Willie eclipses Dagg

 Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town - The Springboks’ Willie le Roux has eclipsed even established superstar All Black Israel Dagg to the fullback berth in a neutral newspaper’s Castle Rugby Championship “team of the week” selection after Saturday’s first-round fixtures.

The Sydney Morning Herald, clearly downbeat about Australia’s performance in their 47-29 home thrashing at the hands of New Zealand, overwhelmingly opted for All Black and Bok players in their side, based on performance in every specific position over the course of the two games, which also saw South Africa trounce Argentina by a record 73-13 in Johannesburg.

They named nine players from the defending world champions’ ranks and five Bok standouts in the XV, leaving room only for Wallaby open-sider Michael Hooper - heroic in the losing cause at ANZ Stadium - to complete the line-up.

The South Africans picked are Le Roux and captain Jean de Villiers in the backline, and forwards Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss.

Le Roux’s slippery talents being noted is significant, given that considerably more experienced, crowd-pleasing Test customer Dagg did his bit, too, in the All Blacks’ polished bonus-point triumph in Sydney.

South Africans will also bear in mind that ahead of the Championship, there was still talk that Bok coach Heyneke Meyer would opt for a more conservative player in the last line of defence like Zane Kirchner.

But 24-year-old Le Roux’s X-factor on attack was only apparent once more on Saturday, as he earned his fourth cap for South Africa and went about his defensive chores competently as well against the Pumas.

In the imaginary line-up, Le Roux is joined in the back three by in-form All Black wings Ben Smith, who registered a hat-trick of tries against the Wallabies, and the freakishly quick and powerful Julian Savea.

This was the Herald’s full team, based on Saturday’s two matches: 

15 Willie le Roux (SA), 14 Ben Smith (NZ), 13 Conrad Smith (NZ), 12 Jean de Villiers (SA), 11 Julian Savea (NZ), 10 Aaron Cruden (NZ), 9 Aaron Smith (NZ), 8 Kieran Read (NZ), 7 Michael Hooper (Aus), 6 Steven Luatua (NZ), 5 Sam Whitelock (NZ), 4 Eben Etzebeth (SA), 3 Jannie du Plessis (SA), 2 Adriaan Strauss (SA), 1 Tony Woodcock (NZ).

*A Sport24 selection might have featured an identical backline, but perhaps found room forJuandre Kruger at lock alongside compatriot Etzebeth, given that the former Bulls star produced one of his best Tests yet for the Boks. Versatile Bok flank Francois Louw, who can play either on the open or blindside, would have run Luatua close for a berth, too.

Some bad mistakes. JJ was twice the player Carthose Conrad was. How can they leave out Louw. leaving out wee mcaaaw sure but Louw!!! Horwill before Whitlelock. The ab locks were poor. Habana should also have made it. Cant see why old man woodie got in?

What made Aletua better than Alberts!!!

The first guy to be picked should have been Fourie Du Preez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose they didnt give too much recognition because Argies were poor or made to look poor.

Ummmm, am I supposed to be bothered by that? I can act like it if it makes you fell better about your silly bean brained self?

@beeno1 aka storminged,

"What made Aletua better than Alberts!!!"
the brumbies flanker was better then alberts all year, but i think ur meant luatua, i guess all the bros look the same to u aye??? o_O

dagg was solid, but le roux was better, but mark my words, le rouxs style is going to get torn apart by the wallabies and the All Blacks, Boks havent faced anybody even close to the level that their SANZAR bros are at, and while u have been playing tiddly winks with teams form the shallow end of the tier 1 pool, the All Blacks have had three tests with the french and the wallabies have had three tests with the lions, as well as the two bledisloes coming up.
the signs are on the wall, so take two Boks and run to noahs ark, cos theres a tasman flood a coming ur way, :oP

How great is it for us to debate if a bok fullback is better than his AB counterpart.

Le roux in terms of his attacking edge is one of the best 15's in the game today...if you look at his running lines he always draws 2 or 3 players and that shows that the defence is very aware of his skillset on attack with means alot more space for our outside backs. when he has the ball in hand he is much more potent...on defence he is capable but if hansen will just target him it might turn out to be quite foolish.

the backline has a lot more speed and cohesion than before but as the ruck speed improves the more potent the backline becomes.