Morne and Strauss make the TOW

Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 - Israel Dagg (New Zealand): It was a one-horse race and we struggled to find a back-up. Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (South Africa) 14 - Ben Smith (New Zealand): Another easy selection. Bubbling under: Gonzalo Camacho (Argentina) 13 - Conrad Smith (New Zealand): At least there was some debate, but Smith just edged Marcelo Bosch because of his involvement in some of the All Black tries. Bubbling under: Marcelo Bosch (Argentina) 12 - Christian Leali'ifano (Australia): He offers so much more than just his goal-kicking. Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (South Africa) 11 - Julian Savea (New Zealand): Maybe he didn't get as many chances as his compatriot, but he was better than the others with a No.14 on their backs. Bubbling under: Horacio Agulla (Argentina) 10 - Morné Steyn (South Africa): Still not everybody's cup of tea, and his critics will point to his two missed tackles, but his six-form-six at goal won the game for the Boks. However, Kiwi rookie Tom Taylor made a strong argument. Bubbling under: Tom Taylor (New Zealand) 9 - Aaron Smith (New Zealand): Another position where one player stood head and shoulders above the rest. Bubbling under: Martín Landajo (Argentina) 8 - Kieran Read (New Zealand): Was there ever any doubt? Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) 7 - Michael Hooper (Australia): He fought a brave, but often, lone battle at the breakdown. Bubbling under: Richie McCaw (New Zealand) 6 - Steven Luatua (New Zealand): Probably the fight of the year. Bubbling under: Pablo Matera (Argentina) 5 - Sam Whitelock (New Zealand): The one position where we had some considerable date, but Whitelock had a higher tackle count and won more line-outs. Bubbling under: James Horwill (Australia) 4 - Brodie Retallick (New Zealand): Another of our unanimous calls! Bubbling under: Julio Farías Cabello (Argentina) 3 - Owen Franks (New Zealand): His workrate, including a huge tackle count, saw him edge Jannie du Plessis. Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (South Africa): 2 - Adriaan Strauss (South Africa): Mr consistency! Bubbling under: Andrew Hore (New Zealand) 1 - Tony Woodcock (New Zealand): It takes a special player to collect 100 Test caps. Bubbling under: Marcos Ayerza (Argentina) Our individual selections! Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 James Horwill, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Marcos Ayerza. Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 James Horwill, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tony Woodcock. Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Marcos Ayerza. Previous selections!

Mozart If you judge a player only at kicks at goal and showing nothing for the rest of his game as a flyhalf - sure you can have Mornbe Steyn. However - he was so bad in the rest of his game that he actually came very near to destroying our chances of winning the game/ Goal kicks : 10 out of 10 Defence : 2 out of 10 Strategic kicks : 2 out of 10 Passing game : 1 out of 10 Overall : 15 out of 40 Rating - Complete failure - not even close

The fact that Etzebeth did not make the side is laughable, Retalick was nowhere near as good.

 

Given none of the 10's stood out, Morne makes the side on the strength of his kicking......pretty poor measure but not the first time Morne has qualified on those grounds. How he made it given how poor his defence was, is beyond me.

 

The Boks were poor in general with only Etzebeth and Vermeulen having good games

 

My top 15 for this week: 15. Israel Dagg (New Zealand) 14. Ben Smith (New Zealand) 13. Marcelo Bosch (Argentina) 12. Christian Leali'ifano (Australia) 11. Julian Savea (New Zealand) 10. Tom Taylor (New Zealand) 9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand) 8. Kieran Read (New Zealand) 7. Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Argentina) 6. Steven Luatua (New Zealand) 5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) 4. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand) 3. Owen Franks (New Zealand) 2. Adriaan Strauss (South Africa) 1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand) Bubbling Under: 13. Conrad Smith, 10. Morné Steyn just because of his kicking game 8. Duane Vermeulen

Juan Figallo could probably be there instead of Franks. Guinazu too. Pablo Matera was impressive but Luatua was more dominant than him.

OK - I will give you my team of the week:- 15 Israel Dagg 14 Israel Folau 13 Marcelo Bosch 12 Christian Leali'ifano 11 Ben Smith 10 Nicholas Sanchez 9 Aaron Smith 8 Juan Leguizamon 7 Steven Luatua (Blind side Flank 6 Pablo Matera 5 Sam Whitelock 4 Brodiw Retalilcik 3 OPwen Franks 2 Andrew Hire 1 Tone Woodcock These were the top performers. All SA players were bad jokes