rugby365's Bok selection

We have named an unchanged starting XV this week, but our ‘bubbling under’ bench does show a few changes.

Wing JP Pietersen (Sharks) and flank Duane Vermeulen (Stormers) come into the picture this week – but the rest is unchanged.

We 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):
Without doubt the form fullback in the country. Stefan Terblanche is back in action this week and may be a threat, while Hennie Daniller has also put his hand up.
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 Chiefs.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)

13 – Jaque Fourie (Lions):
He may not have played, and just as well, because the Lions’ loss to the Western Force certainly bruised a few egos. Fourie should be back in action this week and remains our first choice – while Adi Jacobs will also be back in action this week, after a bye.
Bubbling under: Adi Jacobs (Sharks)

12 – Wynand Olivier (Bulls):
Week after week he produces stand-out performances and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers must be a happy man – have two such quality centres in his arsenal. We are desperately hoping Jean de Villiers’s injury won’t keep him out for more than four weeks.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Stormers)

11 – Bryan Habana (Bulls):
He is fast regaining his best form and his overall workrate is the most pleasing aspect of his much-improved game. Henno Mentz is a bit erratic at the moment, but with JP Pietersen back in action and Jongi Nokwe in good form, there’s no problem with quality back-up.
Bubbling under: JP Pietersen (Sharks)

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 could still lean towards Frans Steyn in desperation, but Ruan Pienaar may be back in action this week.
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 back to his rampaging best form and was a menace on attack against the Chiefs. 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 has also regained his best form and certainly showed why he was such a star at the 2007 World Cup. We have decided we must find a spot for Duane Vermeulen and he forces his way onto our bench.
Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers):

6 – Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
He was, along with teammate Juan Smith, one of the stars for a Cheetahs team that stopped the mighty Crusaders in their tracks. Schalk Burger is still struggling with his form, but remains on our bench.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)

5 – Victor Matfield (Bulls):
He showed the difference he can make – as captain and player – as the Bulls managed to remain composed and hung on for a vital win. Johann Muller is still the next best, even though he didn’t play.
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 for the past two weeks, but he remains our first choice. Andries Bekker did a fine job in his comeback game, but another injury is making it difficult for us to consider him as a long-term prospect.
Bubbling under: Danie Rossouw (Bulls)

3 – Jannie du Plessis (Sharks):
No change here this week, even though Werner Kruger produced another stand-out performance. We are sticking with Du Plessis, but the pressure is on.
Bubbling under: Werner Kruger (Bulls)

2 – John Smit (Sharks):
We still rate him as the best hooker in the business and Bismarck du Plessis keeps his bench spot. We are still keeping our eyes on Lions hooker Willie Wepener.
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. Tendai Mtawarira remains our back-up.
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).

April 21: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 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).