Currie Cup Team of the Week
OPINION: South Africa’s premier domestic competition got underway with the ultimate jaw-dropper.
Griquas set the tone with a 37-13 demolition of the defending champion Sharks.
It earned them the biggest collection in @rugby365com‘s famous weekly selection.
Five players made it into our starting XV – followed by Western Province, the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls (all three players).
The Pumas provide the 15th player.
Griquas were further rewarded with another seven players in our back-up squad – with Province, the Bulls (three each) and Lions (two) making up the number.
Team of the Week – Round One
15 – Tyrone Green (Golden Lions):
Not the finished product, but a real gem. Raw and uncut!
Bubbling under: Anthony Volmink (Griquas)
14 – Madosh Tambwe (Golden Lions):
It is puzzling why he did not get more game time in Super Rugby.
Bubbling under: Cornal Hendricks (Blue Bulls)
13 – Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions):
Sublime skills, although his lack of experience showed.
Bubbling under: Johnny Kotze (Blue Bulls)
12 – Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls):
The best in a shallow pool.
Bubbling under: Andre Swarts (Griquas)
11 – Rosko Specman (Blue Bulls):
Hot-stepping, happy feet. Another wing that looks to use the Currie Cup to make a statement about his skills.
Bubbling under: Enver Brandt (Griquas)
10 – George Whitehead (Griquas):
One of those players that bounces between franchises like a journeyman. However, showed some qualities that will have other team salivating.
Bubbling under: Shaun Reynolds (Golden Lions)
9 – Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls):
He was told by the coach to “prove” he deserves a start. Made a massive statement.
Bubbling under: Zak Burger (Griquas)
8 – Niell Jordaan (Griquas):
He will be key to the Griquas campaign, with his experience invaluable.
Bubbling under: James Venter (Golden Lions)
7 – Sias Koen (Griquas):
It is hard to believe this stalwart is still only 25 – having played 60-off matches for Griquas since he moved to Kimberley from the Sharks in 2016.
Bubbling under: Ernst Van Rhyn (Western Province)
6 – Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas):
The third member of a very impressive Griquas loose trio – the real difference in the game.
Bubbling under: Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
5 – Victor Sekekete (Griquas):
Having struggled to get game time at the Golden Lions and Southern Kings, the former South African Under-20 lock seems to have found a happy home in Kimberley.
Bubbling under: Chris van Zyl (Western Province)
4 – Le Roux Roets (Pumas):
After his unhappy stint in Sydney, he seems to have settled back into life in Nelspruit.
Bubbling under: Salmaan Moerat (Western Province)
3 – Wilco Louw (Western Province):
Had a field day against the under-par Blue Bulls front row.
Bubbling under: Ewald van der Westhuizen (Griquas)
2 – Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province):
He seemed to enjoy to ‘no contest’ scrums, which allowed him to excel in the open expanses of the field.
Bubbling under: Abraham le Roux (Griquas)
1 – Corné Fourie (Western Province):
Part of a very dominant front row that caused all kinds of nightmares for the Blue Bulls.
Bubbling under: Khwezi Mona (Griquas)
Our individual selections:
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corné Fourie.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 James Venter, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corné Fourie.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Abraham le Roux, 1 Khwezi Mona.
@rugby365com
Picture credit: Wayne Seagreen
