The talk of potential squads for the Lions to face the Boks next summer has intrigued me to the point where I’d like to see a fantasy team to rival the Lions made up of players from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
I’d like to hear your teams in the comments in what could be a lengthy and heated discussion.
1. Joe Moody
The Crusader edges out Steven Kitshoff for his all-round game. Moody’s subtle hands in play combined with competitive scrummaging are a vital asset.
2. Malcolm Marx
Both South African and Kiwi hookers are in contention, however Marx prevails in a close call as his setpiece has gradually improved, while his impetus at the breakdown makes him one of the best at the rucks.
3. Frans Malherbe
This strong scrummager helped dictate England’s beating in Japan. A battering ram in defence and attack, Malherbe completes a formidable front row.
4. Eben Etzebeth
85 Test caps and a warrior who marshals the Boks’ set pieces and is always at the heart of their devastating maul.
Eben Etzebeth of South Africa (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
5. Brodie Retallick
While he hasn’t played in 2020, Retallick is simply too good to leave out. Sam Whitelock is still class, but Retallick has proven it at Test level.
6. Pieter-Steph du Toit
The 2019 World Rugby Player of the year, and deservedly so, is fantastic in defence and makes some colossal carries. Has flourished following his move to the back row.
7. Michael Hooper
Has been one of the best players in the world for a long time. Formed a formidable duo with David Pocock and has captained well, despite the Wallabies’ decline in the last few years. An athletic player who is an out-and-out fetcher, Hooper has one of the best tackle techniques in the game.
Michael Hooper (Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
8. Ardie Savea
Edges Duane Vermeulen due to his age because, at 34, Vermeulen has had a fantastic career and proved himself to be the best no.8 in the world, but it’s time for Ardie to take over. He was one of New Zealand’s best players in 2019 and has an array of skills with explosive carrying and good energy in defence.
9. Faf de Klerk
This World Cup-winning giant-slayer takes his place at 9 over Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Nic White. De Klerk has the best kicking game by a country mile for a scrumhalf and only Smith and Perenara are more active and potent ball in hand.
10. Handre Pollard
Pollard had a stellar World Cup, with 22 points in the final, is a consistent goal kicker and with a 98kg frame is comfortable taking a crash ball and defending 10. He has been essential to Bok success as a smooth operator.
11. Marika Koroibete
I wanted a crash-ball winger and Koroibete edges it for his defence. Koroibete was Australia’s best player in 2019 and has electrifying pace combined with intimidating strength.
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
Lienert-Brown is a slick centre who has good pace, hands and a sound kicking game. Very underrated, ALB is a more than competent successor to the glue of Ryan Crotty.
13. Lukhanyo Am
The best defender in the world in open play is massively underrated and so smooth in attack – the Boks’ answer to Jack Goodhue as a centre with a solid defensive game, I have gone for his defensive security rather than crash-bash flair.
14. Cheslin Kolbe
I can’t talk about Kolbe without mentioning the try that broke my heart in November 2019, but what an insane player he is – best step in the world with ability to cover 10 and 15.
15. Beauden Barrett
BB was one of the best players in the world with match-winning performances at 10 but he has transitioned well enough into 15, perhaps his more natural position, given his struggles with both goal and tactical kicking. In open play he is simply world-class with ball in hand.
16. Codie Taylor
Dane Coles is hard done by, but Taylor has improved so much to become his country’s premier hooker.
17. James Slipper
Wild card here, but Slipper has returned to form for the Reds and has all the experience to warrant a place in the side.
18. Taniela Tupou
He may not have superior scrum ability but Tupou is an impact player who suits the finisher role.
19. RG Snyman
He may be injured, but like Tupou, he never fails to make an impact in collisions off the bench. He will be in pole to start against the Lions if he recovers from his injury.
20. Siya Kolisi
An inspirational leader like him is needed around the squad.
21. TJ Perenara
Not long before he claims the 9 All Black jersey, Perenara has a lovely all-round game with solid kicking and brilliant support lines.
22. Richie Mo’unga
One of the best 10s in the world, Mo’unga has been insane for the Crusaders. Accurate goal kicking and so, so good to watch in attack.
23. Jordie Barrett
JB’s versatility means he can cover centre, 10 and the back three alongside his brother.
Pundit
Roar Guru
Underrated but outstanding. Am is
Pundit
Roar Guru
they drawwed
NotToJumpIn
Guest
Did you watch the RWC Final? Hilarious to say they won their own scrums. Whilst true, England only had 3 scrums. The Springboks had 11. England conceded 5 penalties at Scrum time. Let us see what the English press had to say about the matter "Rugby World Cup: England given mauling at the scrum – where final was won and lost" - The Sunday Times. Talk about being selective with the facts.
Pundit
Roar Guru
best in the world is a long haul for Am. There have been other players with claims to that. Jonathan Davies has been a good playmaker, De allende is a hard carrier, and Gael FIckou has been brilliant
Pundit
Roar Guru
I have always overlooked Am but re-watching matches makes me see him in a dufferent light.
Pundit
Roar Guru
Agree on Pollard. Apparently he has created a try against Pau yesterday, unfortunately couldnt find that game. He is perhaps the best 10 in the world, even, with respect to Mounga and Russell. Hard carrying play, brilliant flat passing equalled by few, and excellent kicking. Agree on Marx, though the Boks may still pick Mbonambi over him. Moody is a solid prop and a specialist loosehead, Aaron Smith has been a scintillate in SR Aoteroa However, Hooper is certainly not the best 7. Du tOIT IS A PREDOMINANT 7. thus, this should be the Springbok pair of Kolisi and Du Toit. Kolisi was better that Hooper last season .
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
I think he’s had a breakthrough during this season in terms of work rate and experience. I take your point in terms of his previous international appearances not being as impressive as his provincial form.
pm
Roar Rookie
I get that it probably seemed pretty odd that I talked about one performance by Whitelock too when you were talking about him more generally! Just was my most recent memory of him. :thumbup:. Certainly "a class player" to say the least, career-wise
elysiusrugby
Roar Rookie
Has he played as a top 2 TH for the Wallabies though?
killaku
Roar Rookie
Then got a Donut for their troubles a week later
killaku
Roar Rookie
Cos there would be no Aussies
100% agree that their is not much between the top 3 nations in the world. i reckon if you played 3 tournaments between the 3 you could easily end up with 3 different winners. Might depend where you played it. The problem is EFF you are talking about a nation that is 7th in the world and I cannot think of a player in Aus that would make the run on side of a RC nations team. Thor is a possible bench player when you consider the Arg props and will be a run on player in a team like this next year or the year after. He is world class now and has improvement in him. Hooper is a very good player but I think the current NZ 7 and the current SA 7, probably even the current Arg 7, would be ahead of him in the selection of a combined team.
PM my first up comment was a reply to the author. It was a throw away comment on how he worded that Both Sam and brodie were class but Brodie had proven it at test level. Then Neutral jumped in and made it about something different and you followed on from my reply to him. This conversation has gone in an area I had no intention to go and for some reason ( neutrals involvement ) it went bad. You can have any opinion you like about any player you like. All good.
Unders
Roar Pro
SA's turning point in my opinion was their 24-25 loss at home to NZ in October 2017. It gave them confidence that after a few good beatings from the Men in Black, perhaps they could compete again. Although they got thrashed by Ireland 38-3 and lost to an average Wales side that winter tour, 2018 was when the Boks really transformed themselves with Rassie coming in, and doing what he should do- pick the best players in their position regardless of what club and league they play in. England may have been down from their horror 2018 Six Nations, but they sprung up to South African shores with a very dynamic attack and still enough talent that had earlier won back to back 6 nations, beaten Australia 3-0 and won a Grand Slam. De Klerk, Dyantyi and Vermeulen were sensational in that home series for them in which they deserved to win 2-1- they didn't go for the whitewash in the 3rd game and I say that as an England fan we only beat their weakened team. The Rugby Championship will be remembered as the 36-34 game in Wellington, but the Boks played decent rugby throughout, they still threw away 3 games- the 32-19 defeat to Argentina and 23-18 loss in an awfully low-quality game in Brisbane as well as the magnificent 30-32 game with the AB's left you questioning that the South Africans should have won at least 5 out of their 6 games. Whilst they were building an awesome team, their consistency was not quite there and it continued with an ok winter tour. The England game will be known as the start of Farrell's tackling ineptness and even World Rugby said they got it wrong. Having said that, the Boks should have taken the game with a firmer grip- the first half was dominated by the Boks and the game was lost due to the shaky line out and a few scrums where England just simply wanted it more. However the Boks showed their quality away from home again, with good, close wins in France and Scotland. The defeat against Wales in 2018 was another close game, but Wales had won it by the first half. 2018 was a roller-coaster game in which the Boks were very very competitive in every game they played, and could have easily won a lot of those lost games. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. Which South African really cares about 2018, they have and deservedly have a World Cup to show for it.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Without becoming embroiled in the emotions being displayed in this thread, I agree that Nella is one of the top 2 tightheads
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Thor would have a bona fide claim to one of the 2 TH spots.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Also the ref chirping GOAT
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Big if true
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Who’s your preference? My reflex was the same, phrased slightly more sympathetically, but was thinking how loosehead stocks were a bit thinned with beast gone to America
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
I’m a huge fan of Pocock, but the fellow is saving endangered owls and newts these days.