And Rugby 365 picks de Villiers

12 - Jean de Villiers (Stormers):
There is plenty of life left in the Springbok captain's 'ageing' legs. He is certainly silencing the critics who feel he doesn't deserve his place in the national team.
Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)
 

I'm still reading rubbish about Jean being done. Anybody with rugby sense would see he is the only South African  centre who offloads effectively.....he got 4 on Saturday. And he always makes 5 metres from the point of tackle contact. Apart from that he is the leader of a very effective Stormers defence....constantly making smart decisions about when to commit.

At least the so called experts, who were saying the same thing at the start of the season, are beginning to get it. A player is done when his contributions decline and not a moment before.

 JDV has done nothing but cemented his spot - the picture of consistency and reliability defending that crucial channel, making wise decisions and showing he has the ability to offload when the situation warrants it. Very good ball security and retention - can't remember the last time I saw him get turned over in the tackle. Time he starts getting some deserved credit.

Moz I am guesing, not really a guess, that they are  banking on being right some time in the future and then it will be I told you so!  By now they have called fabout  every 12 in the country to replace Jean! hahahahahaha

Do you think Jan Serfontein could play 13?

 Beenom would really like to see that combo - JDV / Serfontein or Serfontein / JDV.

Keep F Steyn out of the backline until he gets his mojo back. 

Oimatey they are both brainy players and so it would be great to see them give it a go.

Of the younger guys how about Jan and Allende. Strong boys with some good skills.

Some young backline players:

Reinach/Groom/Van Zyl

Goosen/Lambie,/Cat

Jan. Allende /JJ /Du Plessis

JP, Van der Heever/Jordaan/Rhule

Frans/ Taute

Frans maybe making some progress - still a way to go to the 4 nations. Wouldnt play him right of this moment. 

I would not be unhappy with Jean/Serfontein....but the youngster has  to continue performing through the S15. We had too many false starts last year.

Mozart

Why not do what i did and copy all the selections to this site?   

I have always maintained that De Villiers is better at 12 than anybody else - at this stage at least.  The only question I ever had is about whether he can last for another year.

My problem has always been his center partner - that berth is wide upen and I believe that some youngr players will have to be considered.    My own favourites for that position would be Serfontein and De Allende - there is really nothing much  else available.

However, whomsoever will be centers - the total neutralizer of backline play (Morne Steyn) wiill be in the team.  When he was not playing in the Reds game  - Serfontein was much more effective..   So we really have a problem.   If Morne is at 10 - they can choose anybody outside and the backline would still be as dead as a doornail. 

Actually as Jean has matured, he has played his best rugby at 12....I wouldn't play him at 13.

Jean had a solid enough game, putting de Jongh away for that try was very good. But Serfontein was better in that he looked more threatening with ball in hand and was huge in defence, completely snuffing out Ebersohn and Sadie.

He and JJ were our best centres this weekend

Mozart

Sorry typing error - I changed my comment to 12 from 13.

Saffex is on cloud 9 again - so he would obviously think otherwise.