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Team of the Week: It is All Black; Rugby 365

Started by Just_win4 REPLIES107 VIEWS· 24 Jun 2014, 09:02
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JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
24 Jun 2014, 09:02
#1
24 Jun 2014, 09:02#1

New Zealand, who again showed why they are the No.1 team in the world, dominate rugby365's famous weekly selection.

Not only do they provide more than half of the members of our starting XV, but there are another five All Blacks in our back-up squad.

That is the result of their emphatic demolition of England at the weekend.

The other team well represented this week is Australia, who have four players in our frontline selection.

Wales (two) and South Africa (one) make up the numbers in our starting XV.

Apart from New Zealand's five players in our back-up squad, England and Australia (three each) are next best in the 'bubbling under' department.

Wales and South Africa (two each) make up the numbers.

Only two players return from last week - flank Michael Hooper (Australia) and lock Brodie Retallick (New Zealand).

Teams of the Week - June, Round Three:

15 - Ben Smith (New Zealand):
He may have missed a few tackles, but was potent with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (South Africa)

14 - Cory Jane (New Zealand):
His best performance of the year, by some distance.
Bubbling under: Alex Cuthbert (Wales)

13 - Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand):
Could make it tough for Conrad Smith to get back in if he continues to produce performances like these.
Bubbling under: Jonathan Davies (Wales)

12 - Jamie Roberts (Wales):
The veteran taught his young opponent a few lessons.
Bubbling under: Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)

11 - Julian Savea (New Zealand):
It was not just his hat-trick, he made the England defenders grasp thin air on numerous  occasions.
Bubbling under: Marland Yarde (England)

10 - Bernard Foley (Australia):
Beginning to make the No.10 jersey his own.
Bubbling under: Freddie Burns (England)

9 - Aaron Smith (New Zealand):
Created more than just a few problems for the English.
Bubbling under: Ben Youngs (England)

8 - Taulupe Faletau (Wales):
Maybe he didn't make as many metres as some others, but 18 tackles - without missing one - says all about the value he brought to his team.
Bubbling under: Wycliff Palu (Australia)

7 - Michael Hooper (Australia):
Simply the best No.7 around.
Bubbling under: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

6 - Francois Louw (South Africa):
His impact on the ground and with ball in hand may have been limited, but on defence he was flawless.
Bubbling under: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)

5 - Will Skelton (Australia):
The find of the international season, living up to the promise he showed in Super Rugby.
Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

4 - Brodie Retallick (New Zealand):
The best enforcer around.
Bubbling under: Rob Simmons (Australia)

3 - Owen Franks (New Zealand):
Powerful scrumming, good carries and flawless on defence.
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (South Africa)

2 - Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia):
Still the most reckless, but at the same time effective, defender.
Bubbling under: Dane Coles (New Zealand)

1 - Tony Woodcock (New Zealand):
Probably his best game at Test level in years.
Bubbling under: James Slipper (Australia)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony 

JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
24 Jun 2014, 09:08
#2
24 Jun 2014, 09:08#2
 ABs dominant in this assessment. Good to see two of the three front row picks are ABs. Retallick at lock - just for you CleverMike, lol  Big call/ stretch to say Fekitoa may keep C. Smith out but great the ABs have two different options/styles at 13.
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
24 Jun 2014, 09:15
#3
24 Jun 2014, 09:15#3
 Yeah I know a few SA bloggers on this site well disagree with that, but if they are smart they cannot possibly think any of their old timers can make team of the week lol. To me NZ look the better of SA or OZ, I think NZ won't be troubled at all this year based on results. OZ don't impress me, they only look good with good set piece's, and upfront ball. Up againgst better packs like NZ and SA, they well get buried haha.
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
24 Jun 2014, 15:28
#4
24 Jun 2014, 15:28#4
And some idiot had Matfield in the TOW - what a joke......not only were Whitelock and co better, add Lawes of England to that list  
AB
ABasquefanPro2,549 posts
24 Jun 2014, 20:11
#5
24 Jun 2014, 20:11#5
 At last someone who recognize it:

1 - Tony Woodcock (New Zealand):
Probably his best game at Test level in years.

He was inmense, the best game I've seen to a prop in a while. And no one was recognizing, in Planet Rugby, eg, they include Gethin Jenkins in their TOW. And, OK, he had a very good game at scrums and breakdowns but Woodcock's performance was a masterclass
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