The season is nearing its end and if the player performances are taken into account thus far - who should be considered based on their performances for selection as Springboks. In my assessment of actual performances I would make the following assessments:-
Full back
Potential candidates are Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe. I would say that in a few games Kriel was excellent - but in recent games he was less effective. Kolbe is a physically small player and he has speed and is a good positional player - but there are serious question marks iro defense. Willie le Roux was the same throughout the season before his recent injury.
My choice is -
1. Willie le Roux
2. Jesse Kriel
3. Cheslin Kolbe
Wings
There are very few wings that showed continuous good play and in Super 15 there are just three worth mentioning - namely Francois Hougaard, Ruan Combrinck and Kobus van Wyk, while in his recent game Lionel Mapoe - who was constantly good at 13 - showed some real value on the wing.
My choices would be the following:-
1. Francois Hougaard
2. Ruan Combrinck
3. Kobus van Wyk
4. Lionel Mapoe
Centers
No 13
We have a serious problem here and there were only a few players that showed some signs of top class performance throughout the season. I am going to stick my neck out and rate the following players:-
1. Harold Vorster
2. Lionel Mapoe
3. Johann Sadie
4. JJ Engelbrecht
5. Francois Venter
In rating a rookie in Vorster that highly - I took into account that the youngster got better at 12 as the season progressed - and was outstanding in his three latest games where he played at 13.
No 12
There is a problem here as well, since most inside centers showed some problems - while others had only two games as starters. In the games where he played at 12 Esterhuizen had some good moments - but he also had some very poor ones. Francois Steyn was poor in his first four games and after a five week ban showed some improvement - but is still not up to standard.
1. Damian de Allende
2. Francois Venter
3. Harold Vorster
4. Jan Serfontein
5. Burger Odendaal
Flyhalfs
The choice here is limited to four players, namely Handre Pollard, Patrick Lambie, Elton Jantjies and Joe Pietersen
1. Handre Pollard
2. Patrick Lambie
3. Elton Jantjies
4. Joe Pietersen
Scrumhalfs
There are only two scrummies worth mentioning and those are Cobus Reinach and Faf de Klerk, with outsiders to be considered being Rudi Paige and Nic Groom.
1. Faf de Klerk
2. Cobus Reinach
3. Rudi Paige
4. Nic Groom
No 8's
Only two players really deserve mentioning and those are -
1. Duane Vermeulen
2. Warren Whiteley
No 7's
The one player that was consistently good was Schalk Burger. Labuschagne was good in the early games - was injured and came back playing out of his normal position at 6. Arno Botha played a few games at 7 and was not really impressive in his latest game. Michael Rhodes had some good games at 7 and got injured. Alberts played only three games this year and only two at 7. H e was poor in both of those two games.
1. Schalk Burger
2. Pieter Labuschagne
3. Arno Botha
4. Warwick Tecklenburg
5. Michael Rhodes
No 6's
Some very good players here and strictly based on overall performances we have the following:-
1. Jaco Kriel
2. Marcel Coetzee
3. Heinrich Brussow
Locks
Here there is a problem. The hype is all about Victor Matfield - but he is physically-deficient and produces nothing in Tight 5 play, which is seriously problematic. The issue is to strengthen the Tight 5 and that is my main criterium here. I think the outstanding locks this year has been the following:-
1. Eben Etzebeth
2. Jacques du Plessis
3. Pieter-Steph du Toit
4. Franco Mostert
5. Carl Wegner
Props
Tightheads
1. Frans Malherbe
2. Vincent Koch
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Marcel van der Merwe
5. Julian Redelinghuys
Looseheads
1. Tendai Mtawarire
2. Schalk van der Merwe
3. Trevor Nyakane
4. Jacques van Rooyen
Hookers
1. Adriaan Strauss
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Armand van der Merwe
