15:  Mils Muliaina (Chiefs) - (MacDonald, Crusaders).
The best of an average bunch this week, not at the top of his game by a long chalk, but then, what Chief has been over the last few weeks...?

14:  Leila Masaga (Chiefs) - (Tuitavake, Blues).
AGain, there was not a lot of class wing play this weekend from any team I thought, so the little pocket rocket gets the nod, mainly for that late try he scored rocketing past half the Bulls team in a match sealing try. 

13:  Casey Laulala (Crusaders) - (Smith, Hurricanes).
Every post a winning post for Laulala this season.  He must be in with a shout for All Black honours again.  Older and wiser than when he was first selected for the All Blacks back in '02 (was it that long ago)?

12:  Benson Stanley (Blues) - (Brett, Crusaders).
Not a week for the blouses, with free flowing backline play a foreign concept as wins were ground out in the good old fashioned way.  Stanley though, polished as he has been all season, not his normal dominant self, but playing outside a centre wearing the 10 jersey, to be expected.

11:  Fetu’u Vainikolo (Highlanders) - (Rokocoko, Blues).
I say it week in and week out, every move the Highlanders backline run should be with the intent of giving this lad a half yard head start in his run for the tryline.  Scored a nice 70 metre try this week, and proves a handful everytime he runs onto the field.  You can see why he scored a bucketload of tries in Northland club rugby last season, imagine that against some local club side!!

10:  Dan Carter (Crusaders) - (Carter).
The mystro just gets better and better the more rugby he plays...  Donald went OK too this week, which sort of proves the theory about give enough monkeys typewriters and sooner or later they will type out the complete works of Shakespeare!

9:  Brendon Leonard (Chiefs) - (Ellis, Crusaders).
At last looked like he belongs at the top level of rugby, and looking like he should continue to be an All Black!  Helped no end by his forward pack barring up and doing the business too.  Two tries, the second a cheeky tap 5m out and dart through the retiring Biltong biters of the Blues forward pack.

8:  Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders) - (So'oialo, Hurricanes).
In the form of his life for the last year, Tuiali'i must be getting looked at closely for the All Blacks first squads this season.  Effective in everything he does these days, cover defence, front on defence, ball in hand, rucks and mauls.  You name it, and he is into it, sleeves rolled up, let him at it sort of attitude.  Good to see.  Also good to see Lauaki with the Chiefs at last seeming to be fit and involved - only taking 6 games this year...

7:  Richard McCaw (Crusaders) - (McCaw).
There's only one Richie McCaw, and his full range of skills on display this weekend.  Braid for the Blues in his first game back showed that he will soon be back to his best too in a quality display.

6:  Jerome Kaino (Blues) - (Kaino).
Tight game against the massive Stormers pack, Kaino looking more and more international quality each time he steps out onto the field.

5:  Brad Thorn (Crusaders) - (Flavell, Blues).
If he is not among the two best locks in New Zealand at the moment, I will eat my hat.  Age barriers be dammed, Thorn is playing the best rugby of his life.  A dominating presence in the tight, winning a ton of lineout ball, and making defences pay in pain every time they have to tackle the big man.

4:  Kurtis Haiu (Blues) - (Lynn, Chiefs).
Threw a nice punch, and got away with it!   Seriously though, he is the Blues Brad Thorn, doing all the work in the tight, and making the Blues pack work.  More suited to 6 than lock though, so don't expect an All Black call for him in a 4 or 5 jersey.

3:  John Afoa (Blues) - (Afoa, Blues).
With Haiu the foundation of the Blues pack.  now producing the goods on a weekly basis, must be in with a good shout at the All Black side this year - would be well ahead of Tialata in the tight head propping race, but lacks the versatility of the big Hurricane.

2:  Kevin Mealamu (Blues) - (Mealamu).
Week in and week out, once again, Mealmu showing why he is rated among the best hookers in the world, let alone New Zealand.  Another solid display from Flynn for the Crusaders, but not in the same weight division as Mealamu.

1:  Simms Davison (Chiefs) - (Ellison, Hurricanes).
If last week Afoa was a Steve McDowell reincarnation, this week Davison was even more so.  Some rampaging runs from the forgotten man of the New Zealand propping stocks.  Was back into the form that saw him sniffing around higher honours in 2004 and 2005. 

Reserves:  Flynn, Castle, Williams, Lauaki, Ellis, Bruce, Pisi.