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Readers' dream Bok team

We asked you to pick your ideal bok side for the World Cup quarterfinals and after collecting all the teams from the comments section and the Facebook post of our podcast last week we went through every position and carefully counted the votes.

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The result is a powerful side with a couple of big calls, but one that shows that our readers clearly know their rugby.

The starting XV is exactly the same as the one that started the Boks' final pool match against the USA, and perhaps more notable than who made it is who missed out.

There is no place for Matfield or Pienaar, even on the bench, while Jannie du Plessis rides the pine as our readers opted for youthful enthusiasm and form over experience.

Here is YOUR Bok side:

15 Willie le Roux 

Comfortably ahead of the rest although interestingly Jesse Kriel got the second-most votes at fullback, ahead of Pat Lambie.

14 JP Pietersen 

One of the form players in this World Cup for the Boks, with four tries to his name and seems to be a banker for most people.

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13 Jesse Kriel 

This was one of the closest calls in the side, with Kriel holding off a strong challenge from Jan Serfontein.

12 Damian De Allende 

This is one position about which there is very little debate, De Allende has been on fire all year.

11 Bryan Habana 

Not much opposition to Habana who will have his eye on breaking Jonah Lomu's World Cup try-scoring record.

10 Handre Pollard 

The starting flyhalf did not seem as clear-cut before the tournament, but Pollard's performances seem to have convinced most people that he is the man for the job.

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9 Fourie Du Preez 

There was only one person who did not pick the Bok puppetmaster to start, but the big surprise was who should back him up on the bench.

8 Duane Vermeulen 

Not much to argue about here, he is the only specialist No.8 in the squad.

7 Schalk Burger 

A strong challenge from Willem Alberts, but most readers backed Burger who has had far more gametime this year.

6 Francois Louw 

No real challengers, despite concerns that Louw has played in every game at the World Cup and may be tired.

5 Lodewyk De Jager 

Overwhelming favourite to start, his work-rate and physicality have been phenomenal which most readers feel the Boks cannot afford to do without.

4 Eben Etzebeth 

Unanimous, there are no challengers to his place in the No.4 jersey.

3 Frans Malherbe 

His strength in the scrums and his high tackle count make him most people's choice despite his relative inexperience.

2 Bismarck du Plessis 

There were a fair number of votes for Adriaan Strauss and even Schalk Brits, but the Bok battleship's all-round game won him more votes.

1 Tendai Mtawarira 

There were a few shouts for Trevor Nyakane to start, but most seem happy to back the Beast.

Replacements: 

16 Adriaan Strauss

Some would prefer him to start, but there is no doubt he is ahead of Schalk Brits in the pecking order.

17 Trevor Nyakane

Most people picked him on their bench, with a few happy to give him a starting chance.

18 Jannie du Plessis

Not many people opted for Coenie Oosthuizen, and would prefer to have the Doctor on the bench in case anything goes wrong.

19 Pieter-Steph du Toit

One of the selections that we will probably not see in the actual team, Du Toit was the overwhelming favourite to back-up De Jager as most people overlooked Matfield.

20 Willem Alberts

Could be a devastating impact player, but if Louw gets injured then Burger would have to move to openside.

21 Rudy Paige

Not many people backing Ruan Pienaar, so despite having just less than 20 minutes Test experience Paige got the nod.

22 Pat Lambie

He covers flyhalf and fullback so finds himself on most peoples' bench.

23 Jan Serfontein

Ran Kriel close for the outside centre berth which gets him in ahead of Lwazi Mvovo.

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