Fox Rugby Championship XV 2018

01.Karl Tu’inukuafe (NZL)

After coming off the bench in the Bledisloe Cup Tests, the former bouncer stepped up as a starter following another Joe Moody injury. Tu’inukuafe combined with Codie Taylor and Owen Franks to form a formidable front row, and helped force five scrum penalties across six games.

02.Malcolm Marx (RSA)

The dynamic hooker was a constant threat at the breakdown, securing the equal most pilfers (4) and ruck and maul forced penalties (5). To show he is not a one trick pony, Marx also had 39 carries for 203 metres, three linebreaks, nine tackle busts and a try. Marx also made 45 tackles and was the only starting hooker who did not concede a single penalty, despite playing the second most minutes in the position (394).

03.Owen Franks (NZL)

The 103 Test veteran capped his centurion campaign by winning his seventh Rugby Championship trophy and 10th Bledisloe Cup. Franks forced seven scrum penalties in five matches and conceded the fewest penalties by a prop with three or more starts (1).

04.Eben Etzebeth (RSA)

Etzebeth won the most lineouts this year (30), including the equal most steals (5). In addition to his lineout dominance, Etzebeth was nearly perfect in defence, completing 46 of his 47 tackle attempts. Etzebeth did not shy away on the offensive end, either, with the second most carries by a Springboks player (44), leading to eight tackle busts and 173 run metres.

05.Sam Whitelock (NZL)

Whitelock led all locks in minutes played this season (441), a likely result of Brodie Retallick’s shoulder injury against the Pumas in week three. The Super Rugby winning captain showed his experience and expertise around the park with 11 lineout wins, 64 tackles (most by an All Black), and carried 37 times for 140 metres. He also filled in for Kieran Read as Test skipper in Buenos Air

06.Pieter-Steph du Toit (RSA)

In his fourth Rugby Championship, du Toit was one of the competition’s best. The 2m blindside led the competition in tackles (87) with an average of almost 15 a game. Du Toit was also the most active Springboks player with ball in hand, chalking up a team high 52 carries as well as being a reliable option at the lineout with nine wins.

07.Siya Kolisi (RSA)

The new captain was one of six Springboks to start all six games this Rugby Championship. Kolisi’s powerful, evasive running showed in the stats, leading his side in run metres (384), tackle busts (21) and linebreaks (6). Kolisi also made 70 tackles, the fourth most in the competition.

08.David Pocock (AUS)

Following a 2017 sabbatical, Pocock made a welcome return to the Wallabies’ starting lineup. The versatile backrower filled the No 8 jersey in four of his five starts and was back to his best, securing the equal most pilfers (4) and ruck and maul forced penalties (5). He also made the third most tackles in the competition this year (73) — his most in a Rugby Championship campaign since 2011. He was also one of the more active Wallabies ball runners with 40 carries for 175 metres.

09.Faf de Klerk (RSA)

The 26-year-old scrumhalf was at the centre of the Springboks’ revival this year, playing all but the last seven minutes of the Rugby Championship — the most by a South African and equal second most in the competition. De Klerk threw the third most try assists this season (4), trailing teammate Willie le Roux (6) and All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett (5). His left boot also played a significant role for the Springboks, executing the second most kicks (51) in the competition.

10.Nicolas Sanchez (ARG)

The skilful playmaker is in career best form. In his seventh Rugby Championship, Sanchez put up his best numbers in every attacking category including tries (4), points (67), runs (40), run metres (322), tackle busts (21), linebreaks (7), linebreak assists (8) and try assists (3). Sanchez became the first Pumas player to score four tries in a Rugby Championship campaign and broke his own record for most points (67).

11.Rieko Ioane (NZL)

The standout All Blacks winger played in four of his side’s six matches and crossed the line five times for the equal most in the competition. Ioane broke through the defensive line seven times (equal second overall) and his 11.5 metres per carry was the sixth highest among all players.

12.Andre Esterhuizen (RSA)

Esterhuizen had the equal most starts at inside centre, a position riddled with injuries and selection changes. He featured in two of the Springboks’ three wins, contributing 27 carries for 185 metres, four linebreaks, a linebreak assist and 12 tackle busts. Esterhuizen was also excellent in defence, completing 26 of his 29 tackles.

13.Jack Goodhue (NZL)

Goodhue was outstanding in the opening four games of the Rugby Championship. The rookie led all centres in carries (44) run metres (395), linebreak assists (5) and tackle busts (16). Goodhue’s strong running led to four linebreaks and two tries and he appears to now be Steve Hansen’s first choice No 13.

14.Aphiwe Dyantyi (RSA)

After a breakout Super Rugby season, Dyantyi has transitioned seamlessly to the international stage. The Test rookie equalled Rieko Ioane with the equal most tries in the competition (5). And Dyantyi showed he is more than an attacking weapon by thwarting a number of opposition attacks and scoring opportunities this Championship. The Springbok speedster finished with 31 runs for 317 metres and five linebreaks.

15.Dane Haylett-Petty (AUS)

Haylett-Petty was one of Australia’s most consistent performers throughout the competition, leading all fullbacks in runs (60), metres (515) and tackle busts (23). After moving from the wing to replace Israel Folau, DHP was equal to the challenge with four linebreaks, three linebreak assists and three tries.

by Foxsports.com.au

I was surprised to see so many Boks, the Aussies typically being critical of South Africans. Rassie's Boks have left quite the impression. Some well reasoned selections, clearly putting alot of thought and research into the final XV. 

I was aware of Kolisi's attacking stats before reading the article, but seeing them all together, it makes it all the more difficult to pin down how much value he really has. He is clearly an attacking threat. Is he a luxury we cannot afford to have? He stepped up to the plate in alot of ways against New Zealand and Australia, but there were obvious moments that made one think he was not cut out to be a test loose forward. 

The Foxspo rt stats have been discredited by Mozart many, many times and I suppose he is grosly unhappy about some players being listed.     Nice to see Du Toit getting some credit.....you wouldn't see that from three of our local scribes.

You just can't stop being wrong! 

I referred to Mozart - he has never ever said anything positive about Du Toit.

I referred to Mozart - he has never ever said anything positive about Du Toit and you have been waffling about him too.   At one stage you agreed with and supported a  Mozart campaign suggesting that Du Toit should be dropped from the team or at least benched.

Beeno

Mozart will back a tortoise in preference to De Allende if there is nobody else to back.  So he became a new Esterhuizen admirer because maybe - just maybe he will  be selected ahead of De Allende.   

The same applies to the rest of the players on his hate list.

This is all very easy. André played better than Damian. Nobody else played 12 this year, aside form Pollard late in a couple of games, perhaps 3. One can only evaluate who was played. André won the duel. 

"Nobody else played 12 this year . . ."

Dim Sum, nowhere in my comment did I specify test matches only, so unless you think Damian De Allende and Andre Esterhuizen were the only South Africans who played centre in the Super Rugby or Currie Cup this year, don't pretend you've answered my question.

My question remains, when did Moffie suddenly become a fan of Andre Esterhuizen after calling him fat and slow for years?

Ou Maaik, is your comment aimed at me or Baboon-ou? It seems like you're responding to my question but you're addressing it to the most gutless and feeble-minded of the Servile Gimps.

Dim Sum? You mistaking me for Sum Dim? Who peed in your cheerios thus morning? 

Welcome back Rooineck, it has been a while. You may notice the civility index has improved in recent times.... on the other hand it may not be that noticeable. 

Civility index just dropped. Not to worry, Rooi just needs to wear his knickers a little less tight. 

Rooinek

Please stay around - it is impossible on site with the serial liars running amok.   The fools are thinking that they have taken over and put anything on site as factual, when in fact it is their normal concocted BS. 

Mozart

Unfortunately  what you come up about me you cannot prove and like in the case of virtually all your rugby posts they are  concoction of lies.   You are low life and will remain it.    

I thought there was never a time when one should resort to personal attacks? Or was that said in the heat of the moment when it makes you feel good about yourself? Either way, I can see your desperation seeping through, you should take a break from the board. 

With Mozart around the only things he writes on site are personal attacks on members and his only difference was when he became involved on attacks against players.   His twice a week threads when he aimed his attack on certain players was the only difference in approach.

The AO freak is in the same position - but his attacks on pet hate players and his glorifying of the useless are his main contributions.  He attacked all other members by referring to them as plastic fans clueless about rugby,   When anyone respond he is suddenly the victim.

Then we have the  case where AO had a number of other names on site and the fact that in the last six moths he already had two different names.  He writes the same BS - irrespective of whether he changed his user names or not - and that is the usual give-away.

He had a constant campaign against Israel Folau under his different user names ad when he tried to repeat the same under his second latest user name and got caught out - he changed his comments statement and then claimed I lied when I reminded him of his earlier BS.   He ahs done that numerous times and then claim other membe rs attacked him wrongly and lied in the process.          

With Mozart around the only things he writes on site are personal attacks on members and his only difference was when he became involved on attacks against players.   His twice a week threads when he aimed his attack on certain players was the only difference in approach.

The AO freak is in the same position - but his attacks on pet hate players and his glorifying of the useless are his main contributions.  He attacked all other members by referring to them as plastic fans clueless about rugby,   When anyone respond he is suddenly the victim.

Then we have the  case where AO had a number of other names on site and the fact that in the last six moths he already had two different names.  He writes the same BS - irrespective of whether he changed his user names or not - and that is the usual give-away.

He had a constant campaign against Israel Folau under his different user names ad when he tried to repeat the same under his second latest user name and got caught out - he changed his comments statement and then claimed I lied when I reminded him of his earlier BS.   He ahs done that numerous times and then claim other membe rs attacked him wrongly and lied in the process.