Super 15 and Springbok Barometer based on Super 15

After publishing the other thread on the issue - both Spooony and Cleancut asked that we start a thread that could be an input thread for all members. There are a number of problems with such selections - and the norm should be performance throughout Super 15. Some players plated in a variety of positions - while other played only a few games due to inury or inconsistent selections. Take for instance a player like Arno Botha - he only played in four full games - for the rest he was on the bench mostly - the same applies to Serfontein who only really started regularly at 12 towards the middle of May and even afterwards had minor injuries that affected selection. Depite their few games I am going to include Etzebeth and Botha in the slections - because their performances when they did play was outstanding. In the overall team I am going to take into account that openside flanks in New Zealand and Asutralia play in the number 7 jerseys, while in SA they play at 6. THE OVERALL TEAM Super XV: 15. Ben Smith (Highlanders), 14. Frank Halai (Blues), 13. Rene Ranger (Blues), 12. Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11. Digby Ioane (Reds), 10. Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9. Will Genia (Reds), 8. Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7. Lappies Labuschagne (Cheetahs), 6. Mat Todd (Crusaders), 5. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3. Ben Afeaki (Chiefs), 2. Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs). 16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 17. James Slipper (Reds), 18. Pieter-Steph Du Toit (Sharks), 19. Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), 20. Cobus Reinaach (Sharks), 21. Jan Serfontein (Blue Bulls), 22. Israel Folau (Waratahs). In some cases I used overall stats where I make picks that differ from the original and there is in fact a relatively minor number of changes where I differ from the original selections. In the case of Weepu for instance - I would have picked him if he maintained his original form early in the season - but he fizzled out badly towards the end of the season. THE SPRONGBOK BAROMETER 15. Louis Ludick (Sharks), 14. Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), 13. JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), 12. Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11. Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9. Cobus Reinach (Sharks), 8. Philip van der Walt (Cheetahs, 7. Lappies Labuschagne (Cheetahs), 6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks), 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3. Frans Malherbe (Stormers), 2. Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs). 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), 17. Tendai Mtwarira (Sharks), 18. Francois Uys (Cheetahs), 19. Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs), 20. Jano Vermaak (Bulls), 21. Patrick Lambie (Sharks), 22. Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks). I left out players with a small number of games and showed zilch in those they actually played in, In some cases a player like Fourie who played in the hooker and no 6 jersey missed the pot in both positions. Comments would be appreciated..

Mike, it would be great to see your Bok Barometer team run out against the Argies. I am sick and tired of 'reputational' selections and because of this we have no flair, spark and the opposition know exactly how we are going to play.

Our forwards dont carry the ball and our 10 kicks possesion away but hell we can tackle. Dumb ass predictable rugby if you ask me. The Cheetahs have clearly demonstrated, this season, what brand of rugby we should be playing and while you have 5 Cheetahs in your Bok Baromeeter side all the players you have selected would love to play expansive rugby.

My list of reputational players who did and do nothing in the test arena are : Danie Roussou, Spies, Jannie, Morne (but we have nothing better), JP (borderline), Frans (for a long time), Beast (no ball carries in a Test), Hougard (dismal service in Tests), Lambie (nothing to show at Bok level so far), Jean (borderline), Kirchner (good under high ball but nothing after that and our opposition dont kick away posession like we do). The list is endless.

When we look at this, we should be picking 'form' players and our 'reputational' players will get a kick up the arse. We may win something then.

Please dont get me wrong there are many who did and do perform best on the big stage to name a few: Brian, Bakkies, Vic, Schalk, Juan, Os, Naas, Fourie, Joost and a few more.

 

 

Hey Mike… So how are we gonna do this?

 

Do I pick a full team for the Bokke and another for the best overall Super 15 team … or would you prefer taking it position for position? Say for example targeting the loosies, having everyone nominate the loose trio in both team and then calculating the most popular?

 

I suppose that’s a lot of work.

 

Would be very interesting though.

 

 

Please note that the Bok barometer team is based purely on Super 15 form and not on the actiual candidaes for Springbok selection. Players like for instance Francois Louw are not included in the process. Cleancut The idea is to pick the form players from Super 15 from all teams that played and secondly do a barometer squad from SA players only - also based on Super 15 form. Normally I did not pick players who played in less than 8 of the Super 15 games - the only exception being Etzebeth because of his exceptional performance in the last few games. Other players in similar position (like Hougaard and Alberts) did not get selected because they did not show exceptional form or like Alberts showed zilch in the games he played in. For instance Arno Botha played very few games as a starting player and was not properly utilized by the Bulls. To an extent the same applied to Jan Serfontein who was in fact only used properly by the Bulls in the latter half of the tournament.