Who should lead the Boks?; Rugby 365

It seems that most fans want Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel as the Springbok centres in the crucial World Cup games in England later this year.

If coach Heyneke Meyer sees it in the same way; it begs the question: 'Who must captain the Boks then?'

Before AussieBoer will pick his 31-man Bok squad (topic for later this month), I have no doubt that Jean de Villiers should lead the Boks if they have any chance to win the Webb Ellis Cup.

AussieBoer, as previously mentioned, will pick De Allende at inside-, De Villiers at outside centre and young Jesse Kriel on the right wing.

Who do you think should captain the Boks?

Jean de Villiers, is Meyer's first choice: 34 Test, 23 wins = 67 percent.

Victor Matfield: 21 Tests, 15 wins = 71 percent. However, will Matfield last and/or make the team if Pieter Steph-du Toit regains fitness; while Lood de Jager was impressive in the last two tests?

Schalk Burger: 1 Test, 0 wins. He will be back up to De Villiers and Matfield. However, will Burger make the starting XV? Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw has been the trio in most of the tests when available.

Fourie du Preez has a brilliant rugby brain and has proved himself as a leader even during the Pieter de Villiers era. He has never captained the Boks at Test level yet.

Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss will create selection problems and dare we go down that road of John Smit keeping better hookers out of Bok team due to his captaincy position. Du Plessis' foul-play track record counts against him, while Strauss has been under par this season.

Duane Vermeulen, would have been a great gamble. However, by being injured he missed out of such opportunities during this year's Championship, which makes it very unlikely now. Vermeulen must have been a favourite to take over the captaincy next year; however, is also leaving the Republic after the World Cup.

Francois Louw, would have been and option if he had opportunities this year. However, the fact that he earns most of his fortune in the UK, will open another can of worms if he was appointment to lead Boks.

Question is: "Will de Villiers, Matfield and Fourie du Preez last and survive all the games?'

AussieBoer's choices: Jean de Villiers as captain and Duane Vermeulen as vice- captain.

AussieBoer (Kevin D)
@rugby365com

Schalk can do the job if Victor isn't present. If Strauss was starting I would choose him as I do prefer a hooker as captain. 

 Mattfield won't play all the games & neither will de Villiers or any other player so the question is who will lead the Boks in the big games. At this point I don't think even Meyer knows who will start in the 12 and 13 jersey. Will Kriel or de Allende end up on the wing so all four can play?

D amian would be a good bet on the wing. I've seen him under the high ball at restarts and his defence won't be so much of a problem. He craves space and beating opponents on the outside, having that kind of confidence on the wing would be very good for the World Cup. As per leader? Just give it to Schalk, Jean was never much of a captain anyway.

 
Matfield is not only a useless 5 lock but a pathetic captain as well.

He is emotionally immature.

We cannot afford tantrums on the field in difficult situations.

He should not be in the Protea mix at all.

Schalk is not what he used to be ... a better capt than Matfield by some way though ... he too would not make my Protea squad.