Team of the Week: Shades of blue; by Rugby 365

Teams playing, predominantly, in blue headlines rugby365's famous weekly Super Rugby selection.

There is the Blues, who put more than 40 points past the Reds, and they sneak into 'first place' with three players in our starting XV.

The Bulls, who ended a month-long drought against the Cheetahs, and the Waratahs (following their win over the Hurricanes) are next best with two players each.


The Crusaders and Cheetahs also have two each starting, while the Highlanders, Chiefs, Lions and Brumbies (one each) make up the numbers.

There is more reward for the Bulls (three) and Blues (two) in our back-up squad, with the Stormers (three) and Hurricanes (two) also well represented.

The Chiefs, Highlanders, Lions, Crusaders and Brumbies make up the numbers.

Three players return from last week - centre Ma'a Nonu (Blues), wing Willie le Roux (Cheetahs) and flank Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs).

Team of the Week - Round 12:

15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders):
He was devastating on attack and even though he slipped a couple of tackles, was still rated tops by our panel.
Bubbling under: Charles Piutau (Blues)

14 - Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders):
New Zealand have an embarrassment of riches on the wing and McNicholl is right up there with the best.
Bubbling under: Damian de Allende (Stormers)

13 - Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs):
His break that set up the first try set the tone for a very exciting match.
Bubbling under: Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)

12 - Ma'a Nonu (Blues):
The devastation he causes creates so many opportunities for those around him.
Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)

11 - Willie le Roux (Cheetahs):
He popped up everywhere, from scrumhalf to fullback.
Bubbling under: Lolagi Visinia (Blues)

10 - Colin Slade (Crusaders):
Now injury free he is putting up his hand up once more for the All Black No.10 jersey.
Bubbling under: Handré Pollard (Bulls)

9 - Bryn Hall (Blues):
He said at the start of the season he was going to use his opportunities and he has grabbed them with both hands.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

8 - Liam Messam (Chiefs):
The Chiefs will only realise his true value once he is no longer there.
Bubbling under: Warren Whiteley (Lions)

7 - Michael Hooper (Waratahs):
Carries, beating defenders, making yards, making tackles (the highest count in the match) and also winning line-outs. Sounds like the perfect flank.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)

6 - Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
Week-after-week he produces the most amazing statistic, but this past weekend it was his workrate on defence that most impressed.
Bubbling under: Nizaam Carr (Stormers)

5 - Franco Mostert (Lions):
One of the finds of the season and he can play at both No.5 and No.4
Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)

4 - Paul Willemse (Bulls):
Bright future awaits for this young players if he keeps working hard.
Bubbling under: Scott Fardy (Brumbies)

3 - Marcell van der Merwe (Bulls):
He got his team the go-forward momentum they needed in the second half.
Bubbling under: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes)

2 - Stephen Moore (Brumbies):
His team may have lost, but his work with ball in hand and on defence was immense.
Bubbling under: Dane Coles (Hurricanes)

1 - Tony Woodcock (Blues):
There's some life left in the veteran.
Bubbling under: Dean Greyling (Bulls)
 
Our individual selections!
 
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Willie le Roux, 10  Beauden Barrett, 9 Nic White, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Kobus van Wyk,  10 Colin Slade,  9 Aaron Smith, 8 Warren Whiteley,  7 Brendan O'Connor,  6 Nizaam Carr,  5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frans Malherbe,  2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock,

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Lolagi Visinia, 10  Handré Pollard, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Dean Greyling.

Now that the dust has settled over in the southern hemisphere, we thought it was only right to hand out some praise to the stars of Super Rugby, Round 12.

Super Rugby Team of the Week: Round 12

15 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs): Given free reign at full-back against the Lions, Nanai-Williams excelled. Popping up at first receiver and constantly fixing defenders to the spot, his try - the Chiefs' sixth - was just reward at the death for a fine all-round performance.  Mentions for Ben Smith and Charles Piutau.

14 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders): There were a handful of candidates for the wing berths and Damian de Allende deserves a mention for another strong game for the Stormers. But McNicholl gets the nod for his effort that involved a try, five defenders beaten and ten tackles made.

13 Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders): His remarkable rise continues and even though his side lost to the Stormers in Cape Town, the 21-year-old made a big impact, gaining 70 metres and scored a try in the process. Kept the defence busy which is no mean feat considering he was playing against the home side's Springbok midfield pairing of Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh.

12 Ma'a Nonu (Blues): After coping a lot of flack earlier in the season, the All Black midfielder was in scintillating form against the Reds and returns to our team for the second straight week after creating two tries and playing a key role in setting up a third. Mentions too for Ryan Crotty and Tom Marshall.

11 Lolagi Visinia (Blues): The Blues youngster continues to impress and proved a handful for the Reds in his side's victory in Auckland. Visinia crossed over for a deserved try and gained 118 metres with two defenders beaten and four offloads. Also did his bit on defence with a handful of tackles. 

10 Bernard Foley (Waratahs): An underrated prospect in Australia, Foley is in good form and deserving of further international recognition. His game management has improved and the inside ball for Matt Carraro's try was a gem. Foley also bagged a try and finished with 19 points. A mention too for Colin Slade who kicked excellently against the Brumbies. 

9 Aaron Smith (Highlanders): Another polished display from the All Black, who always looked dangerous on attack in Cape Town. Smith was rewarded with a superb individual try for his efforts but also turned provider for Ben Smith with a perfectly-placed grubber kick. 

8 Jerome Kaino (Blues): Kaino is the Blues' everyman - dependable at the line-out, a fine carrier and rock solid in defence. Settling back into Super Rugby hasn't been too much of a struggle for the World Cup winner, who shone again in the rout of the Reds. Warren Whiteley deserves a nod for his work too.

7 Michael Hooper (Waratahs): World class. That's what Hooper truly is; a rock in defence and terror at the breakdown, but also a supreme athlete. 17 tackles, four defenders beaten and 54 metres made capped a good evening for the Wallaby.

6 Schalk Burger (Stormers): Selected almost for that one moment of audacious skill alone that lead to Frans Malherbe's try. Rising to the occasion on his first appearance at Newlands since 2012, Burger tore around the park before departing to rapturous applause from the Cape Town faithful. A key man playing a key role in only the Stormers' third win of the season. A mention for another warhorse in  Richie McCaw, who made an impressive 20 tackles.

5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders): The All Black was once again dominant at the line-outs for the seven-time champions in their win over the Brumbies. Was also a willing ball-carrier and did well on defence with seven tackles. Beats out Victor Matfield who impressed in the Bulls' win over the Cheetahs.

4 Will Skelton (Waratahs): The Sydneysiders' enforcer got through plenty of work in the tight exchanges, especially in the way he cleaned out the rucks which helped create a decent platform for his half-backs to launch attacks.  Also caught the eye with ball in hand, gaining 35 metres with three defenders beaten and a try assist.

3 Frans Malherbe (Stormers): It's not often that a front-row scores two tries but Malherbe had a dose of white line fever against the Highlanders in Cape Town and accomplished the feat as early as the 28th minute. But apart from his tries the Springbok also scrummed well and gained 28 metres on attack. A mention for Jeffrey Tommaga-Allen whose try was excellent against the Waratahs.

2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies): Although his side came off second-best against the Crusaders in Christchurch, Moore was one of the best players on the park. Scored a deserved try and gained 77 metres on attack but also impressed at the coalface of the Brumbies' forward effort. Was also a menace on defence with seven tackles.                                                          

1 Paulasi Manu (Chiefs): The big man got on the scoreboard in Hamilton for the champions as part of a new front row alongside Nathan Harris and Josh Hohneck that worked well. He should thank Hohneck for the extra weight behind him as he rumbled over. A handful of tackles to boot.