rugby365's Bok selection

There’s just one change to our starting XV this week, as we also believe in consistency. But there is plenty of movement on the bench.

Stefan Terblanche of the Sharks makes way for Bulls star Zane Kirchner, who will make his debut in our team at No.15.

We said we will reward consistency and we have, in Kirchner’s case. Terblanche remains in the squad.

We will again name the player in each position we feel has the best form and a player ‘bubbling under’.

This team will be updated every week and will take into account general form, not just weekly form – although in some cases weekly form does play a role.

Injured players will be considered if they have a chance of recovering in time for the Lions tour and have showed good form.

Here is this week’s rugby365 Bok XV!

15 – Zane Kirchner (Bulls):
He has been improving consistently this season and is certainly an investment for the future. However, I wouldn’t throw Stefan Terblanche away, he is still the ideal back-up when you need to call on some experience. Earl Rose also deserves a mention for a credible performance at the weekend.
Bubbling under: Stefan Terblanche (Sharks)

14 – Akona Ndungane (Bulls):
Still ahead of his brother, Odwa, in our team after producing another fine display on attack and defence against the Brumbies.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)

13 – Jaque Fourie (Lions):
He may not have played, but the injury won’t keep him out for longer than a couple of weeks and he’ll be fit to face the Lions. Adi Jacobs did not have the best day at the office, but – to use that well versed cliché – we know what we have in him.
Bubbling under: Adi Jacobs (Sharks)

12 – Wynand Olivier (Bulls):
If anybody still doubts that he is the form inside centre in South Africa, please get a copy of the Bulls’ game against the Brumbies. We are desperately hoping Jean de Villiers’s injury won’t keep him out for more than four weeks, as he remains a class player.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Stormers)

11 – Bryan Habana (Bulls):
He just needs to keep improving every week and he’ll soon be back to his 2007 form. Good to see his timing – for the intercept – is coming right. Henno Mentz is back in the picture after a great hat-trick.
Bubbling under: Henno Mentz (Lions)

10 – Morné Steyn (Bulls):
As we said last week, he may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but he is without doubt the form flyhalf in South Africa. The Boks are a bit thin here and we’re leaning towards Frans Steyn in desperation, as we are not sure when exactly Ruan Pienaar will be back.
Bubbling under: Frans Steyn (Sharks)

9 – Fourie du Preez (Bulls):
Nothing changed here. He is still South Africa’s and probably the world’s premier scrumhalf. Rory Kockott remains the next best.
Bubbling under: Rory Kockott (Sharks)

8 – Pierre Spies (Bulls):
He is beginning Back to his rampaging form last week and justified the faith we showed in him. Ryan Kankowski has still not found his best form, but we are not ready to discard him just yet.
Bubbling under: Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)

7 – Juan Smith (Cheetahs):
He tried his heart it in a lost cause, but he again showed his is South Africa’s best blindside flank. We open the back door for Lions captain Ernst Joubert.
Bubbling under: Ernst Joubert (Lions):

6 – Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
He was, along with teammate Juan Smith, one of the stars for a Cheetahs team that tackled their hearts out for 70 minutes – only to be undone by a gross touch judge error. Schalk Burger is still struggling with his form, in a very poor team, but remains on our bench.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)

5 – Victor Matfield (Bulls):
He may not have played, but he is back this week and we all know he is the best. Johann Muller is still the next best, but Wilhelm Steenkamp made a strong statement at the weekend.
Bubbling under: Johann Muller (Sharks)

4 – Bakkies Botha (Bulls):
He may have earned himself a three-week ban for some over-zealous play, and didn’t play last week, but he remains our first choice.
Bubbling under: Danie Rossouw (Bulls)

3 – Jannie du Plessis (Sharks):
Tighthead remains a problematic position and we were tempted to give it to Werner Kruger of the Bulls, but we thought Du Plessis deserves one more chance – that’s if he doesn’t get suspended. Kruger is making some loud noises though.
Bubbling under: Werner Kruger (Bulls)

2 – John Smit (Sharks):
We still rate him as the best hooker in the business and we are keeping him as a tighthead back-up. Bismarck du Plessis keeps his bench spot, but he must be aware – Lions hooker Willie Wepener has more than just a foot in the back door.
Bubbling under: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)

1 – Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls):
Firmly entrenched in the first place as South Africa’s premier loosehead prop. Heinke van der Merwe’s long-term injury rules him out of selection for the season. It opens the door for Tendai Mtawarira to step back in – not a bad replacement either.
Bubbling under: Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Previous selections:

April 7: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Henno Mentz (Lions), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

April 14: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls).

By Jan de Koning