With the Hurricanes starting to show a little form, I expect the Form XV to start changing a little in the coming weeks, but this week still stacked full of Crusaders and Blues players, and fair enough, both teams unbeaten and playing really really good rugby!!

So, on with the show, Form XV week 3 - last weeks form players in brackets

15:  Leon MacDonald (Crusaders) - (MacDonald).
Best by a long way of the Kiwis at the moment, safe on defence, and dangerous on attack.  No Mils at fullback helps too!!

14:  Joe Rokocoko (Blues) - (Rokocoko).
Three tires this week against the Cheetahs, back to his lethal finishing best.  In 'All Black' form actually, which must bode well for the future, hopefully, as he is usually crap during the Super season, before turning it on for the internationals!  So if he hits the internationals in form, look out world!

13:  Isaia Toeava (Blues) - (Toeava).
Two tries for Toeava as he once again excelled at centre.  Getting lots of game time in the same spot each week making the youngster a better player.  Dropped once pass that would have scored a try, but other than that, good hands this match from Mr Gumboots.

12:  Benson Stanley (Blues) - (Brett, Crusaders).
Stanley ran the show for the Blues this week, nice cut out passes, nice close passes, running well, linking.  Looks like an All Black to me.

11:  Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes) - (Tuitavake, Blues).
Lethal when he is in form, and demands inclusion.   He is in form, so included!

10:  Dan Carter (Crusaders) - (Evans, Blues).
Ran the show for the Crusaders in their hard fought win over the Stormers.  Is looking good for the game time he is getting.  Should be set up nicely come the international season.  Directing play well again, starting to look like the players that we all know he is.  So perhaps last seasons R&R was a bit over the top, a bit more game time for the All Black would have been good...

9:  Andy Ellis (Crusaders) - (Lee, Blues).
Class play from the little Cantab.  Like Lee for the Blues, loving the ride he is getting behind his forward pack.  Jimmy Cowan playing well at the moment too, and worthy of a mention.  I expect he would be filling this form XV spot on a regular basis if he was in the Blues or the Crusaders at the moment too, instead of playing for the battling Clan.

8:  Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders) - (Williams, Blues).
The big man has turned into a workaholic on both attack and defence, which is exactly what you want from your number eight!!  Superb form once again, and it would have to be, with Williams, So'oialo and Setephano all playing so well and deserving of a place here too!

7:  Richie McCaw (Crusaders) - (McCaw).
Justin Collins deserves a mention here too, so I just did.  But Richie is Richie.

6:  Jerry Collins (Hurricanes) - (Kaino, Blues).
At last we see the real Jerry, after three rounds of the Super season.  Lethal with ball in hand, slipping the passes that he was not doing in the first two games of the season.  He had turned back into the battering ram that the Cartel had told to sod off and not come back until he had widened his skills.  But he's not again, loverly.  Reid and Kaino both playing well too, but Collins gets the nod this week.

5:  Troy Flavell (Blues) - (Flavell).
Again up to his nuts in the tight stuff all game.  Is on fire again as he was last season.  Bullying in the tight, and hard working in the loose.  Another All Black recall looks on the cards as we wait for the batch of young locks to come up to international speed.

4:  Ali Williams (Crusaders) - Thorn, Crusaders).
Out and about at his best again this week.  At his best when supporting the ball carrier in open play, and then making passes that less long limbed players would not be able to make!  Would make a very handy six, but with the plethora of sixes in New Zealand rugby, he also makes a pretty lethal lock!!

3:  Campbell Johnstone (Crusaders) - (Afoa, Blues).
I was most impressed with the forgotten man of New Zealand rugby, Johnston was a genuine dinosaur last season.  A prop who could prop, lift, and sod all else.  He looks to have trimmed down this season, and is getting about the field adding to loose play as he has never done before.  Still the powerful scrummager that he always was.  A dark horse for an All Black recall - if he gets enough game time, who knows?

2:  Kevin Mealmau (Blues) - (Flynn, Crusaders).
A defensive menace.  Mealamu a tackling berserker so far this season.  Rest of his game still  pretty good too, just needs to get his running game back into top gear and he will be at his best.  Flynn and Hore both solid performances this week too, but Mealmau's defence separating the men from the boys!

1:   Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders) - (Woodcock, Blues).
Like Johnstone, his first start this season for the Crusaders.  And I expect it won't be his last.  Part of a dominant front row, but his general play was what made his game stand out.  In support of the ball in places no self respecting prop would be, and defending like a loose forward.  Has been touted as an All Black in the past, and with a backup for Woodcock needed, who knows, is it his time?  Schwalger for the Hurricanes was in top form too, probably the best ball running prop of the round at any rate - he and big Chiefs rookie Ben May.

Reserves/Substitutes/Whatever:  Hore (Hurricanes), Schwalger (Hurricanes), Haiu (Blues), So'oialo (Hurricanes), Cowan (Highlanders), Evans (Blues), Tuitavake (Blues).