Team of the Month: Superior south
With the June Tests having come and gone, it was time for rugby365's esteemed panel of selectors to put their thinking hats on.
It wasn't easy, with the exception of a couple of positions, but we produced two teams of players whom we felt produced the most outstanding performances this past month.
Not surprisingly the three unbeaten Southern Hemisphere teams – New Zealand, South Africa and Australia – totally dominate our selection.
Our starting XV has six All Blacks, four Springboks and a Wallaby – with England (two), Wales and Ireland (one each) making up the numbers.
There is further reward for the south's dominance in our back-up squad – five Boks, four Kiwis and four Aussies.
France provide the two remaining members of the Bubbling Under squad.
Team of the Month – June:
15 – Willie le Roux (South Africa):
The attacking spark in the Springbok backline and a major contribution to the 23 tries in four outings.
Bubbling under: Ben Smit (New Zealand)
14 – Alex Cuthbert (Wales):
Knows his way to the tryline and one of the Welsh heroes in a heartbreaking one-point loss in the second Test.
Bubbling under: Cornal Hendricks (South Africa)
13 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand):
The 'old man' of the All Black backline still has more class than any No.13 on show.
Bubbling under: Malakai (Fekitoa (New Zealand)
12 – Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand):
Our panel was not overly concerned with his shoulder-charging habits or the fact that in some games he missed as many tackles as he made.
Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (South Africa)
11 – Julian Savea (New Zealand):
The monster truck steamrolled his way to four tries, including an impressive hat-trick in the third Test against England.
Bubbling under: Bryan Habana (South Africa)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (Ireland):
The Irish quietly went about their business, and he was the man pulling the strings in an unbeaten series.
Bubbling under: Bernard Foley (Australia)
9 – Fourie du Preez (South Africa):
Tough choice, but in the end Du Preez had a bigger role in the Springboks' try-scoring spree than Aaron Smith in the All Blacks' unbeaten run.
Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (South Africa):
The wrecking ball was a unanimous choice.
Bubbling under: Damien Chouly (France)
7 – Michael Hooper (Australia):
Led from the front, like a true trooper.
Bubbling under: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6 – Francois Louw (South Africa):
This was an interesting and long debate, but in the end Louw got the nod because he was right up there in all aspects of forward play – most carries, most effective carries, work at the breakdown and defence.
Bubbling under: Thierry Dusautoir (France)
5 – Geoff Parling (England):
Another lengthy debate, in which Parling edged Victor Matfield because of the quality of the opposition.
Bubbling under: Victor Matfield (South Africa)
4 – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand):
No debate!
Bubbling under: Lodewyk de Jager (South Africa)
3 – David Wilson (England):
Did exceptionally well in a losing cause – not just in the set pieces, but with his allround game.
Bubbling under: Sekope Kepu (Australia)
2 – Dane Coles (New Zealand):
Probably doesn't get enough credit for the growth he has shown in the last 12 months.
Bubbling under: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia)
1 – Tony Woodcock (New Zealand):
The veteran played like a spring chicken in June.
Bubbling under: James Slipper (Australia)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 David Wilson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Weekly selections:
Team of the Week – June, Round Three: 15 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Bernard Foley (Australia), 9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales), 7 Michael Hooper (Australia), 6 Francois Louw (South Africa), 5 Will Skelton (Australia), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).
Team of the Week – June, Round Two: 15 Willie le Roux (South Africa), 14 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Duane Vermeulen (South Africa), 7 Michael Hooper (Australia), 6 Tom Wood (England), 5 Geoff Parling (England), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 David Wilson (England), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Springboks).
Team of the Week – June, Round One: 15 Israel Folau (Australia), 14 Adam Ashley Cooper (Australia), 13 Manu Tuilagi (England), 12 Wynand Olivier (World XV), 11 Nick Cummins (Australia), 10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Duane Vermeulen (South Africa), 7 Chris Robshaw (England), 6 James Haskell (England), 5 Sam Carter (Australia), 4 Bakkies Botha (South Africa), 3 Carl Hayman (World XV), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia), 1 Sona Taumalolo (World XV).
