South Africa’s Bakkies Botha, left, Victor Matfield and Bismarck du Plessis celebrate winning the Tri Nations Cup. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Rowland)
With the World Cup rapidly approaching, I have gone ahead and selected the team I feel would best carry the Springboks to World Cup glory.
Most players select themselves, but I have gone ahead and made some notable exclusions, beginning with the captain himself, John Smit.
As expressed in my earlier article, he has become a liability on the field, and should be included in the squad as a non-playing Manager. He can sit on the sidelines and cheer the team on.
I also went with a risky 17/13 split in favor of the forwards. Given the style of South Africa’s play, the forwards are likely to suffer more injuries, and I’d rather have an extra loose-forward than a non-playing wing. The Boks have enough versatility in Francois Steyn, Pienaar, Hougard and Lambie to cover any injury contingency.
In the front row, options are pretty short on the tighthead side with BJ Botha injuring himself and the SA government making Brian Mujati unavailable in a sudden surge of xenophobia. CJ van der Linde is the experienced man, but his form has been awful all year. So Werner Kruger is left to fly the flag, though he’s not exactly electrifying.
At hooker, Adrian Strauss is the beneficiary of my sacking of Smit. He is a tough player who does all the basics well, and brings some needed mongrel to the equation.
At lock we have the standard Bulls contingent (I nearly included Flip vd Merwe too!), but in the end decided on Mostert for his strong performances in the otherwise mediocre SA “B” squad. The injury to Bekker leaves a big while… SA is not as flush with experienced locks as they like to pretend – I suddenly find myself looking enviously at New Zealand’s stocks…
Amongst the loosies, the extra spot makes way for Keegan Daniel to enter the side. I think cover for Brussow is essential, and while Schalk can do the job, Daniel is the most lively loosie in the country and should be rewarded for his stellar efforts.
The half-backs all pick themselves – the only real decision being whether to start Butch or Morne. As mentioned earlier, Pienaar and Hougard also cover every other backline position, except center, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Hougard there either.
With Francois Steyn and Lambie in the mix, only three centers are required – the all WP trio.
And the wings and fullbacks are SA’s only options… again, I look with envy towards New Zealand.
For all SA’s talk of depth, the back-up beyond this 30 is not that flush – but these 30 are all pretty great. They have what it takes to defend the Cup.
Props:
Jannie Du Plessis
Guthro Steenkamp
Beast Mtawarira
Werner Kruger
Hookers:
Bismarck Du Plessis
Chilliboy Ralapele
Adrian Strauss
Locks:
Victor Matfield (Captain)
Bakkies Botha
Danie Russouw
Gerhard Mostert
Loosies:
Schalk Burger
Heinrich Brussow
Pierre Spies
Willem Alberts
Keegan Daniels
Ashley Johnson
Scrum halves:
Fourie Du Preez
Francois Hougaard
Ruan Pienaar
Fly halves:
Butch James
Morne Steyn
Centers:
Jean de Villiers
Jacque Fourie
Juan De Jongh
Wings:
Bryan Habana
JP Pieterson
Gio Aplon
Fullbacks:
Patrick Lambie
Francois Steyn
On more change: Peter De Villiers to makes way for Rassie Erasmus as coach.
Green Lantern
Roar Pro
Soweto?
Neslon Mandella
Guest
These boys wont let me down,amandla!
Gerhard van Lamp
Guest
It's as good a squad as any...but then our players haven't been the problem for a long time now...Ndungane is a shocker selection,should have neen Mvovo by a longshot.I'm confident this squad will get to the semi's reasonably comfortably.From there it's one game at a time,anything can happen.We play competition rugby well, and just pip the AB's in win percentage at world cups!
Bokke2011
Guest
Don't stress! Come the 11th of Sep the Mean Green Machine will be well oiled and ready to steamroll everything in it's path. Don't be surprised to see lots of running rugger either - mark my words!
chocie
Guest
personally i think Habana is better suited to the No.8 position...his running style would siut best there...bring Patrick lambie to No. 9 and give 10 to fourie du preez.....and then noone will stop the boks....
Ralph
Guest
There's a lot of talent in that list.
mattamkII
Guest
Agree - Vermuelen is your best number 8.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Why is Habana in the side as a Wing?
Hoy
Roar Guru
The South Africans would do well to find a creative 5/8 to unleash their backline. They have not had one since... Honiball? Maybe not. But you get the picture. Their play would be so much more dangerous if they had a 5/8 who could run, and pass well enough to create something for his outside men.
Moaman
Guest
That's bs about it raining non-stop KPM. Auckland has on average-----7 rainy days in the month of October I read on some met site.
tubby
Guest
Very dissappointing to see spies continues to make the squad, he's been poor for a long time now. There's no real lively number 8 in the squad. vermuelen will be badly missed. steyne at #10 - again we look at his kicking for goal, only the 2nd best in SA, and ignore his shortcomings in attack and defense. If plan A doesn't work there's simply no plan B with steyne in the team. butch james was making up the numbers at the lions, he must have been outstanding in europe to justify his place.
stuff happens
Guest
KPM agreed about the rain & they're in Wellington! Steyn may run the backs more that we expect - he has for the Bulls. But the real issue for them will be how well Fourie d.P plays. He's the talisman & is still short of his best, well so far. Louw is a good choice I think, he had a great start to the S15 but was injured. Smit could be their nemesis since I assume he'll have to play.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Morne Steyn will start and so there will be almost no running: can the Boks get away with no running at all? With the current laws you would have to say they can't. But they have one trick up their sleeves: rain. New Zealand is supposed to rain non-stop during these months and so that may disarm the running sides as it will be impossible to hold onto the ball, and re-arm the kicking ones.
Bokke2011
Guest
The team as listed by Rusty is the actual official team & it includes JS. I cannot undestand the need for 3 hookers, unless they bank on using him at prop again too - ouch.
thurl
Guest
No change in the captain
Lee
Guest
Odwa is an interesting choice... I think I'd be a lot more confident if Juan Smith and Bekker weren't injured - also would love Vermuelen to be there too.
Moaman
Guest
You beat me to it Rusty. Are you happy with the squad?
Loftus
Guest
I think you have chosen a decent squad,and thank goodness no John Smit.He should coach the team, officially.I honestly can't see everyone's fascination with Butch James.He is a has been and when exactly has he ever sent a Springbok backline away - as so many want to believe? In a World cup you play your deadliest weapon - and,sorry to say to Butch James fans,that weapon is Morne Steyn. Ruan Pienaar is also very lucky to be in the squad and hopefully he and Butch will only play against Namibia.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Here it is: Backs: Pat Lambie, Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Butch James, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar Forwards: Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Pierre Spies , Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, John Muller, Danie Rossouw, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Tendai Mtawarira, Gurthro Steenkamp
bokgat1
Guest
step into my office you are fired!