TOW: Hurricane warning, Rugby 365

After a weekend of blow-outs rugby365's famous Team of the Week has a few interesting selections.

Top of the pile is the Hurricanes, with four players in our starting XV - following their 45-8 demolition of the two-time defending champion Chiefs.

The Highlanders and Crusaders - who played in an epic encounter in Dunedin, won 32-30 by the Crusaders in the wake of a contentious disallowed try in the dying seconds - provide three players each.

Other winners like the Sharks (two), Bulls and Stormers (one each) also make contributions - while the Brumbies managed to sneak a player into our starting XV.

There is further reward for the Hurricanes in our back-up squad, where they have another three players - the same as the Bulls and Waratahs.

The Crusaders, Stormers and Sharks (two each) also get reward for their victories.
 
Four players return from last week - fullback Ben Smith (Highlanders), scrumhalf Aaron Smith (Highlanders),  prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes) and Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks).

Team of the Week - Round 15:

15 - Ben Smith (Highlanders):
If there was still questions about who is New Zealand's premier fullback, he answered those.
Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (Crusaders)

14 - Henry Speight (Brumbies):
Unlike most of his teammates, he actually got his team to go forward.
Bubbling under: Alofa Alofa (Waratahs)

13 - Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders):
Conrad Smith may be the preferred choice for the All Blacks, and with good reason, but this guy is not a bad back-up to have.
Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)

12 - Damian de Allende (Stormers):
There is a good reason why he is in the Springbok training squad.
Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)

11 - Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders):
Beginning to repay the big investment made in him.
Bubbling under: Julian Savea (Hurricanes)

10 - Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes):
Showed the value of a genuine flyhalf in the No.10 jersey, as opposed to a retreated fullback.
Bubbling under: Colin Slade (Crusaders)

9 - Aaron Smith (Highlanders):
Pure class!
Bubbling under: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

8 - Victor Vito (Hurricanes):
Tough call to make, but edged Duane Vermeulen based on his line-out work (won 13 on his own throw and stole two) - while they made the same number of tackles.
Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)

7 - Lubabalo Mtembu (Sharks):
Was a real terror to the Blues.
Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

6 - Jordan Taufua (Crusaders):
Maybe missed a few tackles, but he was a monster with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Jono Ross (Bulls)

5 - Victor Matfield (Bulls):
There is only one Big Vic!
Bubbling under: Stephan Lewies (Sharks)

4 - Dominic Bird (Crusaders):
Threw his considerable bulk around to great effect.
Bubbling under: Flip van der Merwe (Bulls)

3 - Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes):
Busy coming into his own as a player, especially with his workrate on defence.
Bubbling under: Pat Cilliers (Stormers)

2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
He was a colossus!
Bubbling under: Tatafu Polota Nau (Waratahs)

1 - Ben Franks (Hurricanes):
Finding form at the right time of the season.
Bubbling under: Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Hi Cloudy: big game for the Blues this weekend! I'm picking the Canes (sorry about that) but Blues will give it their best in their real home stadium. Both teams have explosive backs so we should get a great game!

Well wee ForeverArizona has decided to be angry about something/anything (even imagined slights).

Diagnosis: juvenile personality disorder (JPD). Let’s see if he is mature enough to ignore me.