Super 14 Team of the Week

[Burgs]

The Super 14 "Team of the Week" from the reporters at rugburugby.com

Team of the Week - S14 Round Three

2007-02-12 14:19:10

There is a new Force in town, the Western Force. Along with the Lions the Perth franchise dominate our Team of the Week for Round Three.

The Force, who beat the mighty Bulls, and the Lions (who accounted for the defending champion Crusaders) each have four places in our team ... and with good reason.

The Sharks, probably one of the most impressive units in the first three weeks, have two members in our squad, while the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Cheetahs and Bulls (with one each) make up the numbers.

The team is beginning to look settled now, with four members from last week's selection back again this week.

Outside centre Tana Umaga (Hurricanes), flank George Smith (Brumbies), hooker Gary Botha (Bulls) and prop Heinke van der Merwe (Lions) are all back.

Team of the Week - Round Three:

15 - Percy Montgomery (Sharks):
The old man of South African rugby clearly benefited from being rested and not joining the Springboks on their year-end tour in 2006.
Bubbling Under: Julian Huxley (Brumbies)

14 - Philip Burger (Cheetahs):
Probably one of the most eccentric players on the circuit, but there is no doubt that he also has some class - not to mention raw pace.
Bubbling under: David Smith (Hurricanes)

13 - Tana Umaga (Hurricanes):
Another 'old man' that is helping to steady the ship for his team.
Bubbling under: JP Nel (Bulls)

12 - Junior Pelesasa (Western Force):
He had some good games for the Reds, but appeared to have faded from the scene. He had an ordinary season last year, but is now back to his best.
Bubbling under: Luke McAlister (Blues)

11 - Cameron Shepherd (Western Force):
Pure gold, pure Western Force gold!
Bubbling under: Anthony Tuitavake (Blues)

10 - Matt Giteau (Western Force):
We are sure that if you slot him in at prop he would do the job as well. He is without doubt one of the most gifted players around.
Bubbling under: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)

9 - Ruan Pienaar (Sharks):
He does all the basics, required of a scrum-half, with consummate ease. But it is what he offers on attack that sets him apart.
Bubbling under: Jano Vermaak (Lions)

8 - Willem Alberts (Lions):
One of several of the Lions 'cubs' who have showed a remarkable maturity this year.
Bubbling under: Jerome Kaino (Blues)

7 - George Smith (Brumbies):
He's George Smith, need we say more?
Bubbling under: Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions)

6 - Steven Bates (Chiefs):
His team may not have won many matches, but he is playing like a champion.
Bubbling under: Juan Smith (Cheetahs)

5 - Nathan Sharpe (Western Force):
He is growing in stature every week and will be one of Australia's key players this year.
Bubbling under: Troy Flavell (Blues)

4 - Cobus Grobler (Lions):
Maybe it is just that blond mop that makes him stand out. However, he seems to be everywhere on the park and his skills are not too shabby either.
Bubbling under: Paul Tito (Hurricanes)

3 - Brian Mujati (Lions):
This young Zimbabwean-born prop is going to become a great one day, if only the officialdom would manage him properly.
Bubbling under: BJ Botha (Sharks)

2 - Gary Botha (Bulls):
Steady as a rock in a losing cause.
Bubbling under: Willie Wepener (Lions)

1 - Heinke van der Merwe (Lions):
He shoved Campbell Johnstone's head where the sun doesn't often shine. Johnstone, a three-Test All Black, is supposedly the 'rock' on which the Crusaders' scrums have been formed in recent campaigns.
Bubbling under: Deon Carstens (Sharks)

Our individual selections:

Marcus Leach XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Steven Bates, 5 Cobus Grobler, 4 Andries Bekker, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Gareth Hardy

Chris Waldburger XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Mat Giteau, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Cobus Grobelaar, 6 Ernst Joubert, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Dave Morris XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 JP Nel, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Steven Bates, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Paul Tito, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gareth Hardy

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Tana Umaga, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 George Smith, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Johan Muller, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Danny Stephens XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 JP Nel, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Mat Giteau, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Steven Bates, 5 Cobus Grobler, 4 Gerrie Britz, 3 Al Baxter , 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Brock Harris

Howard Kahn XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Phillip Burger, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 George Smith, 6 Steven Bates, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Paul Tito, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 David Smith, 13 Tana Umaga, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Steven Bates, 5 Troy Flavell, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Previous selections:

Team of the Week - Round One: 15 Clinton Schifcofske (Reds), 14 Louis Ludik (Lions), 13 Marius Joubert (Cheetahs), 12 Matt Giteau (Western Force), 11 Anthony Tuitavake (Blues), 10 Julian Huxley (Brumbies), 9 Falie Oelschig (Cheetahs), 8 Steven Bates (Chiefs), 7 Josh Blackie (Highlanders), 6 Rocky Elsom (Waratahs), 5 Troy Flavell (Blues), 4 Greg Rawlinson (Blues), 3 CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 Ollie le Roux (Cheetahs)

Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Drew Mitchell (Western Force), 14 Hosea Gear (Hurricanes), 13 Tana Umaga (Hurricanes), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Roy Kinikinilau (Chiefs), 10 Butch James (Sharks), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 3 Campbell Johnstone (Crusaders), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

[frontrow]

Once again burgs, great thread....

[Sagerian]

Slow week for 13's and 7's....

[littleleck]

someone please explain to me how junior gets in that team?!

[Sagerian]

Apparently it was yellow cards are good weekend*.






*See George Smith

[Burgs]

...and Schalk (in the Marcus Leach XV!)
Junior only made it by a vote over the others but he really does nothing for me at #12.

[littleleck]

i think he is a very one dimensional player and offers very little as a second playmaker or as a crash-baller. don't ask me what position i think he should be playing..but it isn't inside centre for the force. we have several better. on in particular who was awarded with WF MVP last year...stuck out on the wing. (hint..the number on his back is higher than the number of possesions he's had this year)

[blindsid3]

12 - Junior Pelesasa (Western Force):
He had some good games for the Reds, but appeared to have faded from the scene. He had an ordinary season last year, but is now back to his best.

A broken ankle will keep you pretty quiet and give the impression you have faded if you have a short memory!

I rated Junior's game on the weekend...though it seems that plenty of others on here didn't. Im not the only one as the press talked him up as well.

For those that have short memories and wonder whether Junior is effective or not go back to the tape of the Cheetahs win last year - pretty sure he was involved in at least one try by stealing the ball and offloading to Spanner.

Junior has the capacity to read the play very well and doesn't waste effort if it's not required...and for those that claim he doesn't bash and crash well enough there is a level of finesse in him not apparent in other Force centres. He was in good form against the Bulls - I would like to see he and spanner back together in the centres as they wil complement each other nicely.

[Sagerian]

Kinda went missing from the scene for 10 minutes though for some reason. In my book that excludes anyone from being in a team of the week.

[Burgs]

For me it's the opposite blindy, I think he bashes and crashes too much!
He plays #12 like a #13 which is his best position.
My judgement of him is on the matches that he is fully fit.
Just to clarify too, the original post isn't my work

[blindsid3]

I have to agree on him at 13 tho - like him there much better than 12.

[pruc]

yeh... lyk gits. and hav the tahs playerr 5/8 forgot his name.

[blindsid3]

yeh... lyk gits. and hav the tahs playerr 5/8 forgot his name.

Translation anyone?

Is that Kurtley Beale to whom you refer?

Or Stirling Mortlock after Johansson hit him...forgetting his name, team and position...

[Ecky]

7 - George Smith (Brumbies):
He's George Smith, need we say more?
Bubbling under: Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions)

4 - Cobus Grobler (Lions):
Maybe it is just that blond mop that makes him stand out. However, he seems to be everywhere on the park and his skills are not too shabby either.
Bubbling under: Paul Tito (Hurricanes)

Are there two in the Lions with a frighteningly similar name? Or is he just a legend in two very different positions? I guess we'll find out on Saturday

[littleleck]

Well i think Cross should probably move to the wing and Junion to outside
I don't like the way cross still tends to move horizontaly if he is under pressure, and he still has all those league instincts (naturally). He pulled off a great trysaver on the weekend, but he lacks attacking options for #13. A pass from Cross this season is as common as a tackle from Curtly (which is how his name is officially spelt at the moment...he is in the process of a spelling change on his name via deed poll for those who are interested).