This weekend saw the conclusion of the ABSA Currie Cup, with The Sharks upsetting overwhelming favourites, before the game, DHL Western Province, by playing the better tactical game and winning by a handsome 33 / 19. This leaves us with the International window opening again and all Southern Hemisphere sides getting ready to travel north, for the End Of Year Tours.
It would however not be fitting to move our attention over to the Internationals, without paying tribute to those domestic stars, who performed out of their skins for their respective Unions in the Currie Cup. For this purpose and although the Springboks took part in the latter rounds of the Currie Cup, we decided to compose 2 Player-by-player sides of the best candidates in their positions, but purposely excluding the players of the Springbok group from the equasion.
Chief writers, Rudi Geldenhuys and Timothy Bornman takes a look at these players… and it appears that in most positions the same logic applies, however there are certain positions where we differ on exactly who performed best. We chose not to pick players out of position but rather to choose players in the positions they regularly played during the Competition.
Unfortunately, there is no place for second comers, so only 1 player per position is chosen by us.
Rudi Geldenhuys XV:
- Loosehead Prop: Steven Kitshoff (WP)
- Hooker: Scarra Ntubeni (WP)
- Tighthead Prop: Pat Cilliers (WP)
- No 4 Lock: Pual Willemse (Blue Bulls)
- No 5 Lock: Pieter-Steph du Toit (The Sharks)
- Openside Flank: Derick Minnie (Golden Lions)
- Blindside Flank: Lappies Labuschagne (FS Cheetahs)
- No 8: Willie Britz (Golden Lions)
- Scrumhalf: Charl McLeod (The Sharks)
- Flyhalf: Demetri Catrakilis (WP)
- Left Wing: Cheslin Kolbe (WP)
- Inside Centre: Damian de Allende (WP)
- Outside Centre: Louis Ludik (The Sharks)
- Right Wing: Odwa Ndungane (The Sharks)
- Fullback: Gio Aplon (WP)
In some positions competition was feirce and the choices close – special mention goes to Bongi Mbonambi (hooker – Blue Bulls), Frans Malherbe (tighthead prop – WP), Deon Fourie (openside flank – WP), Philip van der Walt (No 8 – FS Cheetahs), Sarel Pretorius (scrumhalf – FS Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf & fullback – Golden Lions), Anthony Volmink (left wing – Golden Lions), Robert Ebersohn (inside centre – FS Cheetahs), Francois Venter (inside centre – Blue Bulls), Heimar Williams (outside centre – The Sharks) and SP Marais (fullback – The Sharks)… and I would even add in Currie Cup First Division players like Coenie van Wyk (fullback – Pumas), Carl Bezuidenhout and JC Roos (flyhalves – Pumas).
The question for me is whether these special players in No 1 to 15 in my team (in their positions) merit inclusion in the Springbok Tour group for the End Of Year Toursor not?
I believe some overplayed Springbok players need to be rested, some overseas players need to be discarded or replaced and some depth should be built / found in some critical positions like tighthead prop, No 5 lock, scrumhalf, flyhalf, outside centre and fullback.
In light of this, I would like to see the following players ADDED in the Springbok Tour group, when the squad is announced on Monday afternoon at 16:30:
- Hooker: Scarra Ntubeni – 3rd hooker option in place of Chiliboy Ralepelle
- Tighthead props: Lourens Adriaanse, Pat Cilliers & Frans Malherbe – Jannie du Plessis needs rest and I’d play Coenie Oosthuizen only at loosehead
- Locks: Pieter-Steph du Toit – in place of Juandré Kruger, Bakkies Botha as extra enforcer lock
- Scrumhalf: Charl McLeod – he almost singlehandedly demolished the Blue Bulls in 1 game, and had a huge hand in demolishing WP on the weekend, Rory Kockott – best in French Top 14 and a goal kicker
- Flyhalf: Demetri Catrakilis – the closest player to a Morné Steyn-like mould, suitable for Heyneke to work with at flyhalf
- Left wing: Cheslin Kolbe – one needs to prepare for when Bryan Habana is no longer there, I would take Kolbe with, in the group for the experience, not to start in a Test
- Centre: Damian de Allende – is a good option at inside or outside centre, big and strong, one for the future
- Fullback: Gio Aplon – he played his heart out all Currie Cup and deserves a re-call to the Springboks as alternative to Zane Kirchner
Some players touted by all and sundry to include in the Springbok Tour group, who I believe are either not ready yet / fully over their injuries and ailments / are beyond their best and not up to International standard anymore, include – Johan Goosen (needs more game and recovery time), Schalk Burger (not up to standard), Frans Steyn (not up to standard), Juandré Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Ruan Pienaar, the Ulsterman.
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Timothy Bornman XV:
- Loosehead Prop: Steven Kitshoff (WP)
- Hooker: Scarra Ntubeni (WP)
- Tighthead Prop: Frans Malherbe (WP)
- No 4 Lock: Pual Willemse (Blue Bulls)
- No 5 Lock: Pieter-Steph du Toit (The Sharks)
- Openside Flank: Derick Minnie (Golden Lions)
- Blindside Flank: Lappies Labuschagne (FS Cheetahs)
- No 8: Philip van der Walt (FS Cheetahs)
- Scrumhalf: Louis Schreuder (WP)
- Flyhalf: Demetri Catrakilis (WP)
- Left Wing: Cheslin Kolbe (WP)
- Inside Centre: Howard Mnisi (Griquas)
- Outside Centre: Damian de Allende (WP)
- Right Wing: Odwa Ndungane (The Sharks)
- Fullback: Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions)
This was one one of those seasons that proved why SA Rugby needs a Currie Cup season. This Currie Cup season gave us a lot of new and young talent to focus on and I am sure that Heyneke Meyer has a huge list of players he has to consider for the End Of Year Tour. With the young talent that came through this year one has to question again as to whether Meyer should consider any overseas-based players.
We have quite a number of players in each position that can be chosen to represent the Springboks. Tighthead prop is the only position where we are still short on pickings, there is at least some glimpses of hope here with Frans Malherbe and Patrick Cilliers.
With the new depth created by the young talent and the right player management the Springboks could be a force to be reconned with at the next Rugby World Cup and could see 3 or 4 players competing for the same spot.
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We have also decided to put up a Poll to ask who deserves to be RE-CALLED / CALLED UP to the Springbok Tour group the most, kindly pick FOUR answers:
[poll id=”6″]
Ek dink die nuwe scrum reels pa cj vd linde soos n handskoen, hy het verwoesting gesaai in die cc. Laat jannie en beast rus speel coenie en cj. Gee lappies n kans en iemand vat vir colbe en leer hom scrummie speel
Colbe op scrummie, bliksem, imagine net
Really good summary for those of us who didn’t get to see much of the Currie Cup. Interesting to note so many front rowers from WP selected.
Like your thinking about Rory Kockett, by all accounts he has been so good in France even getting player of the season so would be good to see how he got on at international level, and being based in France would be a bonus for the game against France he must have good first hand knowledge of the French players the Boks will be up against. Plus Boks cap him as soon as possible otherwise… France may.
@Bullscot:
The WP scrum did very well when they were not scrumming against a bok front row. hahahaha. I recon the youngsters there (kitshoff Scarra & Malherbe) will help us with depth and cover for beast and Jannie. I do however think they still need another season before they will be on par with our current bok front row.
Rory will not play for SA even if chosen, he is close to be eligible to play for France and will earn more and be certain to start.
Based on this HM should rather let the man be
@ Gena_ZA:
I have to agree, ad he will most likely become the first choice scrumhalf for France, where for the Boks he will still have to play behind Fourie and Pienaar.
So hoe gaan die Bok groep lyk, wie word uitgelaat en wie word ingesluit ?
As beide Frans Steyn en Jacque Fourie inkom, dan val 2 van die volgende 3 uit:
Jan Serfontein
JJE
De Jong
JPP in Basson se plek
Ek het die snaakste ding gelees in die koerant, HM wil iemand met die naam van Schreuder (?) as nuwe skrummie insluit, wie is dit, in watter land speel hy tans ? 😉
Is hy beter as Vermaak, McCleod, van Zyl, Reinach ?
PSDT in Juandre Kruger se plek, maar as Bakkies ook gekies word, is Flip uit ?
Scarra in en Chili uit ?
Gaan hy Beast en Jannie laat rus ?
Sjoe, as al hierdie veranderings plaasvind, moet niemand meer kerm dat HM net Bulle kies nie.
@ Ben_die_Bul:
Hahahahaha, daai was baie goed gewees. Ek dink wel dat hy tyd mors met.
Ons moet ook na die groot prentjie kyk. Ons moet ontslae raak van ou spelers. Jano is al 29, so teen die 2015 WC is hy 31, selfde met Habana, J Fourie, F Du Preez, Bakkies, M Steyn, J Kruger. Ons kan nie veteraan rugby speel nie. Ek dink die einde van die jaar toer is die kans om jong ouens kans te gee.
So my span sou iets soos die gelyk het.
1. Coenie Oosthuizen
2. Scarra Ntubeni/Adriaan Strauss
3. Patrick Cilliers
4. Eben Etsebeth
5. P Steph-Du Toit
6. F Louw
7. S Kolisi
8. D Vermeulen
9. Shcreuder
10. Catrakilis
11. Kolbe
12. Serfontein
13. Engelbrecht
14. Willie Le Roux
15. Lambie
16. Bismarck
17. Beast
18. Jannie
19. Bakkies
20. Alberts
21. F Du Preez
22. M Steyn
23. Habana of JDV
So gee jy jong outjies kans en ondervinding en jou bank is gelaai met ervaring, so as iets nie op die veld werk nie, dan val jy net terug op jou bank.
Nou wat het Schreuder skielik gedoen dat hy bo Piet van Zyl en Reinach gekies word ?
9 @ Timothy Bornman:
Sal NOOIT so gebeur nie… as ons nou EEN DING weet van Heyneke Meyer, is dit dat hy min veranderings maak van 1 Toets na die volgende… continuity is vir hom OPPERBELANGRIK!
Dis wie hy is, dis hoe hy werk….
So, ek verwag so 8 veranderinge in die globale Springbok groep van 32… maar dan naby aan die beginspan wat laastoets teen die All Blacks gespeel het.
Ek verwag definitief vir Pieter-Steph du Toit in die groep (dis ‘n uitgemaakte saak), ek verwag ‘n “Nuwe” skrummie in… en maybe ‘n re-call vir Aplon, Bakkies, JP Pietersen & Jaque Fourie…. dalk ook Frans Steyn.
Ek verwag dalk vir Frans Malherbe ook terug… weet Heyneke hou van hom… en snaaks genoeg verwag ek dat Johan Goosen sal saamgaan, nie dat ek daarmee saamstem nie.
@ grootblousmile:
Nee dit is so, en ek stem saam met dit. Maar hy gaan so bietjie diepte en ervaring moet skep.
Maar ja wat, in a perfect world.
Ek dink wel ons gaan al ons wedstryde oorsee wen die jaar.
Dink ook HM gaan om te wen, nie proewe te hou nie, daarvoor is die CB en Super15.
Sal nie sin maak as Aplon gaan speel nie, dit is mos juis swaar velde daar in Europa.
Kan dalk wel goed wees om Beast en Jannie te laat rus, asook enige ander beseerdes.
10 @ Ben_die_Bul:
Ek weet ook nie wat Louis Schreuder gedoen het om in die Bok groep opgeneem te word nie.
Indien ‘n ‘nuwe’ skrummie moet saamgaan, behoort dit mynsinsiens net 1 van 3 te wees… Charl McLeod, Sarel Pretorius of Rory Kockott.
Kom ek motiveer my stelling… Charl McLeod het ‘n paar kritieke westryde in die Currie Cup geswaai, amper eiehandig in die guns van die Sharks – te wete die Sharks / Bloubulle game op Kings Park… hy het ons uit die game gemoer met briljante spel, en die naweek se Currie Cup Final teen die WP (en direk teen Schreuder wat nou so getout word).
Sarel Pretorius het sy goeie werk van Super Rugby in die Currie Cup voortgesit, was deurgaans beter as Piet van Zyl en myle beter as Nic Groom, Cobus Reinach en Louis Schreuder.
Rory Kockott is Franse speler van die jaar, met menige Man Of The Match vertonings in 2013… en selfs belangriker, hy gee ‘n ekstra goeie opsie pale toe. Of hy vir die Bokke WIL speel en of hy wil vasbyt om vir Frankryk te speel is spekulasie… so indien hy vir sy geboorteland en Bokke wil speel, moes daar reeds met hom kontak gemaak gewees het deur Heyneke Meyer… sy nie-insluiting sal aanduidend wees van waar sy lojaliteite lê, eweneens sy insluiting in die Bok groep.
1coenie
2pissmark
3cj
4ets
5psd
6flou
7lappies
8duane
9surfer dude
10steyn
11aplon
12jdv
13jpp
14mvovo
15willie
16atter
17nyakane
18wp nel
19kolisie
20bakkies
21sarel
22goose
23lambi
@ smallies:
Dis nou outside the box
15 & 16 @ smallies:
Dis nie out the box nie, dis waaaaaaaaay outside the freegin box and surrounding area!
@ grootblousmile:
Dis mos die lekker van soufa selector wees ons kan kies net wie ons wil. Maar as jy kyk sal jy sien daar is net 3uncapped spelers
I really don’t get the love that everyone has for Scarra, he is a good player but fcuk me his throwing in to the lineout is shit. What is the point of making him a Bok if he misses his locks? South Africa boasts the best 2 hookers in the world in Strauss and Bismark. Then there is a huge amount of daylight………………..
@ Loosehead:
Op sy beste dag staan hy 8ste of 9nde in die ry
1pissmark
2atter
3chillie
4barnes
5maku
6klein tian
7bongi
19-21: stem met julle saam, Boesmanboude speel nie te sleg nie, maar daar is nie ‘n manier dat hy beter is as Chili as derde haker vir SA nie.
Lyk my HM is so bietjie verblind deur die WP se vertoning in ‘n afgewaterde CB reeks, nou wil hy al wat ‘n wp speler is skielik kies.
Wat gaan HM maak met die kapteinskap, 2015 kom nou vinnig nader.
Gaan hy volhard met oom JDV wat baie goed speel, maar lank in die tand word ?
Dit maak ook nie sin om iemand van die buiteland kaptein te maak nie, so Louw val uit.
Ons kan ook nie ‘n geelkaart masjien kaptein maak nie, so Bismark is ook uit. Kan nie 20 minute sonder jou kaptein speel nie en elke tweede game is hy geskors nie.
Wie bly oor ?
FDP, of is hy dalk ook te oud ?
Groot besluite, want die span wat van nou af gekies word, gaan die span wees wat 2015 WB moet wen.
Gaan hy volhard met die ou manne, of die jonges deurbring, en as hy jonges wil deurbring is dit NOU die tyd, anders raak dit te laat.
@ Ben_die_Bul:
Ek sien die geel kaart masjien sal vir die vanilla gorilla moet plek maak…
23 @ Ben_die_Bul:
Ek dink ou gesoute manne moet die kern vorm van ‘n World Cup span… en daar moet dan bykomend ‘n paar stomende jonges wees om die kers verder aan te blaas.
Kyk maar na die ouderdomme van die suksesvolle 2011 All Blacks span… en die gesoute manne in daai span. Kyk na Martin Johnson se Engeland wenners…. en kyk na Jake White se 2007 groep met ouens soos Os du Rand, Victor, John Smit, Bakkies en kie…
Mens kan nie net jonges met paar ou manne kies nie… mens kan wel ou manne met paar jonges kies…
I think HM must use this tour to blood a few new players in positions we have been lacking in depth. We need a back up to Jannie Dup, but TH stocks are a bit threadbare at the moment. And while we have some very good wings that can replace Habana, none seem to stand out at the moment, so it would be good to give a Kolbe a go, just to see if he has that BMT. PSD is also a good one to blood, and even give Franco some more game time.
@ Lion4ever:
Sonder om nou lelik te wees. Kolbe is totaal te klein vir n internationale vleuel. Hy sal NIE vir North kan stop nie, maar dat hy n dodelike aanvaller is is gewis. As ek hy is gaan ek en leer scrummie speel hy kan n dodelike scrummie word
Tight Head remains a massive concern for SA IMO. Espesially on a tour to the NH.
SO MUCH emphasis is put on the scrum by both the NH teams and REFEREES.
I’m actually worried that Cilliers seems to have regressed somewhat since going down South, and I’m not sure HM will have the Cahones to give Adriaanse a cahnce at the dance.
The weather will play a huge part on the eventual outcome of the games, and you can rest assured that the Taffy Bastids will be VERY reluctant to close the roof.
Wales will be a damned hard game, the Scots should be a bit easier for SA, and with our snail eating friends it really depends on which team pitches up, coupled with how many Saffas are mentally “on the plane”.
Really interested to see who HM picks.
Could well be a watershed moment in SA National Rugby.
@ smallies:
Do you have any other suggestions? The Lions gasman Volminck is quick and bigger, but will be a defensive liability.
Kolbe en Jason Robinson is glo dieselle size
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