Quarterfinal Team

New Zealand's participation in the Super Rugby playoffs was halved in the quarter-finals while the Crusaders showed their title … again, the Hurricanes found some lost mojo to improve the Chiefs while that the Highlanders lost 17 points. In Sydney. It is against this fall that Nigel Yalden editor of Radio Sport Rugby compiled his NZ team of quarterfinals:

1) Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders) had an excellent participation in Sydney on Saturday evening; he attacked, supported and cleaned with precision and was strong in his basic roles at the time of scrimmage and alignment

2) Ricky Riccitelli (Hurricanes) is a busy bestiary on the rugby field, with and without the ball. He just seemed to be everywhere, whether he was carrying the ball himself or supporting his teammates on their supports and defensively defending. It was also part of a much improved Canes effort in the scrums and lineups

3) Owen Franks (Crusaders) was … well he was Owen Franks. A very good effort in his 100 ^th Super Rugby game by Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes) as well

4) Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes) was tireless on Friday night. He made an excellent call to alignment, including calling his own number frequently, tackled as a man possessed (high play 19) and generally muscular in all aspects of the physical battle

5) An excellent performance of Scott Barrett (Crusaders) with and without the ball, including the spinning of two turnovers; he was active, precise and robust as usual

6) Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs) did not stop at the first whistle to last. His involvement in the battle ahead was just the next guy you will read. Boshier was about as accurate as possible on a rugby pitch and the last-minute test was an appropriate reward for his unshakeable effort in the night

7 ) Gareth Evans (Hurricanes) was the Before the Week for me. He outperformed the All Blacks holder, and in a big way, I could add, and was a constant presence when and where the ball went to the ground. If Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd collaborates with Evans at the opening this weekend, we are happy because Matt Todd (Crusaders) was not far behind Evans in terms of performance against the Sharks the following night [19659002] 8 ) Kieran Read (Crusaders) looks really sharp, very sharp and very precise in what he has made since returning from the long-term back injury. The Crusaders are now enjoying it, but I suspect that the All Blacks' selectors will be the ones who will smile the most in a month

9) Bryn Hall (Crusaders), in tandem with his former companion in the first five, was calm and controlling Saturday night as the favorites of the competition methodically founded their South African opposition. Yes, he has a good platform to work, but he uses this platform to the fullest of his abilities

10) Another good night driving the crusader machine for Richie Mo & # Unga (Crusaders) Like his halfback, Mo 'unga takes full advantage of an excellent pack of Crusaders to showcase his talents.

11 ) Ben Lam (Hurricanes) was more like Ben Lam at the beginning of the season. His involvement was much higher with the ball, very well defended and even got a turn. The guy on the opposite side Friday evening Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) had a great contribution in a losing effort.

12) Can not deny people; I really fight with this one. The defense of Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) offers some key moments against the Chiefs, including two really timely turnarounds. On the hand, Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) opened the game early with an incisive race and was his typical car of high quality and reliable throughout the competition. I leave with Laumape on the basis that "the defense wins the championship" but could very easily be convinced to make a flop – Backs of the Week

13 ) Anton Lienert- Brown (Chiefs) Fair Edges Rob Thompson (Highlanders) ; The two very well-placed ball carriers (ALB 17 times, Thompson 18 carries) are both excellent defensively (ALB 10 tackles, Thompson 12 with two misses a play) but Lienert-Brown has a better safety ball and has two touchdowns

14 ) I have chopped and changed between Julian Savea (Hurricanes) and Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) through two views of each game and I think that is largely because I find it difficult to look beyond the meaning of the yellow card issued to Naholo. Naholo was one of the best Highlanders in the park, but …

15 ) Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs) had two enjoyable moments in another high-level tournament in Wellington . This young man has All Black written on him and it is now a case of when else. I would love to see him take part in the end-of-the-year Japanese tour and give him 20 minutes of play against the Brave Blossom, if the situation in this test match allowed him

Selection Criteria: Must to play for a New Zealand franchise but must not be eligible for All Blacks

NIGEL YALDEN IS EDITOR RUGBY FOR RADIO SPORT & NEWSTALK ZB