Springbok World Cup finals XV
OPINION: In South Africa, if you want advice, you light a braai fire! If you want criticism, you select a team, especially a Springbok team.
We are opening ourselves to criticism by choosing a Springbok team from the winners of the three World Cups – in 1995, 2007 and 2011.
Just the thought of it, sends a shudder.
Look at the fullbacks – Rolls Royce André, Percy with all those points and vilified Willie, who was outstanding in the Final.
And that’s just the start.
Go on – Joost, Fourie or Faf; Ruben, Juan or Pieter-Steph, and all those locks?
And we have to remember not to be too influenced by the recent great victory, for all three victories were great.
And we have to remember that it is their performances in THAT match and not in all the other matches that they played.
And it must be the glory of their on-field contribution, not what they did afterwards.
And it’s the whole match, not just a miracle moment – Joel’s drop, Danie’s tackle, Lukhanyo’s pass.
And what about Os? Two winning finals.
And what about the four iconic tackles – Japie on Jonah Lomu, Joost on Jonah, Victor on Mathew Tait, Danie on Mark Cueto.
The Springbok teams that won the World Cup
1995: 15 André Joubert, 14 James Small, 13 Japie Mulder, 12 Hennie le Roux, 11 Chester Williams, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Mark Andrews, 7 Ruben Kruger, 6 Francois Pienaar, 5 Hannes Strydom, 4 Kobus Wiese, 3 Balie Swart, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: Garry Pagel, Rudolph Straeuli, Brendan Venter.
2007: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Wikus van Heerden.
2019: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Franco Mostert, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Rudolph Snyman, Francois Louw, Francois Steyn, Herschel Jantjies.
We had four ‘selectors’ – Paul Dobson, Warren Fortune, Johan Orton and Jan de Koning.
The convener was Paul Dobson!
https://youtu.be/ceD7U4JP5Fo
Individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Both, 3 Balie Swart, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Os du Randt, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Kobus Wiese, 20 Ruben Kruger, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Hennie le Roux, 23 James Small.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 James Small, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Balie Swart, 19 Kobus Wiese, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe.
Johan Orton XV: 15 Andre Joubert, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jacques Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Tendai Mtawarira, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 John Smit, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Juan Smith, 21 Ruben Kruger, 22 Joost van der Westhuizen, 23 Percy Montgomery.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andre Joubert, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Both, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Os du Randt, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Kobus Wiese, 20 Ruben Kruger, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Hennie le Roux, 23 James Small.
- For each position, we shall give the candidates and then our choice. And just remember that every candidate is a great player, picked or not.
Fullback
Candidates: André Joubert, Percy Montgomery, Willie le Roux
Our choice: Percy Montgomery.
He scored 12 points in a 15-6 win and there was some rapid action.
Right wing
Candidates: James Small, JP Petersen, Cheslin Kolbe
Our choice: Cheslin Kolbe
He scored a scintillating try, made all his tackles and his sublime aerial skills.
Outside centre
Candidates: Japie Mulder, Jaque Fourie, Lukhanyo Am
Our choice: Jaque Fourie
A strong case can be made for Am, through the beauty of the lead-up to South Africa’s first World Cup final try. But Fourie was the ultimate defensive general.
Inside centre
Candidates: Hennie le Roux, Francois Steyn, Damian de Allende
Our choice: Francois Steyn
De Allende carried strongly and defended sternly in arguably his best performance in Green and Gold. Steyn had two bites at the cherry and was perhaps the better rounded player – especially in 2007.
Left wing
Candidates: Chester Williams, Bryan Habana, Makazole Mapimpi
Our choice: Bryan Habana
Safe and always a threat, even in a tryless Final.
Flyhalf
Candidates: Joel Stransky, Butch James, Handré Pollard
Our choice: Joel Stransky
Kicking, handling, controlling – and the greatest drop-goal in the history of the game!
Scrumhalf
Candidates: Joost van der Westhuizen, Fourie du Preez, Faf de Klerk
Our choice: Joost van der Westhuizen
Passing and tackling – especially his brave tackling.
No.8
Candidates: Mark Andrews, Danie Rossouw, Duane Vermeulen
Our choice: Duane Vermeulen
Won a crucial penalty turnover early in the game, was solid on defence and made eight tackles. Forty-nine metres from 11 carries.
No.7 flank
Candidates: Ruben Kruger, Juan Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit
Our choice: Pieter-Steph du Toit
Got through a mountain of work on defence, with 11 tackles. Also had a few strong carries.
No.6 flank
Candidates: Francois Pienaar, Schalk Burger, Siyamthanda Kolisi
Our choice: Schalk Burger
An all action player, strong and skilled. Not to mention his physical attributes.
No.5 lock
Candidates: Hannes Strydom, Victor Matfield, Lodewyk de Jager
Our choice: Victor Matfield
His obvious mastery in the line-outs and that tackle on Mathew Tait – a crucial play.
No.4 lock
Candidates: Kobus Wiese, Bakkies Botha, Eben Etzebeth
Our choice: Bakkies Botha
The ultimate Springbok enforcer – powerful in general play, with a great contribution in the line-outs.
Tighthead
Candidates: Balie Swart, CJ van der Linde, Frans Malherbe
Our choice: CJ van der Linde
For his strength in the scrums and mobility around the field.
Hooker
Candidates: Chris Rossouw, John Smit, Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx
Our choice: Malcolm Marx
This was by some distance the most difficult decision. However, after some vigorous debating Marx won our vote – as he did the basics well, had a couple of strong carries and made 10 tackles. Most of all, he played a role in the only Springbok tries in World Cup finals – a sublime offload in the lead-up to Makazole Mapimpi’s icebreaker and a monstrous tackle that spilt the ball and resulted in the Cheslin Kolbe try.
Loosehead
Candidates: Os du Randt, Tendai Mtawarira
Our choice: Tendai Mtawarira
Never has a prop in a Final played such a dominant role in scrums, a massive contribution to the victory.
Our World Cup Springbok Winners XV:
15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Both, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Os du Randt, 18 Balie Swart, 19 Kobus Wiese, 20 Ruben Kruger, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Hennie le Roux, 23 James Small
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