Super 14 Team of the Week

Fairytale comebacks, match-winning intercepts, BMT and a Bull in a china shop - we've got it all in this addition of our Super 14 Team of the Week.

Following Saturday's Sydney spectacle, it's no surprise that the Waratahs top our selections with four players on show after Round Seven.

The Bulls were made to work hard in Perth, but aren't far behind the 'Tahs with three places while the Brumbies (two), Sharks (two), Reds (one), Hurricanes (one), Highlanders (one) and a Cheetah make up the rest.

15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders): Currently the hottest full-back on show in the tournament, Dagg quite literally can't put a foot wrong after booting 24 points from three conversions and six penalties in an immaculate kicking display for the Highlanders.

14 Lachie Turner (Waratahs): Good things come to those who wait, and that was certainly the case when Turner snatched a 90-metre intercept try nine minutes from full-time for the home side to claim a crucial bonus-point victory. Those sort of plays can change a season and it was a great effort by the Wallaby flyer.

13 Digby Ioane (Reds): On top and in charge, Ioane beats off the only challenge from Blues centre Rene Ranger following a dominant display in midfield against the Cheetahs. Ioane danced his way through would-be-Cheetah-defenders and also made some telling tackles throughout the game. His angled running off fly-half Quade Cooper also made a huge difference. The outside centre was rewarded for his efforts when he scored a try with only a minute of the match remaining.

12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies): Giteau kicked three conversions and three penalties to help steer the Brumbies to victory. Goal-kicking aside, the contribution of the Brumbies' fly-half cum centre as playmaker and tactician cannot be over-emphasised. That was probably the difference between the two sides where the Chiefs pack was in control but their finishing not good enough.

11 Julian Huxley (Brumbies): Some might argue Huxley's inclusion is simply a sympathy vote - well, they not half wrong. But who can complain leaving out a bloke who was told they'll never play rugby again because of a brain tumor? That was two years ago. Last weekend, Huxley defied the odds when coming on as an early replacement to mark a fairytale comeback with a gutsy win. In a word: inspirational.

10 Daniel Halangahu (Waratahs): Apart from Lachie Turner's match-turning intercept the Waratahs can thank fly-half Daniel Halangahu for their fourth straight win. Halangahu not only controlled the game, but also contributed 24 points from a try-scoring double, four conversions and two penalty goals. Who needs Berrick Barnes' boot when you got this guy?

9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks): Sometimes it is all about big match temperament and that was exactly what Pienaar showed - in bucket loads - as he stepped up to convert a 49m penalty in extra time to earn his side a magnificent win. Pienaar finished with 19 points from five penalties and two conversions - seven goals from eight attempts - to give the Sharks their second straight win after five losses.

8 Pierre Spies (Bulls): If there ever was a true force to be reckoned with on the ME Stadium pitch in Perth on Saturday - it was this man.

7 Victor Vito (Hurricanes): Vito's Sevens experience came to the fore against the Sharks and almost salvaged his team a draw had it not been for the last-minute boot of you know who...

6 Jacques Botes (Sharks): Botes was a regular in our XV of the Week last year, but has been missing in action over the last seven weeks. However, the openside flank was back at his brilliant best and the first on our list after a commanding performance played a big part in two of the Sharks' tries being scored.

5 Victor Matfield (Bulls): It was a tough choice between Matfield and opposite number Nathan Sharpe for this position who both excelled against one another in Perth. But ultimately it went down to the Bulls' fearless captain's leadership that kept his team unbeaten in 2010, and Sharpe out of this week's selection!

4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs): The only unanimous vote this week - no surprise really as Mumm continues to impress for the Waratahs. Got the ball rolling with an opening try, was denied another but was responsible for the second. His midfield break with the clock ticking down also brought on a crucial penalty for the Waratahs that extended the side's lead to seven points.

3 WP Nel (Cheetahs): Solid scrumming, fierce mauling and outstanding mobility around the park for a front rower - Nel was the shining light in a rather dim Cheetahs pack.

2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs): Another powerful performance from the Waratahs hooker who was also close to getting an unanimous vote if it weren't for a Bismarck du Plessis fan in our midst. Polota-Nau, who sprinted 20 metres and ploughed over the top of Rudi Wulf to score the Waratahs' fourth and vital try, must now be a shoe-in for the Wallabies number two jersey.

1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls): It's not every match when you hear Australian commentators screaming the name of a player besides their own every time they touch the ball. The Bok prop was a firm favourite with the man holding the microphone in Perth, as he bull-dozed his way past defender after defender like a Bull in a china shop!

Previous selections:

Round One: 15 James O'Connor (Force), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Tanerau Latimer (Chiefs), 6 Deon Stegmann (Bulls), 5 Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), 1 Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls).

Round Two: 15 Paul Williams (Blues), 14 Tamati Ellison (Hurricanes), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

Round Three: 15 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 14 Leila Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Luke Burgess (Waratahs), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 De Kock Steenkamp (Stormers), 3 Laurie Weeks (Reds), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Round Four: 15 Luke Morahan (Reds), 14 David Smith (Hurricanes), 13 Robert Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Daniel Braid (Reds), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Nico Breedt (Cheetahs), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Five: 15 Isreal Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Six: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Michael Paterson (Hurricanes), 3 Brok Harris (Stormers), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 John Smit (Sharks).

Compiled by Dave Morris