Rugby365 team of the week

 Team of the Week - Round 14:

15 - Riaan Viljoen (Sharks):
Bubbling under: Jesse Mogg (Brumbies)

14 - Peter Betham (Waratahs):
Bubbling under: Rod Davies (Reds)

13 - JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls):
Bubbling under: Rene Ranger (Blues)

12 - Jan Serfontein (Bulls):
Bubbling under: Berrick Barnes (Waratahs)

11 - Digby Ioane (Reds):
Bubbling under: Drew Mitchell (Waratahs)

10 - Dan Carter (Crusaders):
Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

9 - Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs):
Bubbling under: Andy Ellis (Crusaders)

8 - Kieran read (Crusaders):
Bubbling under: Matt Vant Leven (Chiefs)

7 - Pieter Labuschagné (Cheetahs):
Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

6 - Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
Bubbling under: Marcel Coetzee (Sharks)

5 - Sam Whitelock (Crusaders):
Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)

4 - Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)

3 - Ben Afeaki (Chiefs):
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (Crusaders)

2 - Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs):
Bubbling under: Kyle Cooper (Sharks)

1 - JC Janse van Rensburg (Sharks):
Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)

The only bullshit selection is JC Janse v Rensburg at 1.......the likes of Coenie, Kitshoff and Mellett amongst the SA'ns were better. 

Saffex

In agreement with you about Van Rensburg - but the one questionable selection was Whitelock ahead of Bekker and as for Retallick - he really is useles as a lie-out jumper - so bubling under is a compliment he does not deserve. 

How many of these teams has Strauss made....the guy is playing fabulous rugby.

Kyle Godwin really unlucky in my mind not to make the team. Had a great game, scored a trt - some crashballing, but he was also beating defenders left and right.

Serfontein had a good game, but I think he is being used far too much as a battering ram by the Bulls and not sure yet that he can hold up to it as the effects showed on Saturday. Came out 58th minute or so limping. He is a resource that needs to be looked after - on the national level stick him at 13 outside JDV as his understudy. 

JJ has winger speed - would like to see what he could do out there. Only question mark for me is how he is under the high ball.

Guess who were the SA Flyhalf top player of the week?   Watts of the Cheetahs.

jan serfontein missed way too many tackle to be even considered fo team of the week, kyle godwin was hands down the best 12 of the week.

rugby365 needs to learn to put the players in the appropriate spot, cos hooper might have been wearing number 7, but hes an openside flanker, only in SA is the No7 not an openside, so he should compared with the likes of coetzee and brussow where i would have picked him ahead of those two.

sam whitelock was good, but bekker was better.

i would put ben smith as the fullback of the week  and i would also put mogg ahead of viljoen, but all three had massive games for their teams.

Saff - agree with all three of your points but the Bulls aren't playing in the Tests, its the Boks - completely different set of available personnel and its about finding a place for him to develop.

JDV will be at either 12 or 13, most likely 12 - its an undisputable fact that he's in the side this year. Meyer has already committed to him as captain, he's been in good form and you don't just throw that experience away especially when you have young centers like Serfontein, JJ and even Ebersohn that he can mentor. Serfontein will more than likely be at 13 so in order to get JJ on the field as a starter with his burgeoning talent it would be prudent to work him in on the wing where he can gain test experience and you are able to use his talent. Habana is not getting any younger, JP this year is partially committed to Japan during the test windows (I say don't select him and tell him he needs to choose his allegiance) so there is a need at wing. Basson / Rhule are lightweights. Mvovo is still inconsistent. The transition from 13 to wing and back is not hard - probably the easiest of any positions on the field.

So you get the best of both worlds - JJ gets game time, but you keep the experience and stability of JDV which they would benefit from. To my mind thats the best approach instead of just throwing them in the deep end. Test rugby is a whole different kettle of fish and they need to be eased into it. 

I can see Serfontein and JJ platooning at 13 as well, but it would be good to have them both on the field at the same time.

Oimatey, I hear you - but I would only be happy with that if JJ was moved to 13 in the second half, with Serfontein moving to 12.

Personally, I would select Serfontein at 12 and JJ at 13 to start, simply because they are the best in those respective positions.

Jean has had some good games, but none of it has been better than Serfontein. I just think the Boks need to move on in a big way and a creative centre pair is vital to that cause.