The battle of the SA Shield All-Star teams

OPINION: With the SA Shield firmly in the hands of the Sharks, it is fitting that the Rugby365 team looks at the South African stars who stood out during the contest.

In the past, our readers could dissect and scrutinize only one starting XV composed by Rugby365.

However, this time around the Editorial and Admin selected their respective teams.

The Rugby365 Editorial’s starting XV consists of six Lions players, five Bulls, two Sharks and one Stormers player.

In the pack, Bulls duo Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, who have been dominating the scrums, are the props, while PJ Botha of the Lions is the hooker.

Bulls utility forward Cobus Wiese pairs with Stormer Ruben van Heerden in the second row.

The loose trio will see two captains in the shape of Vincent Tshituka (flank) and Francke Horn (No.8) with former BlitzBok JC Pretorius completing the set at flank.

Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg partners with his former teammate and current Sharks back Jordan Hendrikse at halfback.

The wings are try-scoring machine Edwill van der Merwe and Bulls youngster Sebastian de Klerk, while at fullback it’s the rising Springbok star Quan Horn.

Another promising star Henco van Wyk will combine with David Kriel in the midfield.

The Rugby365 Admin starting XV sees five Stormers, five Bulls, four Sharks and one Lion in the set-up.

Th Admin also opted for Bulls duo, Louw and Steenekamp, but selected Stormers star Joseph Dweba at hooker.

Wiese and Van Heerden are in the second row, similar to the Editorial team.

Bulls star Cameron Hanekom is at No.8, with Stormers forward Ben Jason Dixon and Sharks’ rising star Tinotenda Mavasere completing the back row.

In the backline, Embrose Papier is the scrumhalf and he links up with Lions flyhalf Gianni Lombard at halfback.

Sharks duo Lukhanyo Am and Jurenzo Julius are the midfield combination.

In the back three, Warrick Gelant is at fullback with Ethan Hooker at right wing and Leolin Zas on the left.

*Please let us know which camp you backing and who made the cut for your SA Shield All Star team