Team of the Week: Eye of the Storm; Rugby 365

Round 15 of Super Rugby saw all the fixtures won by the teams who had a superior log-standing position. For many, the games were must wins as the play-of stages creep ever closer.  The Stormers all but clinched a play-off spot, but they did clinch places in Rugby365's famous Team of the Week. The weekend kicked off with the Chiefs hosting the Bulls, and a dominant display from the Chiefs earns them a couple of places in the team. The Saturday was packed with five games, and in New Zealand, The table-topping Hurricanes fought-off a desperate Blues side in a rainy Auckland. Jeremy Thrush continued his high work-rate and kept his place for the third week running.  Australia hosted two games, with the Tahs holding on to a victory despite a late surge from the Crusaders at the death. The 120kg Fijian wing busted his way into the team. The snorefest in Perth saw no-one being selected. The South African Conference provided an abundance of action as the Lions blew past the Cheetahs in the Bloemfontein cat-fight, and the Stormers put a dominant performance in against the Rebels, earning Dillyn Leyds a debut in the Team of the Week. Team of the Week: Super Rugby, Round 15: 15 - Israel Folau (Waratahs): In the repeat of last years final, Folau played an instrumental part in steering the Tahs to victory by gaining 70 metres with 12 runs and two try assists.Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)   14 -Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs): The bulldozing runner scored a double and showed Australia what they missed out on by not selecting him.Bubbling under: Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes)   13 - Lionel Mapoe (Lions): Mapoe was electrifying against the Cheetahs slicing holes in their defence. He made four clean line breaks and topped it off with a try.Bubbling under: Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)  12 - Damian de Allende (Stormers): The Stormers midfielder stuck his hand up for a Bok jersey with a superb performance. He was a monster on defence making the most tackles in the whole game, and scored the opening try. Bubbling under: Samu Kerevi (Reds) 11 - Dillyn Leyds (Stormers): The speedster was elusive scoring two tries, with one of them coming for an old classic right-hand blind as he swerved past defenders. He fielded the ball well at the back and was awesome in kick-chases. Bubbling under: Julian Savea (Hurricanes)  10 - Damian McKenzie (Chiefs): The youngster was not so hot from the tee, but other than that he delivered a well balanced performance at flyhalf. He was elusive, threw some magic off-loads, ran 149 metres and notched up a try-assist. Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)  9 - Augustine Pulu (Chiefs): The Chiefs get the No.9/No.10 combo and Pulu was everywhere on the park. He made four clean breaks and topped his man-of-the-match performance off with a double try in the game.Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)  8 - Warren Whitely (Lions): Once again the Lions superstar gets the nod at No.8. He put in 16 tackles, slipping just one and led the Lions to a bonus point victory.Bubbling under: Akira Ioane (Blues)  7 - Ardie Savea (Hurricanes): The younger Savea is starting to feature regularly in this team. On a cold and rainy night in Auckland, the flank pt in a bruising performance doing lots of dog-work.Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)  6 - Liam Messam (Chiefs): Messam is making a case for the All Black No.6 jersey as he continues to deliver all-round performances, high work-rates, and awesome support play. He truly is something special.Bubbling under: Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)  5 - Victor Matfield (Bulls): Despite the Matfield haters, he is actually in great form. He made 15 tackles, won five line-outs, and was by far the most productive No.5 of the weekend.  Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)  4 - Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes): The 'Canes hard-man is in the team for the third week in a row. He again put an enforcing performance in, plus winning seven line-outs. It was a unanimous vote from the panel.bubbling under: Alex Ainely (Highlanders)  3 - Frans Malherbe (Stormers): Malherbe is selected for his powerful scrumming that crushed the Rebels pack. Bubbling under: Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)   2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks): Du Plessis found some of his old form against the Reds, as he basically played as a third loose forward making steals on the turf all day that helped the Sharks to victory. He was prominent on the park and had a monster game.Bubbling under: Dane Coles (Hurricanes)  1 - Steven Kitshoff (Stormers): Kitshoff is coming in as a combo with Malherbe. The two of them together helped the Stormers score nine points from scrum penalties.Bubbling under: Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders) Our individual selections! Andrew Duncan XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jeremy Thrush,  3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Warren Fortune XV: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Augustine Pulu,  8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Dave Dennis,  4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff  Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Tauriq Ibrahim XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Dave Dennis, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

 I see Warren, Akira and Duane got 2 votes each.

 I thought Victor was the player of the round....

 5 - Victor Matfield (Bulls): Despite the Matfield haters, he is actually in great form. He made 15 tackles, won five line-outs, and was by far the most productive No.5 of the weekend.  Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
I agree Moolaa, wee Matfield has been much maligned by the mad hatter brigade