Looking at the Currie Cup at the moment, a lot of people are calling it a watered down version, and rightly so, all the Springboks are away at the World Cup. But think about it, where were the Boks last year? They were all playing Tri Nations and only came back for the play-off games. So this is the future of the Currie Cup, the current players are the future Springboks in the making.
So I thought it was a good idea to look at all the players currently involved in the Currie Cup, and select what I would name my Springbok second string team, almost like an England Saxons team, if that makes sense. So here goes:
1.Dale Chadwick – I honestly think he is by far one of the most promising looseheads currently running around in the competition, and has made most of his opponents engage turbo-reverse.
2.Adriaan Strauss – The Cheetahs hooker will also take the captaincy, as he is a strong leader and plays an all round game, from having a perfect line-out throw to scroing tries in the loose.
3.Pat Cilliers – A strong Currie Cup from him so far, he has made that jersey his own at the Lions with some proper performances in the tight.
4.Francois Uys – A fantastic line-out jumper who adds some good weight to the Cheetahs pack, will do even better behind a proper front row.
5.Franco van der Merwe – Again, a solid line-out jumper, has a physical presence around the park and is not scared of getting in there and doing the hard work.
6.Justin Downey – This man has really put his hand up at Griquas so far this season, and looks a completely different player to the one who left the Sharks. Strong runner with ball in hand and big enough to be an extra line-out options as well.
7.Marcell Coetzee – He started with a bang, and his form has kept him in the Sharks loose trio for the entire Currie Cup so far. His form might have taken a dip in recent weeks, but he is still one of the better loosies around.
8.Ashley Johnson/Boom Prinsloo – Who do you pick? Both of them have had amazing seasons, Boom more in the try scoring department, but they have an equal impact at the back of the Cheetahs scrum.
9.Dewaldt Duvenhage – By far the best scrumhalf of the tournament so far, and has shown some real experience and grit in comparison to others who have been tipped to go onto greater things.
10.Elton Jantjies – Another tough decision to leave Catrakilis out, but this man just commands a backline and has improved in leaps and bounds in the last year or so.
11.Danie Poolman – Forms part of a potent back three for Province, and he always seems to get in the thick of things when it comes to scoring tries. He has a decent kicking boot on him as well.
12.Johann Sadie – What can I say? I think we all rate this boy to go on to bigger things. We are all just hoping and praying the Bulls don’t turn him into a meisiekind.
13.Robert Ebersohn – Yet another talented youngster, making his mark with the Cheetahs and seemingly laying well every single weekend.
14.Bjorn Basson – I know this might seem strange, but I will still have him in my team rather than play against him. He scores tries, lots of them, and even though his defence is shakey (to say the least) he makes up for it in five-pointers.
15.Jaco Taute – Made his mark in the Currie Cup last year already, and has come on in leaps and bounds. He has a good boot on him and plays with attacking mindset, something we need at the back.
So there you have it folks, my interpretation of a Bok team based on players in the Currie Cup this year so far. There have been a few tough decisions along the way, but I am sure you will point those out to me anyway.
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Johan Sadie is an outside centre. Elton Jantjies definitely dserves his spot, he has been sublime.
I think after the RWC Strauss has to be around the Bok setup.1 He deserves it 2 He already has a few caps so it won’t be capping some random guy.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
I’m glad you raise that..
Do you think he would do well with more ball at 12?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : No sir.He is not a fan of passing the ball.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : And if the Bulls play him there your worst case scenario is on the cards.
Only 2 Sharks 😯
Good side . I agree about Cilliers.
Throw in Strauss and Minnie and we look well covered at loose forward.
@Pokkel (Comment 6) : Who says this site is biased 🙂
We are all just hoping and praying the Bulls don’t turn him into a meisiekind.
A very big possibility.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 4) :
I see.. my mistake then..
Then Meyer Bosman will have to do at 12..
No Coenie Oosthuizen? Juandre Kruger? JJ Engelbrecht (can’t select Poolman ahead of him can you?)?
If it’s a form XV then sure, but if the current Bok squad went into hiding and we had to pick a new XV, then a definite no-no from me
Wouldn’t mind seeing a Springbok ‘A’ side play a lot more games. Could run it alongside the new ‘Quad-Nations’ or something.
@hendrikp (Comment 11) : I dream about it often, if the Poms can have that Saxon team then WHY can’t we have abother squad?
It would be hella exciting and can only benefit the Bok squad.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : EINA
@hendrikp (Comment 11) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) :
Imagine if the B-Bok team can travel Europe every year, between the Super 15 and the Currie Cup, and play teams like Russia, Romania, Georgia etc.. It will benefit the Boks and those teams who never seem to play any rugby!
It seems the only thing we have is that EP Kings side that went to the Emerging Cup thing on the Boks behalf? Who made that call?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : I remember getting that email and thinking “how the hell did they smokkel that?”
My B team from CC
1.Chadwick
2.Strauss
3.Herbst
4.Skeate
5.Flip vdM
6.Minnie
7.Deysel
8.Strauss
9.Mcleod
10.Jantjies
11.JJ Engelbrecht
12.Hollanbach
13.Sadie
14.Mvovo
15.Taute
16.Burden
17.Kruger
18.Roodt(gwk) 😮 gasp
19.Daniels
20.Coetzee
21.Ebersohn
22.Goosen
Bench isnt match 22 ready ,just a mixture of the next players in line ,not much stratergy and versatility gone into it.
@Talent (Comment 16) :
Flip is a 4, Skeate is a 5 and Daniels is a retired winger, but you get the justs of it..
Still no room for Zane 🙂
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) :
You’d have to use it as a development tool as well, and considering the opposition and what I think players will go in the future I’d probably go more like.
15 Jaco Taute 14 Johann Sadie – out of position sort of 13 Robert Ebersohn 12 Francois Venter 11 JJ Engelbrecht 10 Johan Goosen 9 Dewaldt Duvenage 8 Nick Koster 7 Jean Deysel 6 Arno Botha 5 Juandre Kruger 4 Flip van der Merwe 3 WP Nel 2 Adriaan Strauss 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
16 Bandise Maku 17 Steven Kitshoff 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp 19 Ashley Johnson 20 Jano Vermaak 21 Elton Jantjies 22 Jaco Taute
Had the hardest time leaving out Elton Jantjies as a starter but I think Johan Goosen is Springbok flyhalf at the next World Cup.
Taking nothing away from a few players you selected though. All good players.
Ok I also want to play
1. Chadwick
2. Strauss
3. Coenie (because I can)
4. Uys
5. Skeate
6. Minnie
7. Deysel
8. Johnson
9. Duvenage
10. Jantjes
11. Engelbrecht
12. Hollenbach
13 Sadie
14 Poolman
15 Taute
😈
I really think Flip can be a damned good player but truth is he is a bit wonky this season, someone have a chat with him.
On form he would get any number 4 jumper anywhere.
@hendrikp (Comment 19) :
Good team that!
@hendrikp (Comment 19) :
But you have Taute in your team twice? Is he THAT good?!?!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : 😆 😆 The only person good enough to replace taute is taute
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : ja, but he will have to clone Taute before they can play 👿
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 17) : Patronising aren’t you …
Flip would be my enforcer.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) :
Whoops so I do. Riaan Viljoen would probably be next in line then.
@Talent (Comment 26) :
Just helping you out..
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 21) :
Think we’ll see a BIG season from him next year. Hopefully he comes through well, otherwise we definitely need Gerhard Mostert.
And I’d prefer we stop selecting overseas based players. Too many of them are leaving knowing they’ll still get a place in the Bok squad (like Frans – of course he knew).
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) : haha thanks
@hendrikp (Comment 29) :
Look what playing in Europe did for a top player like Ruan Pienaar?!
@hendrikp (Comment 29) : I certainlyhope we do, I rate him highly but he is making me look a bit foolish this year.
@Talents (Comment 26) :
They don’t call you Talents so probably prefer you call him by his name, Daniel. John Daniels is a winger that I think actually still plays?? But should be retired.
Rich – what an awesome idea for an article… must say, I dig your selections too!
@hendrikp (Comment 33) : he still scores about 40 tries every year, though 🙂
@hendrikp (Comment 33) : John Daniel, Currie Cup legend, holder of the Currie Cup record of most tries scored and WPWs father ❗ 😎
@robdylan (Comment 34) :
Was waiting for you to arrive..
Downey is in there just for you!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 31) :
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Ruan. He played behind a shocking forward effort in Australasia, and they actually put a bit of points on the board as well – unlike the current guys. He wasn’t half as bad as people are making out.
Also remember he won Ulster Players Player of the Year. He just needs a few games to settle in I’d say. Doesn’t bring the same cheek as Francois Hougaard though but if I had to start one I’d start Pienaar over Hougaard at this stage.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 36) :
WPW’s father? Certainly not “running” in the family…
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 36) :
I was wrong. He’s long retired! (well in 2008, at age 36). Could’ve sworn I saw his name playing Currie Cup 1st Div. Must’ve been something old. Or was it Chumani Booi 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 38) :
I think he is miles behing Hougaard in speed and heart..
But I hear what you are saying, he probably has better allround ball skills..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 41) :
Exactly. Tactical appreciation, you’d have to go with Ruan Pienaar. But I’d have Hougaard on the bench because he makes an immediate impact, as he obviously has proven now 😆 Ruan had it tough because no matter what he was never going to take over the 9 jersey from Fourie du Preez. And now his good performances go unnoticed because he doesn’t play in SA.
@hendrikp (Comment 42) :
In agreement then..
Rather enjoy your points of view.. How long do we have to beg before you start churning out a few opinion articles for us?
@hendrikp (Comment 42) :
It’s a tough life earning Euro’s!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 39) : Hey, Errol Tobias son is a hooker.
@hendrikp (Comment 40) : Chumani Booi is captain of Border boet, the man still has some fight in him
John Daniels – Most Currie Cup tries – 74.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 43) : Hear hear
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) :
And nobody close to going past him!!
@hendrikp (Comment 40) : Chumani is still around, racking up the first division caps. He’s with Border now… must be about his 19th province.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) : oh oops… looks like Claytie already said that 🙂
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 37) : ha ha… you’re quite a legend, you know that?
I’m worried about Marcell, though… he’s been quiet the last few weeks. Plum tends to do this to his 7s… play them into the ground and then it takes them a while to recover.
I wonder if Marcell’s carrying an injury
@robdylan (Comment 51) :
I would reward Botes with a start.. He has been great off the bench in recent times, and let Coetzee come off the bench and find some form..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 44) :
Good point. I’m sure he’d have given that up to be the starting 9 for the Springboks though, and to be consistently played at scrumhalf. But then you think that the Sharks actually played Kockott ahead of him for awhile 😯
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 52) :
But I am worried that he is going to play Deysel again in every game until he falls over as well..
@robdylan (Comment 48) :
That’s him then! Remember seeing a name and thinking ‘blast from the past’ 😀
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) : does he have a daughter?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) : does Tobias have a daughter?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 54) :
I’d say Plumtree should give Coetzee a rest, yes. But then give him some game-time at 8 where it’s less forced. Don’t necessarily have to go looking for the ball and can roam a tad more. Would like to see what he can do there, and then hopefully make Willem Alberts into a specialist in one of the positions! (Preferably blindside I think).
Why so few Lions players? 🙂
No Daniels? 😯
Ludick somewhat unlucky too.
Seriously, nice article. And I mean that. 🙂
@hendrikp (Comment 42) : ruan had NEVER had an OUTSTANDING performance in a Bok jersey, he is all hyoe and no substance. another super rugby player who has never kicked on in Test rugby like Toeava!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : @Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : Dirrent the Kings win that tournament?
If they can beat those okes, then surely it’s not worth sending a Bok B-team.
Though I agree, some sort of b-team comp would be nice.
@hendrikp (Comment 53) :
Kockott had his magic season where he was unstoppable.. But looking back, it would have been better to play Pienaar in his preferred position..
As they say… Peripheral vision is always twenty/twenty
@McLovin (Comment 63) :
Correct, the Kings did win it in the end..
Which has to make you wonder whether a B team will be strong enough?!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 65) : proper bok b-team, properly prepared and taking that comp half seriously would be way too strong for that lot imo.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 52) : so did you go to practice today? 🙂
@Rahul (Comment 57) : @Rahul (Comment 56) : dude this is not a dating blog 😉
My bok B team
1. Coenie
2. A Straus
3. Cilliers
4. Juandre Kruger
5. Franco vd Merwe
6. Arno Botha
7. Derrick Minnie
8. J Straus
9. Duvenhage
10. Jantjies
11. Killian
12. Hollenbach
13. Sadie
14. Poolman
15. Taute
Bench
16. Maku
17. L. Adriaanse
18. Roodt
19. Johnson
20. Vermaak
21. R Eberson
22. JJ Engelbreght
@Mutley (Comment 69) :
Not a single Shark in there? Harsh!
@ Richard Fergunon didn’t even notice I can put Meyer Bosman in if that will help
You can play Chadwick or Herbz but both been struggeling the last couple of weeks same with Coetzee. Hargreaves and Skeate are doing good but not that good. Deysel not were he should be and Daniels keeps losing his cool. McCloud again is not were he should be Freddie is French. Bosman and Terreblance probebly the worst 2 centres in the CC. Mvovo and Sithole doesn’t have form at the moment. The only one I’d play is Ludick but he is up against Taute whom is in sublime form
@Mutley (Comment 69) : Killian?
@Mutley (Comment 72) : Hey Matly! 🙂
Killian has been consistent on attack and defence, he has played the same the whole season
@Mutley – sharks front row have been dominant week after week… Check their stats! 🙂
on this topic . what happend to the currie cup team of the week ?
My team of the week, didn’t watch the WP game so can’t comment their
15. Taute
14. Van Rensburg
13. Olivier
12. Hollenbach
11. Killian
10. Jantjies
9. Cronje
8. Straus
7. Raubenheimer
6. Botes
5. Kruger
4. Marius Coetzer
3. Coenie
2. Straus
1. Chanwick
@hendrikp (Comment 11) : I agree accept Jeandre Kruger, I really need to understand the fuss about the man, I feel he is a flank that got pushed into the 5 spot…he is not really an imposing presence,good line out jumper but if it gets tough he goes of the field. I rate young Hendrik Roodt vs Chopper(van der merwe), and then young Bressler(what I like about him is he is almost a clone of Bekker(wish we had him at boks!!) And JJ Engelbrecht is going to score a lot of Bulls try(WTF Province!!!) And what’s up with the Bulls the are picking up Grey Boys like mad!!!
15. Taute/viljoen
14. JJ
13. Sadie
12. Francois Venter(but no stand out)
11. Killian
10. Jantjies
9. Vermaak
8. Marcel/Straus
7. Kholisi(WP)/marcel
6. Deysel/marcel
5. Roodt/van der Merwe
4. Marius Coetzer!!!good player
3. Coenie
2. Straus
1. That Young Cheetha school bus!!!
@BoerSeun (Comment 80) :
Don’t rate Hendrik Roodt much at all. He’s a BIG unit but I’d say his conditioning is always going to be a problem. He’s just not what I’d call an ‘athlete’. Marius Coetzer is also no good man. He’s done some good things with ball in hand, but if you don’t rate Kruger then you definitely can’t include Coetzer.
Arno Botha also outplayed Kolisi as part of that U20 squad. Hasn’t had too many oppurtunities in Pretoria but when he has I think he’s been brilliant.
Think Killian & Strauss also hit their ceiling. Strauss at Super rugby level, and Killian definitely at CC level.
I am missing the try scoring machine that is Jaques Botes.
Worst team ever! Bjorn Basson…pffft…. need I say more?
@Uli (Comment 83) :
Thank you for your insughtful opinion…
@hendrikp (Comment 81) : I agree, Imo Killian isn’t much more than a Currie Cup player.
@hendrikp (Comment 81) : @Ben (Comment 85) :
Clearly the 2 of you watch rugby through thick bottle tops ..
Killian is a more than useful Superugby player and has proven himself on that stage.
🙄
Must i educate u again Ben ..
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 86) : Ha ha! No its fine. Look how that turned out for you when you told me Bosman is so brilliant. 😉
He’s so much more than usefull as the rest off that squad last year. Remind me where did you guys finish on the log?
Point is he is far from Bok or even Bok B quality! Also nothing special at SupeRugby. Just my opinion..
@Ben (Comment 87) :
I agree not Bok material ..
As for Bosman ..i replied a few days ago to you …he is surrounded by frankly averag players ..
Its sad to see actually ..he asn’t crap last year now was he ..
Why would u feel the need to bring up log positions ..thats just nasty really !
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 88) :
CSB the problem with Bosman is his inconcistancy on defense. How can that be the fault of the poor players around him? I agree he isn’t kak on attack but then he needs an Adi outside of him, not a fullback. He needs to sort out his defense then he will be fine.