to step up to the plate. That he did with ease as he led the Crusaders to a much-needed win that puts them in a good position before facing the Hurricanes.

7 David Pocock (Western Force): 'Bam Bam' was up to his usual tricks against the Reds in Perth on Saturday and was deserving of a try in the corner. There is little doubt that Western Force have one of the finest back-rows in Super Rugby with Pocock the star.

6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions): Two tries from 'Baywatch' sees him give Stormers captain Schalk Burger and Reds flank Scott Higginbotham the slip for our number six jersey.

5 Victor Matfield (Bulls): Not one team has managed to get the better of the Stormers line-out this season…until Saturday. Matfield disrupted Andries Bekker, whether it be at the front or tail, and thus made Deon Fourie's life hell. Fourteen tackles too from the 34-year-old!

4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders): A mention for James Horwill and Ali Williams, who both put in strong performances for the Reds and Blues respectively, but it's the workmanlike shift that veteran Thorn puts in time and time again that sees him home.

3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues): Back from injury with a strong game for the Blues, Faumuina picked up a try by powering over and was strong in the tight exchanges for his side.

2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies): Many onlookers' soon-to-be skipper in Canberra put in another all-action performance, picking up his second try in as many matches. One hopes Wallaby pal Tatafu Polota-Nau is fit for the weekend in what will be a bruising battle.

1 Dean Greyling (Bulls): The loss of Gurthrö Steenkamp was seen as a colossal blow to the Bulls' hopes of retaining the Super Rugby title. However the recent form of Greyling means they are not done just yet. He made ten tackles in another strong showing.

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