Now that the league phase of the Super Rugby tournament is finished, I have posted a SA team of the tournament article. The team is based on the form players during the tournament, with overseas based players obviously not considered.

The South African teams had a very disappointing tournament by any standards, with injuries, poor form and bad reffing decisions making life hard for the critical rugby public, but in an attempt to find a silver lining here is this author’s team of the tournament (other contenders mentioned where appropriate):

1. Steven Kitshoff

The 23 year old Stormers loosehead prop had an outstanding tournament and showed many of the more experienced tightheads how it’s done. It’s a great pity for the Cape Town franchise that the 120kg tight forward is Bordeaux bound after the conclusion of the 2015 Currie Cup, as he seems to be starting to live up to his substantial potential, shown as a youngster.

2. Bismarck du Plessis

Bismarck had a shaky start to the tournament but really shone in the 2nd half to stand head and shoulders above any other No 2 in South Africa. His lack of impulse control aside, he remains one of the best hookers in the world and is an almost certainty to start for the Springboks at No 2 in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

3. Frans Malherbe

Like Steven Kitshoff, Malherbe has grown in stature over the past season, showing up more experienced Springboks like Jannie du Plessis and Coenie Oosthuizen in the all important tighthead position, with the previously mentioned players not even coming in a close 2nd, that position belonging to the breakthrough star of the season, Vincent Koch. Malherbe’s work rate in the tight edging the Pumas player for the top spot.

4. Eben Etzebeth

Following a dip in form after injury the 2.03m giant established himself as the top No 4 lock in South Africa and cemented his place as the successor to the legendary Bakkies Botha with solid lineout work, impressive carries and tackles and general all round menacing play for the Stormers. A certainty to start at No 4 if he is fit, Etzebeth is the type of player that makes a massive difference on the field.

5. Franco Mostert

This position was a tough one to fill, but the Lions lock had a very solid season, with good overall play, edging some of the other contenders (Grant Hatting, Francois Uys and Victor Matfield). With Matfield looking a season or 2 past it, this will be 1 of the head-scratches for Heyneke Meyer in the upcoming months. Mostert is still only 24, and is yet to be capped , and with the availability of Andries Bekker still uncertain Matfield is likely to still play for the Springboks at No 5.

6. Marcell Coetzee

In a field of talented openside flanks including an in form Jaco Kriel and Boom Prinsloo, Marcell Coetzee’s all round play makes him my 1st choice player for the SA franchises for 2015. Jaco Kriel was also outstanding with Boom Prinsloo looking sharper with each game he plays, SA are well stocked in this position, taking into account the great form of the incumbent Springbok No 6, Francois Louw, for Bath this year.

7. Schalk Burger

The “Incredible Schalk” is still playing some of the best rugby of his career, having re-invented himself as an outstanding linking player who gets around the park, makes the hard yards and tackles and still offloads more than any other loose forward in SA. Other players like Michael Rhodes, Warwick Tecklenburg and Arno Botha also played well this season and our depth in this position is encouraging.

8. Duane Vermeulen

“THORmeulen” is head and shoulders the best No 8 in South Africa these days and his play this year for the Stormers confirmed this. The conference winning Cape Town side looked decidedly mediocre on the occasions that he didn’t play, and without him I would rate the Springboks’ chances of lifting the Rugby World Cup trophy later this year as slim. Warren Whiteley is the next best in SA at the moment and as well as he has played this season, Duane is still the man.

9. Faf de Klerk

The accurate and energetic play from De Klerk this year in a field of mediocrity at scrumhalf sees him get the nod ahead of Nic Groom who also had an above average season. With Meyer relying on overseas based players in this position for the past years, De Klerk may yet miss out on a Springbok squad place for the Rugby World Cup but it would be unfortunate if this were the case, as his form has shown him to be the best SA-based player in this position by some margin.

10. Elton Jantjies

Jantjies has had his best season to date in a No 10 jersey, combining accurate goal kicking and the ability to take on the opposing gain-line in a fashion not seen since the days of Henry Honnibal. It would be a travesty if he is not handed the starting No 10 jersey in the in-bound Tests to allow him to prove his worth, however Meyer has been known to stick with his preferred players and Handré Pollard may well get the nod ahead of him. Demetri Catrakilis deserves a mention as the 2nd best player for a SA franchise this year, but the France-bound player may also miss out to an in-form Morné Steyn for a Rugby World Cup place. Jantjies also made the most tackles of any SA Flyhalf in the competition (110).

11. Seabelo Senatla

The Blitzbok flyer has only played the last few games of the regular season but quickly established himself with scorching pace and excellent defense. He will definitely feature in Meyer’s plans for the mid year Tests and also as a back up to Bryan Habanna in the Rugby World Cup.

12. Damian de Allende

De Allende leads the SA pack with the most clean breaks (21) of the competition ahead of Juan de Jongh (20) and Dillyn Leyds (19) as well as for offloads (23), with Mapoe also at 23 offloads. De Allende has further stats of 61 defenders beaten (Jesse Kriel 38). He has been a tower of strength in the midfield, but has been criticized for some defensive lapses this year. Closer inspection reveals that his tackle completion rate of 79% is still higher than Jan Serfontein (76%) and with the attacking ability of De Allende he is a no-brainer for a place in the Rugby World Cup team.

13. Lionel Mapoe

This was a tough choice, with few players putting up their hands. Ultimately the form of Lionel Mapoe shades that of De Allende’s team mate Juan de Jongh. Mapoe was a consistent attacking force in a young Lions backline that saw them outperform everyone’s expectations to take 2nd place in the SA conference above the Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs and with the Lions narrowly missing out on qualification of the Top 6 playoffs.

14. Dillyn Leyds

The Stormers wing had a phenomenal season, exceeding everyone’s expectations and keeping the highly rated Kobus Van Wyk out of the starting line up for much of the season. His penetrating runs and poacher’s mentality sees him get the nod ahead of Ruan Combrink of the Lions, who also had a fantastic season.

15. Andries Coetzee

Coetzee’s calming presence at the back allowed the Lions backline to play with confidence and aggressiveness, with the fullback showing few weaknesses during the season. His better positional kicking game gives him the No 15 position ahead of an almost equally in form Jesse Kriel who’s exciting running and counter-attcking play was only let down (occasionally) by poor kicking. Playing in a woeful (by their high standards) Bulls team didn’t help.

So there you have it, some contentious choices? Let’s have your views!