My choices in bold:
Habana or Kolbe
JP or Mapimpi
Jaque Fourie or Am
Jean de Villiers or de Allende
Stransky or Pollard
Joost or Fourie du Preez
Os or Beast
Bismark or Marx
Jannie du Plessis or Malherbe
Bakkies or Eben
Matfield or RG
Ruben Kruger or Kolisi
Andre Venter or PSDT
Bob Skinstad or Vermeulen
Jaque Fourie is statistically the third best centre amongst the best of all time. No 2019 Bok can make a Bok all time list. Stransky is better than Pollard, Bakkies better than Eben, Jannie over Malherbe. Juan Smith.
Your morning dump should start posting in place of you. But then, I did tell you that you should keep your head in your pants and let your backside do the talking. I mean that ever so sincerely my snowflake weary.
Fourie is vastly superior to Am. Kolbe doesn't come close to Habana or JP. The latter two were complete wings, aerial superiority, defensive solidity (we don't have one good defensive wing now as Mapimpi has regressed a bit). Both much smarter. Bakkies is immeasurably better than Eben, who is a fine player. Thor is the best bet. 2013 to 2015 Thor.
Monty
Habana
Am
Jean
JP
Pollard
Joost
Beast
Marx
Malherbe
Eben
Victor
Schalk
Juan
Vermeulen
I highly theoretical discussion. The players played in a different era - most players in the past were early on brilliant and became a liability as their careers deteriorated. In the end some damaged their career reputation by overstaying their welcome.
When it comes to WC's the 2011 WC ws a disaster and the 2015 one a farce. Vermeulen was questionable in the 2015 WC after near to seven months out and good in 2019 - and that is to his credit. He came good at the age of 33 as a tight 5 type of player - not a good loosie when linking with backline players. However, I do think he s a excellent no 8.
As to Burger he as a star until his neck injury - but Burger had ball sense - a rarity in the loosie set-up. He lost some of his abilities later in his career and became a reputation player and in the end he was not international class anymore. Matfieldd was good as a line-out jumper - but for the ret he w not a rea tight 5 player ever in other phases of the game. His career entered the ridiculous phase after his return from retirement in 2013-15.
I wold not like to make a pick on anybody listed by Dave.
I highly theoretical discussion.
Yes, Captain Obvious, of course it is as some of the players mentioned are already dead.
Andre Joubert's worst test performance would still be better than Willie's best. Comparing these two players is an insult to the great Jubba.
Am isn't even half the player Fourie is. Less opportunistic, far less able to read play, his running lines are average, he doesn't make big game contributions very often. His record makes him a lower end centre, whereas Fourie ranks top with Gerber. Fourie's defence is probably the best of every 13.
As for Schalk, post 2006 Schalk was the very best Schalk. He became a dynamic player showcasing excellent skills and not mere blunt running or tackling.
Fourie's defence is probably the best of every 13.
Jean de Villiers would have something to say about that. He stepped Fourie with the greatest of ease multiple times in his career. Fourie was a decent spot tackler, but very vulnerable on the inside step.
Monty ran in 60 meter tries in his early tests….later he became a metronomic goal kicker. He played the 2nd half of the WC final on one leg.
On reflection I’d pick Marius Joubert at 13….a classical centre with pace to burn.
Another hard choice is between Skinstad and Vermeulen. Perhaps Bobbie against Oz and Duane against the ABs.
Jean was run over a few times, and stepped himself! Fourie was a rock. Who could forget him smashing Nonu? Jean was a fine defender, but Fourie was the better of the two. I doubt we'll produce another 13 as good as him again. Film doesn't lie, he stood above others as a defender in the most critical defensive position. To compare Am to him does the man a great injustice. His strike rate and win percentage far exceeds all centres but Gerber and I believe it was Umaga.
Am is the best 13 right now. He isn't even as good as Joubert was. Fourie is only bettered by Gerber. The two are far and away the best 13s SA has ever produced. Fourie was more skillful, ran far better lines, was far more cerebral than Am. His defence was vastly superior. Am has regressed since 2018 on defence. He is a good player, Fourie is a legend. The two compared for their output? It's a landslide victory for Fourie. Am will never come close to it, and that in the easiest era for opposition strength the Boks have ever had! No credible rugby mind would ever choose Am over Fourie.