Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town - The stranglehold on spots by the Bulls has only increased after Week 9 of the Vodacom Super 14 … there are now no fewer than 11 representatives of the log-leaders in the Sport24 Super 14 Dream Team picked by our readers.

There is room only for four “intruders” in the team of the week, all of them from the almost as well-placed Stormers.

And the strange imbalance in South African franchise fortunes this year – Bulls and Stormers knocking strongly at the semis door, yet Sharks a very long shot and Cheetahs and Lions utterly lamentable – is reflected in Juan Smith and WP Nel of the Cheetahs clinging to their No 7 and No 3 jerseys respectively in the Overall Dream Team for the campaign. They are the lone presences from outside the “big two” sides in either combo.

The Week 9 team selected differs just in three respects from the Overall side: at fullback Zane Kirchner bursts in with 55% approval rating for the week (the injured Joe Pietersen keeps his Overall place), Dewald Potgieter earns the blindside flank nod and the Stormers’ tireless, unassuming Brok Harris finally gets recognition for a consistently straight back, good right shoulder and high open-play work-rate in the No 3 jersey, ahead of the ongoing Overall XV pick Nel.

With Springbok outside centre Jaque Fourie exploding to real prominence in the Stormers’ triumph over the Blues last Saturday, he is the top man in percentage terms for Week 9 approval: the former Lions stalwart hogged 91% of the votes for No 13.

Next in line from a reader confidence point of view was the baby-faced Bulls right wing Gerhard van den Heever, with 83% approval at No 14.

One or two Stormers players have arguably come up with short straws from our readers despite yeoman showings of late – most notably Andries Bekker, who cannot yet get past established customer Victor Matfield for the No 5 lock shirt.

Nor can industrious, physical “loosies” Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw get a look-in, and maybe that will only change if the Stormers down the Chiefs and the Bulls are upset by the Reds!

But Pierre Spies and company in the ranks of the defending champions probably have no plans to either lose in Brisbane or surrender their Dream Team slots.

The Sharks, of course, had a Week 9 bye and will hope to restore a name or two to the Week 10 side if they can down the ailing Lions in a Johannesburg derby.

Any Lions players set for a shock burst into the selection fray? Maybe we shouldn’t hold our collective breath …

Sport24 Dream Team Week 9:
15. Zane Kirchner (Bulls, 55%), 14. Gerhard van den Heever (Bulls, 83%), 13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers, 91%), 12. Wynand Olivier (Bulls, 74%), 11. Bryan Habana (Stormers, 79%), 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls, 65%), 9. Fourie du Preez (Bulls, 81%), 8. Pierre Spies (Bulls, 79%), 7. Dewald Potgieter (Bulls, 47%), 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers, 74%), 5. Victor Matfield (Bulls, 50%), 4. Danie Rossouw (Bulls, 74%), 3. Brok Harris (Stormers, 48%), 2. Gary Botha (Bulls, 49%), 1. Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls, 75%)

Sport24 Dream Team Overall:
15. Joe Pietersen (Stormers, 41%), 14. Gerhard van den Heever (Bulls, 60%), 13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers, 76%), 12. Wynand Olivier (Bulls, 69%), 11. Bryan Habana (Stormers, 65%), 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls, 79%), 9. Fourie du Preez (Bulls, 74%), 8. Pierre Spies (Bulls, 62%), 7. Juan Smith (Cheetahs, 40%), 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers, 41%), 5. Victor Matfield (Bulls, 67%) 4. Danie Rossouw (Bulls, 40%), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs, 31%), 2. Gary Botha (Bulls, 37%), 1. Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls, 38%)