Team of the Tournament: Mane Manne
The Lions were simply unstoppable and even though they were pushed close to their breaking point at times, they managed to finish the season with an unblemished record – 12 wins from 12 matches.
Western Province came into the campaign as the defending champions with a new man at the helm – John Dobson – and what a season it was for the men from the Cape. Comfortable victories were balanced with humbling defeats but they managed to click in the semi-final before succumbing to the Johannesburg side in the final.
Consistent performances by various individuals made some selections pretty easy, however, there was plenty of head scratching and consultation around the office but we finally came to a consensus about our Team of the Tournament.
It comes as no surprise that the unbeaten champions have a total of 10 players in our selections – eight starting and two on the bench. Just reward for a dominant season.
The remainder of the starting spots are taken up by two Western Province, Blue Bulls and Pumas players while the Free State Cheetahs has a solitary representative.
The Pretoria side has the biggest representation among the fringe players, with four selections while Western Province and the Eastern Province Kings weigh in with three players each on the bench. The Pumas and the Cheetahs makes up the rest of the numbers.
Team of the Tournament – Currie Cup:
15 Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls)
Added an extra attacking dimension to the Bulls and proved he is just as deadly in the 15-man game.
Bubbling under: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province)
14 Ruan Combrink (Golden Lions)
Suffered a season-ending injury in September but it was his performances until that point that made him an easy choice.
Bubbling under: Sergeal Petersen (Free State Cheetahs)
13 Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
An absolute revelation this season for the Bloem outfit who was devastating on attack and a monster on defence.
Bubbling under: Dries Swanepoel (Blue Bulls)
12 Howard Mnisi (Golden Lions)
Was there really anyone who could come close to taking this position from him?
Bubbling under: Stefan Watermeyer (Pumas)
11 Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls)
Has everything you want as a wing – Speed, power and a knack for scoring tries.
Bubbling under: Rosco Speckman (Pumas)
10 Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions)
By far the best flyhalf in the competition. A deadly-accurate boot and the all-round game to match.
Bubbling under: Tian Schoeman (Blue Bulls)
9 Francois de Klerk (Pumas)
A tough choice that required serious deliberation but the Springbok got the nod for showing consistency throughout the competition.
Bubbling under: Ross Cronje (Golden Lions)
8 Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions)
The Minister of Defence got over the disappointment of missing out on World Cup selection very quickly and showed why he should have been there.
Bubbling under: Tim Agaba (Eastern Province Kings)
7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Western Province)
A workhorse who wears his heart on his sleeve each time he steps onto the field and certainly knows where the try line is.
Bubbling under: Pieter Labuschagne (Blue Bulls)
6 Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions)
Another obvious selection as he led his side to a flawless season.
Bubbling under: Thembelani Bholi (Eastern Province Kings)
5 Franco Mostert (Golden Lions)
One of those players who quietly goes about their business and is not afraid to do the dirty work.
Bubbling under: Ruan Botha (Western Province)
4 Lourens Erasmus (Golden Lions)
The find of the season.
Bubbling under: Jacques du Plessis (Blue Bulls)
3 Vincent Koch (Pumas)
May have struggled with form after being dropped by the Springboks but showed why he is so highly regarded as his confidence grew.
Bubbling under: Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions)
2 Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions)
An exciting prospect who really stepped up to the plate to show what he is capable of.
Bubbling under: Mbongeni Mbonambi (Western Province)
1 Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
Powerful scrummager and ball carrier who is not afraid of a little contact. Cape Town's loss is Bordeaux' gain.
Bubbling under: Lizo Gqoboka (Eastern Province Kings)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe,
6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
