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Now that the dust has settled on five months of competition, we highlight the players that stood out from the crowd in 2011.
15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) The 'Tahs 22-year-old backdoor man was a relatively easy pick after remarkable season. Crusaders full-back Israel Dagg was the only other serious contender. What a shame he got injured when he did.
14 Kade Poki (Highlanders) The first of a few tough calls as the Highlanders' flyer ended on a dead heat with Lelia Masaga. But we gave Poki the nod for his part in the Highlanders' outstanding early season charge. Honourable mentions must also go to Sean Maitland, Rod Davies, Rene Ranger, Henry Speight and JP Pietersen.
13 Robbie Freuan (Crusaders) Graham Henry doesn't reckon he's good enough for the All Blacks (at least not yet) but Freuan has been a constant figure in our selections since early March. Some say Sonny Bill Williams makes him look better than he really is...time will tell if he's the real deal. The Stormers' Jaques Fourie was next best.
12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders) A clear winner here. SBW has set a new benchmark for what is possible on attack, leading the offload stats by quite some distance. The All Blacks are spoilt for choice at 12 because Ma'a Nonu had a strong finish to the season and Luke McAlister also got regular mentions.
11 Digby Ioane (Reds) Ok, ok, we'll admit that Queensland's newest breakdancing sensation was picked as a centre in Round Seven. Zac Guildford and Drew Mitchell both made the weekly selection three times but the latter didn't finish the season and neither can boast Ioane's versatility nor his way-cool dance moves...so we bent the rules a little. Go on Digby, get down with your bad self.
10 Dan Carter (Crusaders) As we expected at the start of the year, this was a close run thing and Quade Cooper can justifiably feel a little unlucky since he was the tournament's top points scorer. But when Cooperman went head-to-head with DC in Round Fifteen, he came off second best, which ultimately tipped the count in the Crusaders pivot's favour. All hail king Carter.
9 Will Genia (Reds) We don't expect too many arguments here, especially after that try in the final. Charl McLeod and try-machine Sarel Pretorious deserve a mention.
8 Kieran Read (Crusaders) Another clear choice from the losing finalists. Read revelled in the responsibility of leading the travelling Crusaders for much of the season in the absence of Richie McCaw. Quite possibly the best 8 in the world at the moment.
7 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs) Eh? What about Matt Todd? Every team deserves a surprise package. Johnson got the nod at 7 for three consecutive weeks between Rounds Thirteen and Fifteen and once at number eight in Round Two. Johnson scored four tries for the Cheetahs, including one in their upset win over the Crusaders (when Todd was on the bench).
6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds) Our Man of the Match in the final, Higginbotham was a key element in the Reds' winning formula. A mention must also go to Highlanders captain Adam Thomson, who scored six tries, the most for any forward in the competition.
5 Victor Matfield (Bulls) So much is expected of Matfield that when his name isn't in lights every weekend the naysayers immediately claim he's past it. But over the course of the season his name cropped up enough to remind us all of his class. Andries Bekker wasn't far behind but went missing in the Stormers' biggest game of the year.
4 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force) Yes, we know Sharpe was wearing a '5' on his back for most of the season but he was the standout second rower of the tournament and can't be left out. Workhorse Brad Thorn kept on grafting in the trenches while Rynhardt Elstadt was one of finds of the season.
3 John Afoa (Blues) A dead heat with WP Nel (Cheetahs) and Owen Franks (Crusaders) but we'll go with Afoa, who produced arguably his best season for the Blues - his last before heading to Ulster.
2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks) The Sharks charger finished level with Keven Mealamu thanks partly to the Blues playing two extra games and the Du Plessis-Smit situation at the Sharks.
1 Wyatt Crocket (Crusaders) Crocket's game has come on in leaps and bounds all around the field this year but his scrummaging has been phenomenal. The Crusaders' demolition of the Stormers' set-piece in Cape Town will go down as one of the highlights of the season. A mention too for the Highlanders' Jamie Mackintosh.
Team of Round One: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), 13 Rob Horne (Waratahs), 12 Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 James O'Connor (Force), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Lions), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
Team of Round Two: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Rob Horne (Waratahs), 12 Julian Huxley (Rebels), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Danny Cipriani (Rebels), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), 7 Josh Strauss (Lions), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).
Team of Round Three: 15 Pat McCabe (Brumbies), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Shaun Treeby (Highlanders), 11 Kade Poki (Highlanders), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders), 4 Isaac Ross (Chiefs), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Wyatt Crocket (Crusaders).
Team of Round Four: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Sean Maitland (Crusaders), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 10 James O'Connor (Western Force), 9 Andy Ellis (Crusaders), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Willem Alberts (Sharks), 6 Richard Brown (Western Force), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Sam Wykes (Western Force), 3 CJ van der Linde (Stormers), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 John Schwalger (Hurricanes).
Team of Round Five: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rene Ranger (Blues), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 10 Peter Grant (Stormers), 9 Alby Mathewson (Blues), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Ben Daley (Reds).
Team of Round Six: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Rod Davies (Reds), 13 Jaques Fourie (Stormers), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Nick Phipps (Rebels), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Beau Robinson (Reds), 6 Willem Alberts (Sharks), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Alister Campbell (Rebels), 3 Greg Somerville (Rebels), 2 Deon Fourie (Stormers), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).
Team of Round Seven: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues),14 Kade Poki (Highlanders), 13 Digby Ioane (Reds), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Luke Morahan (Reds), 10 Danny Cipriani (Rebels), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Gareth Delve (Rebels), 7 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 6 Jack Lam (Hurricanes), 5 Hugh Pyle (Rebels), 4 Sam Wykes (Western Force), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).
Team of Round Eight: 15 Ben Smith (Highlanders, 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds, 9 Luke Burgess (Waratahs), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Chris Jack (Crusaders), 4 James Horwill (Reds), 3 Ben Franks (Crusaders), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).
Team of Round Nine: 15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Kade Poki (Highlanders), 13 Jared Payne (Blues), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 11 Bjorn Basson (Bulls), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7 Matt Todd (Crusaders), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Force), 4 Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Ben Franks (Crusaders).
Team of Round Ten: 15 Mils Muliaina (Chiefs), 14 James Paterson (Highlanders), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 James O'Connor (Force), 11 Rene Ranger (Blues), 10 Tony Brown (Highlanders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ben McCalman (Force), 7 Scott Waldrom (Chiefs), 6 Jarrad Hoeata (Highlanders), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Hugh Pyle (Rebels), 3 Chris King (Highlanders), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of Round Eleven: 15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders), 14 Luke Morahan (Reds), 13 Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 David Pocock (Force), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers), 3 Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), 2 Corey Flynn (Crusaders), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs).
Team of Round Twelve: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Cheetahs), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Sias Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 David Pocock (Force), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Chris Jack (Crusaders), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).
Team of Round Thirteen: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 14 Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Digby Ioane (Reds), 10 Sias Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Joshua Strauss (Lions), 7 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 4 Wikus van Heerden (Lions), 3 Ben Afeaki (Chiefs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).
Team of Round Fourteen: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Henry Speight (Brumbies), 13 Johann Sadie (Stormers), 12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers), 11 Sosene Anesi (Waratahs), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Sam Wykes (Force), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs).
Team of Round Fifteen: 15 Cameron Shepherd (Western Force), 14 JP Pietersen (Sharks), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Bjorn Basson (Bulls), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Josh Strauss (Lions), 7 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Force), 4 Wikus van Heerden (Lions), 3 Werner Kruger (Bulls), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 John Schwalger (Hurricanes).
Team of Round Sixteen: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 Riaan Viljoen (Cheetahs), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 David Smith (Force), 10 James Stannard (Force), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Chris Alcock (Waratahs), 6 Liam Messam (Chiefs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Nathan Sharpe (Force), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Dean Greyling (Bulls).
Team of Round Seventeen:15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 JP Pietersen (Sharks), 13 Tom Carter (Waratahs), 12 Pat McCabe (Brumbies), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Patrick Lambie (Sharks), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Dean Greyling (Bulls).
Team of Round Eighteen: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), 14 David Smith (Force), 13 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers), 11 Ryno Benjamin (Cheetahs), 10 Frederic Michalak (Sharks), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Liam Gill (Reds), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Ali Williams (Blues), 4 Gerhard Mostert (Sharks), 3 Greg Somerville (Rebels), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Ben Daley (Reds).
Team of the Play-Offs: 15 Tom Marshall (Crusaders), 14 Sean Maitland (Crusaders), 13 Ryan Cross (Waratahs), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Lachie Munro (Blues), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Luke Braid (Blues), 6 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 5 Ali Williams (Blues), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).
Team of the semi-finals:15 Tom Marshall (Crusaders), 14 Rod Davies (Reds), 13 Robbie Freuan (Crusaders), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (Crusaders), 11 Digby Ioane (Reds), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds),9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Luke Braid (Blues), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4 Chris Lowrey (Blues), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Corey Flynn (Crusaders), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_7031031,00.html
