Rugby Championship Team of the Tournament

OPINION: South Africa are the champions and it comes as no surprise that their players dominate rugby365‘s Team of the Tournament.

After going through the tournament unbeaten with two wins and one draw, the Springboks have nine players in our final selection.

The next best team is Australia with three players and then comes Argentina with two players, despite Mario Ledesma’s team not picking up a win.

The All Blacks have one player in the final team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd9OvOUyDbU

Team of the tournament:

15 – Kurtley Beale (Australia):
There was a lot of concern in Australia about Israel Folau’s absence. However, Kurtley Beale has proven to be a good replacement, especially with his exploits on attack.
Bubbling under: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa):
He has certainly cemented his place in the Springboks’ starting XV for the World Cup. He is always a danger with the ball and his work rate in defence is impressive.
Bubbling under: Reece Hodge (Australia)

13 – Jack Goodhue (New Zealand):
There were not a lot of standout performers in the No.13 jersey in this year’s tournament. However, Jack Goodhue has done enough good things to win selection.
Bubbling under: Matias Moroni (Argentina)

12 – Samu Kerevi (Australia):
He was the muscle in the Wallabies’ backline and he got his team over the gain line with some powerful carries. His performance against the All Blacks was out of this world.
Bubbling under: Jeronimo De La Fuente (Argentina)

11 – Ramiro Moyano (Argentina):
An elusive player with ball in hand. Argentina did not score a lot of tries in the tournament, but their backline players still threatened with the ball, especially Moyano.
Bubbling under: Marika Koroibete (Australia)

10 – Handré Pollard (South Africa):
He has given Springbok fans a lot of confidence ahead of the World Cup, especially after his all-round effort in Salta against Argentina.
Bubbling under: Christian Lealiifano (Australia)

9 – Herschel Jantjies (South Africa):
He scored two tries in his debut against Australia and then scored that crucial late try off the bench against the All Blacks. The youngster has certainly played himself into Rassie Erasmus’ World Cup squad.
Bubbling under: Tomás Cubelli (Argentina)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (South Africa):
He was a solid performer in that No.8 jersey and he led his team well in pressure situations. He will be important during the Springboks’ World Cup campaign.
Bubbling under: Isi Naisarani (Australia)

7 – Michael Hooper (Australia):
His work rate was exceptional. He always puts his body on the line and the blood and bruisers are proof of that.
Bubbling under: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

6 – Pablo Matera (Argentina):
Another player who constantly plays out of his skin. He leads by example, especially with ball in hand and his tireless work at the breakdowns.
Bubbling under: Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

5 – Franco Mostert (South Africa):
He does a lot of hard work up front and has great aggression with ball in hand and on defence. Every pack needs a player like him.
Bubbling under: Rory Arnold (Australia)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (South Africa):
The veteran has lifted his game in open play this season. He still has that hard edge in the physical exchanges, but he has shown that he can vary his play.
Bubbling under: Izack Rodda (Australia)

3 – Trevor Nyakane (South Africa):
He was powerful in the scrums during the tournament, especially in the final game against Argentina.
Bubbling under: Angus Ta’avao (New Zealand)

2 – Mbongeni Mbonambi (South Africa):
He does the basics well for a hooker. He hardly put a foot wrong in this tournament and his ball-in-hand play has been good.
Bubbling under: Dane Coles (New Zealand)

1 – Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa):
Unmovable in the scrums and he did his fair share of work in defence for the Springboks.
Bubbling under: Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Leezil Hendricks XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Eben Etzbeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

The Springboks with their silverware at the arrivals media conference in Johannesburg.#Springboks #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/r2AnBTHHtT

— Springboks (@Springboks) August 12, 2019

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), 13 Jack Goodhue (New Zealand), 12 Samu Kerevi (Australia), 11 Ramiro Moyano (Argentina), 10 Handré Pollard (South Africa), 9 Herschel Jantjies (South Africa), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 6 Michael Hooper (Australia), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Argentina), 3 Trevor Nyakane (South Africa), 2 Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 1 Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 14 Sevu Reece (New Zealand), 13 Matías Orlando (Argentina), 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (Argentina), 11 Ramiro Moyano (Argentina), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Herschel Jantjies (South Africa), 8 Francois Louw (South Africa), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 6 Pablo Matera (Argentina), 5 Lodewyk de Jager (South Africa), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Angus Ta’avao (New Zealand), 2 Dane Coles (New Zealand), 1 Ofa Tuungafasi (New Zealand).

@rugby365com