The Super Rugby competition is at the halfway mark. So who have been the hot South African players pushing for a place in the Sprinbok teams? Rugby writers Jacques van der Westhuyzen, Darryn Pollock, Wynona Louw,vata Ngobeni and Mike Greenaway have each s
IF Super Rugby form is the only consideration Springbok coach Allister Coetzee will go by in selecting his team to play France in the June Incoming Series then his will be a rather difficult task.
There have been plenty of stand out performances this season especially from the Lions and Stormers while the Sharks players have stepped up too.
Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch has stood head and shoulders above any of the standing number 10s in the country and even though many have doubts about his ability to defend, nobody can question the immense talent and big match temperament the Eastern Cape youngster possesses.
While barely out of his teenage years, Bosch’s tactical ability to turn a game on its head, and his booming boot, makes him one of the most exciting flyhalf prospects in world rugby.
Coetzee will be spoilt for choice amongst the backs and even though injuries have denied him the services of influential players like Handré Pollard, Pat Lambie and Rohan Janse van Rensburg, there have been some blockbusting performances from the likes of Stormers centre EW Viljoen, Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am and glimpses of returning to form from the injuryprone Lionel Mapoe and Francois Venter.
Sharks wing Kobus van Wyk might feel aggrieved at not making the team, but it’s becasue competition if fierce.
In the pack Coetzee will have to consider his backrow combinations based on the game-plan he wants to employ and fortunately for him he is spoilt for choice with players like Chris Cloete and Jean-luc du Preez good enough to start but have been eclipsed by the versatility and consistency of Lions and Stormers players. Starting: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pietersteph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Wilco Louw. Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ox Nche, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe.
PICKING a team based purely on consistent form over the last eight rounds of Super Rugby was relatively easy in some positions while in others, like loosehead prop and 13, it was tougher. And by going purely on form, a few of my picks are going to ruffle some feathers. One of them is the recognition of bolter Chris Cloete at openside flank having just watched the East Londoner have Bok lock Eben Etzebeth is one of the few to hold a place in all our rugby writers’ teams. another belter of a game in the Kings’ famous victory over the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. The Aussie commentators were in raptures about a player that is a cross between David Pocock and Heinrich Brüssow. I know Cloete – one of the few outand-out ball stealers in our game – would not be picked ahead of Siya Kolisi but I could not resist giving him a shout. Other readers will raise eyebrows at Jaco Kriel not being in the starting XV. I just think brutal Jean-luc du Plessis should start and then Kriel can be explosive off the bench.
The Lions’ front row has to be picked en masse although I am not overly convinced by loosehead Jacques van Rooyen.
Curwin Bosch has been sensational at 10; at 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg was leading André Esterhuizen by a short head until he got injured. Raymond Rhule or Dillyn Leyds? The latter gives you options off the bench and I like Rhule’s aggressive defence to complement his finishing.
At 13, Lukhanyo Am has been promising while EW Viljoen is on the rise. No Lood de Jager or Trevor Nyakane? Hopefully they are starting to find form. In the meantime you have to love Cheetahs prop Ox Nche’s cameos and Franco Mostert’s total commitment. Starting: 15 SP Marais, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosaan, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Warren Whitely (captain), 7 Jean-luc du Plessis, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Pieter-steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen. Bench: Bongo Mbonami, Wilco Louw, Ox Nche, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronjé, Dillyn Leyds.