rugby365's Bok selection

Yes, our team is showing some dramatic changes, most notably in the front row and the back three. And the bench also has a different look.

Some of the changes are injury related and other changes were purely on form.

At fullback Zane Kirchner makes way for Stefan Terblanche and JP Pietersen has forced his way in on the right wing ahead of Akona Ndungane.

But the biggest change is at tighthead prop, with John Smit’s emphatic statement against Jamie Mackintosh leaving us no choice but to move him to No.3. Jannie du Plessis drops to the bench and his brother Bismarck will start at hooker.

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 – Stefan Terblanche (Sharks):
Injuries are beginning to force our hand. We know that Peter de Villiers would probably have gone for Conrad Jantjes, but his form was no good and now he is injured. Frans Steyn is now also an injury doubt. We are going for Stefan Terblanche – not just because of his sublime form, but also his experience. Zane Kirchner and Hennie Daniller are our back-ups.
Bubbling under: Zane Kirchner (Bulls)

14 – JP Pietersen (Sharks):
As they say, you can’t keep a good man down. He showed us at the weekend why he should start and with Habana on the left wing, JP wears out No.14 jersey. The Ndungane brothers remain our back-ups.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)

13 – Jaque Fourie (Lions):
The midfield stocks are beginning to look bare with injuries also making life unpleasant for us. Fourie will be back on the field soon and remain our first choice. We just hope Adi Jacobs doesn’t aggravate his shoulder injury. Players like Gcobani Bobo and Jaco Pretorius have simply not shown the form that gives us confidence to field them against the B&I Lions.
Bubbling under: Adi Jacobs (Sharks)

12 – Wynand Olivier (Bulls):
No change here. 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 of the Lions series – especially now that Frans Steyn is in doubt. Next in line should be Peter Grant, Meyer Bosman and Doppies La Grange.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Stormers)

11 – Bryan Habana (Bulls):
It is such a pleasure to watch Habana at his best. As the adage goes: ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent.’ We are staying with the other Ndungane as our back-up, although some would say Jongi Nokwe deserves a chance. We are in a good position on the wing.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)

10 – Morné Steyn (Bulls):
We are staying with Steyn for this week, but with Ruan Pienaar set to make his first start in eight weeks, there may well be a change in the weeks to come. Frans Steyn’s injury – four to six weeks – makes it difficult for us to pick him anywhere at the moment. Ruan Pienaar is our back-up this week.
Bubbling under: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)

9 – Fourie du Preez (Bulls):
His injury is not long-term and even he does miss this week’s game, he’ll be back for the play-offs and the B&I Lions. He is still South Africa’s and probably the world’s premier scrumhalf. Rory Kockott was silly at the weekend and discipline will be key against the Lions. We are bringing in Jano Vermaak as back-up.
Bubbling under: Jano Vermaak (Lions)

8 – Pierre Spies (Bulls):
The eternal debate – who is the country’s best No.8. We still believe in Spies, but make no mistake, Ryan Kankowski is making some very loud noises and Luke Watson is also displaying some impressive form. However, we are staying true to Spies and Kankowski.
Bubbling under: Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)

7 – Juan Smith (Cheetahs):
No need to change here. His experience and overall ability makes him invaluable to our team. Duane Vermeulen remains on our bench, but Jean Deysel is certainly showing us how much depth we have at loose forward.
Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers):

6 – Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
With Schalk Burger’s injury concerns (he is also in doubt for the Lions), Brüssow is now a key man at the breakdown. Jacques Botes and Deon Stegmann are not bad for back-up, but we are considering converting Dewald Potgieter into an ‘openside’ back-up. For now we’ll be hoping Burger recovers in time, or we may be forced into a change.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)

5 – Victor Matfield (Bulls):
Still No.1 at No.5. Johann Muller is a very able back-up and a quality player and keeps his spot on the bench – ahead of David de Villiers.
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 three weeks, but he is back this week and remains our first choice. Andries Bekker is also still on the injury list, making it difficult for us to consider him as a long-term prospect. We are staying with Danie Rossouw as back-up.
Bubbling under: Danie Rossouw (Bulls)

3 – John Smit (Sharks):
We simply couldn’t ignore the statement John Smit made against Jamie Mackintosh and he now starts at tighthead prop. Jannie du Plessis drops down to the bench – as he often does at the Sharks – and Werner Kruger waits in the wings.
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
He needs to work on some of his skills, like holding onto the ball, but he remains a quality player and certainly the first choice hooker now that Smit is at prop. We are promoting Lions hooker Willie Wepener to our bench.
Bubbling under: Willie Wepener (Lions)

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 and Tendai Mtawarira also made a strong statement of intent at the weekend. We are truly blessed with quality front row forwards.
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).

April 28: 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).

By Jan de Koning

Did Jan get it right? Has he lost the plot? Send us your selections!