I was reading the team of the week selection by Planet rugby the other day and it made me wonder what the depth was in each of the three Tri Nations countries, and also which positions they have sufficient depth.
The list I am providing here is based on the 18 weeks of round robin matches and I took all the players that were selected for positions per week, regardless of how many times they were selected. Some of them were selected for different positions during a specific week, there for I will break it down into: front rows, locks, loose trios, scrumhalves, flyhalves, centers and back three.
South Africa
Front row
Loose head – Mtawarira, Steenkamp, Oosthuizen, Greyling
Hooker – Du Plessis, Smit, Strauss, Fourie
Tight head – Du Plessis, Kruger, Van de Linde, Nel
Locks
Botha, Elstad, Sykes, Van heerden, Mostert
Matfield, Bekker, Van der Merwe, Rossouw
Loose Trio
Alberts, Grobbelaar, Strauss, Daniel, Brussouw, Burger, Johnson, Vermeulen, Spies
Scrum halves
Vermaak, Mcleod, Du Preez, Pretorius
Flyhalves
Grant, Lambie, Ebersohn
Centers
Du Jongh, De Villiers, Olivier
Fourie, Ebersohn, Sadie, Terblanche
Back three
Basson, Benjamin
Pietersen, Ndungane,
Viljoen, Kirchner
What is interesting about the SA depth is that Morne Steyn didn’t get selected once. Where as Steenkamp and Brussouw who played very little rugby, both got selected. Juan Smith due to injury should be on this list, but didn’t play much at all. In the SA back three the pickings are slim, Bryan Habana’s poor form showed by not being picked once.
Australia
Front row
Daley, Alexander, Robinsen
Palotu-Nau, Moore
Kepu
Locks
Chisholm, Wykes, Campbell, Horwill
Sharpe
Loose Trio
Brown, higgenbotham, Lam
Waugh, Pocock, Alcock, Gill, Robinson
McMalman
Scrum Halves
Genia, Phipps
Flyhalves
O’Connor, Cooper, Stannard
Centers
Coleman, Huxley, McCabe
Horne, Ioane, Carter
Back Three
Mitchell, Morahan, Anesi, Smith
Davies, speight
Beale, Shepherd.
The tight five for Australia is where their major issues will be. A few too many injuries in the front row and there will be huge concerns. In the loose trio, i seem to recall Waugh has retired from international rugby, and Elsom is injured. As long as Australia can keep their forwards injury free they will be able to gain parity against most teams.
In their back line the question is where do guys like O’Connor, McCabe, Ioane and Morohan fit in, as they played different positions during the super 15. I am also not sure about Mitchells injury.
New Zealand
Front Row
Mcintosh, Schwalger, Franks, Crockett
Meaamu, Rutledge, Flynn, Hore
Afoa, Somerville, Franks, King, Afeaki, Faumuina
Locks
Ross, Thrush, Thorn
Bekhuis, Pyle, Williams, Jack
Loose Trio
Thomson, Todd, Kaino, Messam, Hoeata
Waldrom
Read
Scrum Halves
Ellis, Mathewson
Fly Halves
Brown, Carter, Cruden
Centers
SBW, Treeby, Nonu, Mcalister
Fruaen, Kahui, Payne
Back three
Taylor, Poki, sivivatu, Ranger, Guildford
Williams, Masaga, Maitland,Paterson
Dagg, Toeiava, Muliaina, Smith
What is clear to me is that New Zealand has by quite a distance the best depth and form in the tight five. McCaw was not selected, but then he only played 6 games this season. It is however clear that on form, New Zealand does not have too much depth at 7 and 8.
Scrumhalf would be a definite concern as far as depth goes, and apart from Cruden and Carter, there seems to be little else there after.
The backline of New Zealand is simply littered with depth, form and talent.
Wie de moer gee om oor planet rugby of rugby365 se span vd week stront? n Handvol se gunstellinge. Gewoonlik.
As jy wil praat van ons diepte, praat dan van ons ware diepte.
Frans Steyn at 15.
@ Die Blou Kuberruim Wandelaar:
Goeiste waar was jy , is jy uit op parool. :LOL: bly om jou hier te sien
Jis this place is quiet and no one wants to talk to me?
@ 4man:
Whats up Doc
@ Die Blou Kuberruim Wandelaar:
Jy klink omgekrap?
Wel, as jy vir my n’ site gee waar ek n’ meer “realistiese” lys kan kry, sal ek dit spesiaal vir jou saamstel.
Maar vir nou werk ek maar op hierdie lys.
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