Currie Cup Team of the Tournament
OPINION: It took us a few days, but now that the dust has settled we can finally unveil @rugby365com's famous selection!
Despite their big flop in the Final, the Golden Lions still manage to produce most of the members of our starting XV - five Lions players making the cut, based on their form throughout the season.
The Lions' backline were the biggest winners - with Tyrone Green, Madosh Tambwe, Wandisile Simelane and Stean Pienaar being named in our first-choice selection.
The Currie Cup champions, the Free State Cheetahs, are hot on their heels with four starters, including the much-vaunted front row forwards Joseph Dweba and Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Griquas were also well rewarded with three starters, with the Sharks (two) and Pumas (one) making up the numbers.
The Cheetahs' eventual win and great form throughout the season saw them earn further rewards in our back-up squad - where they have seven players bubbling under.
Griquas (five), Sharks, Golden Lions (two) and Western Province (one) make up the rest of our back-up squad.
Team of the Tournament
15 - Tyrone Green (Golden Lions):
His poor showing in the Final did not prevent him from edging the vastly improved Clayton Blommetjies into our selection.
Bubbling under: Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs)
14 - Madosh Tambwe (Golden Lions):
Another player who had a nightmare Final, but did enough during the season to attract the attention of our selectors ... and the Sharks, who have subsequently signed him.
Bubbling under: William Small-Smith (Free State Cheetahs)
13 - Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions):
Despite some mishaps during the season, most notably in the Final, he remains a bright prospect for the future.
Bubbling under: Bernhard Janse van Rensburg (Free State Cheetahs)
12 - Jeremy Ward (Sharks):
The captaincy, even though he shared it, suited him well and seemed to elevate his game.
Bubbling under: Dries Swanepoel (Free State Cheetahs)
11 - Stean Pienaar (Golden Lions):
He has to work on his skills, but he has bucket-loads of talent.
Bubbling under: Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
10 - George Whitehead (Griquas):
It was a massive debate around the flyhalf position. In the end, he won the vote by the narrowest of margins, based on his consistent form throughout the season.
Bubbling under: Tian Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs)
9 - Ruan Pienaar (Free State Cheetahs):
After a slow start, his class shone through - especially in the play-offs, where he proved to be the difference.
Bubbling under: Zak Burger (Griquas)
8 - Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs):
Consistently the best in terms of his workrate and physicality.
Bubbling under: Niell Jordaan (Griquas)
7 - Sias Koen (Griquas):
He was a mainstay for the Kimberley outfit. His amazing workrate went a long way towards getting them into the semifinals.
Bubbling under: Cyle Brink (Golden Lions)
6 - Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions):
One of the hardest-working loose forwards in the country. If only all his teammates had his heart.
Bubbling under: Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas)
5 - Victor Sekekete (Griquas):
Finally came into his own this year, after the 25-year-old's promising career seemed to have stalled when he moved to the Southern Kings in 2017.
Bubbling under: Marvin Orie (Golden Lions)
4 - Le Roux Roets (Pumas):
After his failed stint with the Waratahs had threatened to stall his career, the 2019 Currie Cup reignited it.
Bubbling under: Walt Steenkamp (Free State Cheetahs)
3 - Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks):
After the disappointment of not making the World Cup squad, he showed that he is not a bad back-up to have.
Bubbling under: Wilco Louw (Western Province)
2 - Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs):
Not the size of some of the behemoths that feature as modern hookers, but the size of his heart more than makes up for what he lacks in stature.
Bubbling under: Abraham Le Roux (Griquas)
1 - Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs):
He has been a much sought-after prop and the Sharks appear to have won the race for his signature.
Bubbling under: Khwezi Mona (Griquas)
Our individual selections
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 William Small-smith, 13 Bernhard Janse Van Rensburg, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Weekly selections:
Team of the Week - semifinals: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Madosh Tambwe (Golden Lions), 13 Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions), 12 Dries Swanepoel (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Stean Pienaar (Golden Lions), 10 Curwin Bosch (Sharks), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Cyle Brink (Golden Lions), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions), 5 Marvin Orie (Golden Lions), 4 Ruben Schoeman (Golden Lions), 3 Jacobie Adriaanse (Golden Lions), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Seven: 15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), 14 Kobus van Wyk (Sharks), 13 Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 12 Andre Swarts (Griquas), 11 Eduan Keyter (Griquas), 10 Tiaan Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Cyle Brink (Golden Lions), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions), 5 Hyron Andrews (Sharks), 4 Ruben Schoeman (Golden Lions), 3 Wilco Louw (Western Province), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Ox Nche (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Six: 15 Devon Williams (Pumas), 14 Ederies Arendse (Griquas), 13 Alwayno Visagie (Pumas), 12 Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 George Whitehead (Griquas), 9 Sanele Nohamba (Sharks), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani (Golden Lions), 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), 6 Jeandre Rudolph (Pumas), 5 Stefan Willemse (Pumas), 4 Salmaan Moerat (Western Province), 3 John-Hubert Meyer (Sharks), 2 AJ Le Roux (Griquas), 1 Khwezi Mona (Griquas).
Team of the Week - Round Five: 15 Dillyn Leyds (Western Province), 14 Cornal Hendricks (Blue Bulls), 13 Ruhan Nel (Western Province), 12 Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 11 Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), 10 Manie Libbok (Blue Bulls), 9 Ivan Van Zyl (Blue Bulls), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Western Province), 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions), 5 John Schickerling (Western Province), 4 Ruben van Heerden (Sharks), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province), 1 Corné Fourie (Western Province).
Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), 14 Madosh Tambwe (Golden Lions), 13 Dylan Sage (Blue Bulls), 12 Dries Swanepoel (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Stean Pienaar (Golden Lions), 10 Chris Smith (Pumas), 9 Zak Burger (Griquas), 8 Jeandre Rudolph (Pumas), 7 Sias Koen (Griquas), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions), 5 Victor Sekekete (Griquas), 4 Le Roux Roets (Pumas), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Andrew Beerwinkel (Pumas).
Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), 14 William Small-smith (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Ruhan Nel (Western Province), 12 Dries Swanepoel (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Rosko Specman (Blue Bulls), 10 Tiaan Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Tian Meyer (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Marco Van Staden (Blue Bulls), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Golden Lions), 5 Marvin Orie (Golden Lions), 4 Sintu Manjezi (Free State Cheetahs), 3 Carlu Sadie (Western Province), 2 Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Corne Fourie (Western Province).
Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Anthony Volmink (Griquas), 14 Kobus van Wyk (Sharks), 13 Bernhard Janse Van Rensburg (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Tian Schoeman (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Tian Meyer (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Henco Venter (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Sias Koen (Griquas), 6 Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls), 5 Victor Sekekete (Griquas), 4 Le Roux Roets (Pumas), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (Pumas), 1 Ox Nche (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round One: 15 Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), 14 Madosh Tambwe (Golden Lions), 13 Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions), 12 Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), 11 Rosko Specman (Blue Bulls), 10 George Whitehead (Griquas), 9 Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls), 8 Niell Jordaan (Griquas), 7 Sias Koen (Griquas), 6 Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas), 5 Victor Sekekete (Griquas), 4 Le Roux Roets (Pumas), 3 Wilco Louw (Western Province), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni (Western Province), 1 Corné Fourie (Western Province).
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