With Super Rugby back up and running I thought it would be a fun exercise to go back through time and have a look at all the franchises and run a series on selecting their best XVs.
It also gives us something else to think about other than expansion!
I have decided to run with the original 12 franchises from the tournament beginnings in 1996.
So, how this will play out is this – I will make my selection and if you disagree nominate the player and position you would prefer.
For every three votes for the same selection I will change the team accordingly.
Any potential stalemates will be decided by the player with the most Test caps. Now you may note that some players have played for more than one franchise.
I will slot any of those into the Super team they have played the most games for.
We will then go on to selecting the best team from each individual country from the selected and finally an all-time XV.
Clear as mud?
Right, let’s kick it off then with the South Africans first in the Lions, Stormers, Bulls and todays team the Sharks.
Now, yes I am aware that the franchises technically were not set up at this point but allow me this small concession.
Sharks All Time XV
FULLBACK – Andre Joubert
WINGS – James Small and Stefan Terblanche
CENTRES – Henry Honiball and Pieter Muller
FIRST FIVE – Butch James
HALFBACK – Kevin Putt
NUMBER 8 – Gary Teichmann (C)
FLANKERS – Willem Alberts and AJ Venter
LOCKS – Mark Andrews and Johann Muller
PROPS – Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawariri
HOOKER – Bismarck du Plessis
What do you think Roarers? If you disagree, nominate your preferred player below.
Bakkies
Guest
WP/Stormers 1. Faan Rautenbach 2. Pieter Dixon 3. Cobus Visagie 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Hottie Louw 6. Schalk Burger 7. Corné Krige 8. Bob Skinstad 9. Ricky Januarie 10. Joel Stransky 11. Pieter Roussouw 12. Jean de Villiers 13. Robbie Fleck (tough between him and Marius Joubert) 14. Breyton Paulse 15. Percy Montgomery NT/Bulls 1. Gurthro Steenkamp 2. Gary Botha 3. Rayno Gerber 4. Bakkies Botha 5. Victor Matfield 6. Ruben Kruger 7. Wikus van Heerden 8. Adriaan Richter 9. Joost van der Westhuizen 10. Morné Steyn 11. Bryan Habana 12. Ettiene Botha 13. Andre Snyman 14. Akona Ndugane 15. Theo van Rensburg
Johnno
Guest
Have to have Cullen/Lomu and Corey Jane.
Bakkies
Guest
Umaga in his original position on the wing, C Smith or Ieremia at 13.
jason8
Guest
Speed was v den Berg's hallmark... he played many times for the Boks and hauled down more than a couple of wingers in his time - easily faster than most of the flanks of his time. As the old rugby adage goes ' the forwards are as fast as their fastest forward and your backs are as slow as your slowest back' To me AJ was a scrapper and a bruiser but had little skill for a flank...top bloke though met him a few times
Diggercane
Guest
Nice Jez
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
:-) Not in the Sharks he didn't, not as long as Putt and then he was off overseas
jeznez
Roar Guru
Johnno, the team above is linked by a certain school. Don't know if your additions meet the criteria.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ollie and Bob! Great calls!
Rusty
Roar Guru
good point on Bismark To be frank I have never remembered any particular mobile lock for the Sharks although Andrews used to call the lineout so thats good enough for me. I still feel that Alberts goes a little missing to say AJ who was on most of the time. So small tweaks to your already awesome lineup 1. Tendai Mtawariri 2. Bismarck 3. Adrian Garvey 4. Johan Muller 5. Mark Andrews 6. Bob Skinstad 7. AJ Venter 8. Garry Tiechmann (C) 9. Ruan Pienaar 10. Henry Honnibal 11. Stefan Terblanche 12. Francios Steyn 13. AD Jacobs 14. JP Pietersen 15. Andre Joubert
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I apologise....On further research Campo did play 20 odd games.....I didn't consider him....That's a tough one.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Campo never played Super Rugby
DingoGray
Roar Guru
There is no way in the world, Matt Burke would be forced to wing by Folaus 1.1 seasons!
Stin
Guest
The teams chosen are post '96
BBA
Guest
Jez I stuck Rico in the Crusaders team, under Diggercanes rules I think Rico may have played more for the Crusaders than the Blues, plus he also played primarily at 13 for the Blues. Rokocoko is a funny one in the sense that he played better for the AB's then he did for the Blues. On Blues form I dont think I could pick him against guys who were so dominant in the years that they won championships. Eroni Carke was my #2 13 but as someone whio is definitely not a Blues supportere I went with who I would least like to see there, and that was Ranger. I do like your thinking re.Jones and Kaino, its just that I dont think Jones ever played a game for the Blues at 7, as he was in the twilight of his carreer.
Johnno
Guest
Ben Darwin
Johnno
Guest
1 Ben Hindmarsh maybe he was good but got injured, cousin of Nathan Hindmarsh, and son of jim Hindmarsh former Wallaby 5 Jono West also injured was good player 6 Dave Dennis or Pottiger lol 1 game he already in the thirsty 3rds lol 8 Steve Hoiles Done you got a thirsty 3rds Jeznez Coach Alan Jones and Alan Gaffney CEO Jeznez lol Done mate you got a team
jeznez
Roar Guru
New team - just short one lock and two backrowers. 1. Tony Daly or Jeremy Tilse 2. Mark Bell, Kevin O'Kane or Damian Fitzpatrick 3. Paddy Ryan or Laurie Weeks 4. Alister Campbell 5. 6. 7. Pat McCutcheon 8. 9. Steve Devine, Luke Burgess or Brett Sheehan 10. Kurtley Beale 11. Peter Playford or Peter Jorgensen 12. Darren Junee 13. Matt Burke 14. Peter Betham 15. Tim Kelaher
Johnno
Guest
Greg Holmes
Stin
Guest
Ahhhh, sorry - LYNAGH retired in '95.
Stin
Guest
Ahhhh, sorry - LYNAGH retired in '95.... As you were.