Team of the Week, Rnd 4

[tdevil]

There are some significant changes to our Super 14 Team of the Week, with the side having some extra 'bite' this week.

Yes, after their fine win over the previously unbeaten Blues, the Sharks dominate out selections.

We have six Sharks in the side, with the Western Force and Crusaders (the only other unbeaten team now, along with the Sharks) next best at three each.

The Waratahs, Lions and Highlanders (with one each) make up the numbers.

Only two players return from last week - Sharks lock and captain Johann Muller, along with durable Crusaders lock Brad Thorn.

Team of the Week - Round Four:

15 - Francois Steyn (Sharks):
World class players will step up to the plate and produce on the big stage. Steyn did so in the World Cup last year and at the weekend showed why he is so highly rated. It is called having BTM! And we still don't know what his best position is.

14 - Scott Staniforth (Western Force):
Australia certainly don't lack in quality wingers and he timed it to perfection - producing a blinder in front of the new Wallaby coach, Robbie Deans.

13 - Ryan Cross (Western Force):
He is really beginning to show why he was such a prized recruit from Rugby League. He is certainly finding his feet in Rugby Union and we're looking forward to lots more entertainment from him.

12 - Stephen Brett (Crusaders):
This was a tough call, but Brett won the vote - after several recounts and long debates - because he produced on a day when Dan Carter was perhaps not at his best.

11 - Lote Tuqiri (Waratahs):
Another Rugby League convert that is beginning to repay the investments made in him!

10 - Frederic Michalak (Sharks):
The anomaly in the Super 14 - a Northern Hemisphere player migrating to the south. Some say for less money than what he got. Maybe it was the blond brush on top of his head, but he was certainly a lot more noticeable ... and we think it had more to do with his rugby than his looks.

9 - Jano Vermaak (Lions):
Another close call after a long debate. Vermaak is one of the few real strike forces in a struggling Lions team.

8 - Ryan Kankowski (Sharks):
He too showed why he became a Springbok last year. We expect to see and hear a lot more of him.

7 - David Pocock (Western Force):
Force coach John Mitchell called him up to the Super 14 squad at age 17, which resulted in a ban being slapped on him by the Australian Rugby Union because he was too young. 'Bam Bam' made his Super 14 debut later that same year (2006) and last year won the 'Newcomers of the Year' award. He's bound to feature here regularly.

6 - Keegan Daniel (Sharks):
He may be rough around the edges, sometimes provocative and could still land himself in hot water one of these days. But he is a damn good rugby player.

5 - Johann Muller (Sharks):
A strong leader and a rock in the set pieces. He doesn't make a lot of noise, but take time to study his game and you will see the mark of a world class player and leader.

4 - Brad Thorn (Crusaders):
He has been around for so long that he knows all the shortcuts around the park, but it is in the close-in exchanges where he really does the damage.

3 - Greg Somerville (Crusaders):
Seasoned, veteran, experienced. Call him what you like, he is the anchor of a very solid Crusaders scrum.

2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
Saturday provided all the evidence you will ever need if confronted with the question: 'Why was he at the World Cup?'

1 - Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders):
They breed them tough there on New Zealand's South Island - where some of the most durable front row forwards in the world come from.

Individual selections for Week Four:

Phil Coetzer XV: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duanne Vermeulen, 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 David Pocock, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Steve Farrell XV: 15 Conrad Jantjies, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Lachlan MacKay, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Jacques Botes , 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Brad Thorne, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Jannie du Plessis.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stephen Brett, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 David Pocock, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Isa Nacewa (Blues), 14 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 13 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 12 Benson Stanley (Blues), 11 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 10 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 9 Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), 8 Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 6 Heinrich Brussouw (Cheetahs), 5 Johann Muller (Sharks), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 Campbell Johnstone (Crusaders), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Francois Steyn (Sharks), 14 Kade Poki (Crusaders), 13 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 12 Stephen Brett (Crusaders), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Nick Evans (Blues), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Nick Williams (Blues), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Troy Flavell (Blues), 4 Kurtis Haiu (Blues), 3 Greg Somerville (Crusaders), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Tony Woodcock (Blues).

Team of the Week Round One: 15 Leon MacDonald (Crusaders), 14 Digby Ioane (Reds), 13 Ice Toeava (Blues), 12 Bradley Barritt (Sharks), 11 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 10 Nick Evans (Blues), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders), 7 Franco van der Merwe (Lions), 6 Rocky Elsom (Waratahs), 5 Troy Flavell (Blues), 4 Johann Ackermann (Sharks), 3 Brian Mujati (Stormers), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

[oxleymoron]

Interesting that from the first four weeks, they only had 6 Australian players picked. The force lead this count 3 selections, horrotahs 2 and deads 1.

Richard Brown is unlucky to miss out this week.

[slomo]

good to see pocock made this team of the week, unlike our friends at rugby heaven who didn't rate him....

[littleleck]

a little surprised to see spanner get 3/4 votes...i mean i would have voted for him but it is surprising!!and awesome!!
go bam bam..we've always known how good he is..lets hope everyone else clicks on..

[zimeric]

im amazed that the force only featured in round 4. I really though Cross would get a look in for his game against the Lions and Giteau at least for his work against the Sharks in round 1.