We have done it before and maybe we should pick a panel of Bloggers and pick our own team of the week.

rugby365

Here is how their panel picked their team of the week:

It is early days yet, but our weekly selection is dominated, mostly, by members of the winning teams from Round One of the new Super Rugby season.

We have a big spread – with nine different teams represented.

The Bulls top the list with three members in our starting XV and another three bubbling under. The Blues, Stormers, Lions and Waratahs have two each, in the starting XV, with the Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders making up the numbers.

In the Bubbling Under selection the Crusaders (four), Highlanders (three), Blues (two), Reds (two) and Sharks (one) join the Bulls in our squad.

Team of the Week – Round One:

15 – Isaia Toeava (Blues):
Toeava, who has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from inside centre to fullback, laid down an early marker for a starting spot in the All Blacks team.
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)

14 – Lelia Masaga (Chiefs):
Masaga, nicknamed the Flash, showed that he is so much more that just a player with pace. Yes, he does have great flair and speed, but he is also very powerful and reads the game well.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)

13 – Robbie Fruean (Crusaders):
The physically dominant midfielder, who earlier in his young career overcome open-heart surgery to repair a condition known as pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart, showed that he can challenge for an All Blacks spot this year.
Bubbling under: Tamati Ellison (Highlanders)

12 – Tim Bateman (Hurricanes):
Opposed by the Springbok veteran Jean de Villiers, the swift attacking midfielder started repaying the Hurricanes for the faith they showed in him by luring the former Crusaders and New Zealand Maori representative back to NZ.
Bubbling under: Tim Whitehead (Sharks)

11 – Gio Aplon (Stormers):
The hot-stepping utility back again showed his finishing abilities, although it is his often underrated work-rate and defence that makes him such a valuable asset.
Bubbling under: Rudi Wulf (Blues)

10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions):
He won the first round in the battle of the prodigies, when he not only out-kicked Johan Goosen, but he again showed his tactical acumen in the latter stages of the match – when it mattered most.
Bubbling under: Mike Harris (Reds)

9 – Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs):
The Waratahs have been raving about him throughout the pre-season and he again showed at the weekend why. The South African import, the top try-scorer in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, may well be on new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s scrumhalf shortlist later in the year.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Bulls)

8 – Jerome Kaino (Blues):
No.8 may not be his preferred position, and many feel he is less effective there (than as a blindside flank), but the immensely powerful All Blacks loose forward again showed the form that made him New Zealand’s Player of the Year in 2011.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)

7 – Derick Minnie (Lions):
He may have been penalised on a couple of occasions, but like any true openside flank he plays to the absolute limit… and then some. The clincher were those turnovers late in the game that swung the momentum for his team.
Bubbling under: Daniel Braid (Blues)

6 – Adam Thomson (Highlanders):
Not only did he throw his body at everything on the park, but his work in the line-outs were invaluable and a crucial factor late in the game.
Bubbling under: Deon Stegmann (Bulls)

5 – Juandré Kruger (Bulls):
Bulls fans will sleep a lot easier knowing they have a new aerial king. His play at restarts and in the line-outs were complimented by some sublime skills in general play.
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
This young man has Springbok written all over him. He may not be the finished product yet, but he has the potential – both in terms of his aggression, skill and maturity.
Bubbling under: Tom Donnelly (Crusaders)

3 – Werner Kruger (Bulls):
He showed that his selection for the national team last year may not have been such a fluke as some critics would like to believe. He still has some work to do, especially in the scrums, but he was a monster with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Ben Franks (Crusaders)

2 – Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls):
He won round one against his main rival for the starting spot as hooker in the Springbok team.
Bubbling under: Jason Rutledge (Highlanders)

1 – Benn Robinson (Waratahs):
His scrumming power was again evident, albeit against a rickety Reds front row. But with him back (after missing the 2011 RWC due to injury), the Wallabies’ scrum will be a lot more sound this year.
Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)

Our individual selections:

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Benn Robinson.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 David Pocock, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1  Benn Robinson.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Benn Robinson.