CRAIG LEWIS picks a form South African XV based on performances in round 17 of Super Rugby.

The Lions have set themselves up for another charge to the final after they comfortably overcame the Sharks in Durban on Saturday afternoon, with last year’s runners-up finishing as the leading overall team.

Although the Lions weren’t quite at their best, they still lead the way with five player selections, with influential flank Kwagga Smith deservedly walking away with the Man of the Match award at Kings Park.

However, the Sharks did gain some good reward at scrum time, and their props Coenie Oosthuizen and Thomas du Toit are rewarded in this regard.

The Stormers weren’t at their best against the Bulls at Loftus, but still came away with an important 41-33 victory to ensure that they head towards the playoffs on the back of three successive wins after the June break.

Cheslin Kolbe scored a stunning solo try and also made a couple of important tackles, while Eben Etzebeth was at his industrious best.

In a losing cause, Springbok centre Jesse Kriel led the way for the Bulls and clinched a brace of tries that helped keep the Bulls in the game.

On Friday night, the Cheetahs secured a somewhat surprising comeback win over the Kings, with Raymond Rhule producing a starring performance, while Uzair Cassiem wreaked havoc at the lineouts.

Having said that, Lionel Cronjé had another good game in the Kings’ final Super Rugby outing, while talented No 8 Andile Ntsila was as industrious as ever.

ALSO READ: Super Rugby Power Rankings (Round 17)

SA FORM XV (ROUND 17)
15. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers)
13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
12. Harold Vorster (Lions)
11. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs)
10. Lionel Cronjé (Kings)
9. Ross Cronjé (Lions)
8. Andile Ntsila (Kings)
7. Kwagga Smith (Lions)
6. Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
3. Coenie Oothuizen (Sharks)
2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1. Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

REVIEW: Lions peak, Bulls burn

SA FORM XV (ROUND 16)
15. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers)
13. EW Viljoen (Stormers)
12. Jan Serfontein (Bulls)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Kings)
10. Lionel Cronje (Kings)
9. Louis Schreuder (Kings)
8. Andile Ntsila (Kings)
7. Tyler Paul (Kings)
6. Chris Cloete (Kings)
5. Giant Ntyanda (Kings)
4. RG Snyman (Bulls)
3. Ross Geldenhuys (Kings)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Bulls)
1. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix