rugby365's Bok selection - time for change
This week there is an important change to our Bok team, with the arrival of the British & Irish Lions team now less than three weeks away.
We have decided that Lions star Louis Ludik's consistent form is too good to be ignored and in the only change to our team he comes in at fullback for Stefan Terblanche.
We were tempted to make a few other changes, but some of the under-performing players are getting one more chance.
This team will be updated every week and will take into account general form, not just weekly form - although in some cases weekly form does play a role.
Injured players will be considered if they have a chance of recovering in time for the Lions tour and have showed good form.
Here is this week's rugby365 Bok XV!
15 - Louis Ludik (Lions):
We simply couldn't keep him out of the team any longer, as he has been bashing the door down all season. Yes, we know you need experienced, calm heads against the Lions and that is why Stefan Terblanche is on the bench. Even though Ludik started out at wing last week, once he was moved to fullback the Lions' rocky ship steadied and they won the game - with Ludik's contribution considerable. He has shown some remarkable maturity, while Zane Kirchner and Hennie Daniller remain on the short-list.
Bubbling under: Stefan Terblanche (Sharks)
14 - JP Pietersen (Sharks):
Like the rest of his Sharks teammates he was not at his best, but he remains our first choice. We are getting closer to our final selection and even though the Ndungane brothers, Akona and Odwa, are doing fine, we will stay with our tried-and-trusted wing combination. The Ndungane brothers remain our back-ups.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)
13 - Jaque Fourie (Lions):
He may not have played, but there wasn't any outside centre that screamed 'pick me!' this past week. Adi Jacobs looked a touch off-colour - maybe he was favouring that injured shoulder. However, we sincerely hope doesn't aggravate his shoulder injury, as he remains a class player and our next choice in one area on the park where it looks somewhat thin.
Bubbling under: Adi Jacobs (Sharks)
12 - Wynand Olivier (Bulls):
Gain, no change here. Week after week he produces stand-out performances and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers must be a happy man - have two such quality centres in his arsenal. We are desperately hoping Jean de Villiers's injury won't keep him out of the Lions series - especially now that Frans Steyn is in doubt. Next in line should be Peter Grant, Meyer Bosman and Doppies La Grange.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (Stormers)
11 - Bryan Habana (Bulls):
He is simply a class act! It is such a pleasure to watch Habana at his best. First that little slippery eel move that set up Akona Ndungane's try and then the intercept for the crucial bonus-point score. Has anybody else noticed how much his workrate has improved? We are staying with the other Ndungane as our back-up, although some would say Jongi Nokwe deserves a chance. That slick move down the left wing by Nokwe against the Bulls was classic, but Ndungane's defence gives him the edge.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
10 - Morné Steyn (Bulls):
We are staying with Steyn for another week, as Ruan Pienaar looked to be short of match practice and also appeared to be favouring his injured knee. He probably just needs a game or two to regain his confidence and remains on our bench.
Bubbling under: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)
9 - Fourie du Preez (Bulls):
His injury is not long-term and even he does miss this week's game, he'll be back for the play-offs and the B&I Lions. He is still South Africa's and probably the world's premier scrumhalf. Rory Kockott's suspension has showed how valuable he is to the Sharks, but Jano Vermaak remains our back-up after his outstanding performance against the Highlanders.
Bubbling under: Jano Vermaak (Lions)
8 - Pierre Spies (Bulls):
He is growing in stature now and with Ryan Kankowski - like most of his Sharks teammate - having had a bad day at the office, there was nothing to suggest we should change. Luke Watson is continuing to display some impressive form, but we are happy with what we have in Spies and Kankowski.
Bubbling under: Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)
7 - Juan Smith (Cheetahs):
No need to change here. His experience and overall ability makes him invaluable to our team. Duane Vermeulen remains on our bench and Jean Deysel is a very capable short-listed player - again showing us how much depth we have at loose forward.
Bubbling under: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers):
6 - Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
No change here. With Schalk Burger's injury concerns (he is also in doubt for the Lions), Brüssow is now a key man at the breakdown. Jacques Botes and Deon Stegmann are not bad for back-up, but we are considering converting Dewald Potgieter into an 'openside' back-up. For now we'll be hoping Burger recovers in time, or we may be forced into a change.
Bubbling under: Schalk Burger (Stormers)
5 - Victor Matfield (Bulls):
There are those who questions his constant appearances in the backline and his hands certainly let him down at the weekend. But Matfield is not simply a line-out forward. For those who cared to look closely, they would have noticed his high workrate at the breakdown - he made 40 cleans in 80 minutes against the Cheetahs, the most of any Bulls player. Why would you want to drop him? He just needs to concentrate on holding onto the all when he does make those backline forays. Johann Muller remains our back-up - ahead of David de Villiers.
Bubbling under: Johann Muller (Sharks)
4 - Bakkies Botha (Bulls):
The three-week (suspension) break appeared to have taken the edge off, as he seemed to slow down in the second half. But we are not going to axe him because of a lack of match fitness. He needs the game time ahead of the Lions series. Andries Bekker is also still on the injury list, making it difficult for us to consider him as a long-term prospect, while Steven Sykes is making some loud noises. But we are staying with Danie Rossouw as back-up.
Bubbling under: Danie Rossouw (Bulls)
3 - John Smit (Sharks):
Something went awry with the Sharks scrum and while the Waratahs have been impressive all season, we're not convinced they are as good as they looked. Maybe the Sharks took their foot off the pedal and went into idle mode. Maybe that was the wake-up call they needed. We remain with John Smit as our starting tighthead prop. Jannie du Plessis remains on the bench and Werner Kruger waits in the wings.
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
2 - Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks):
We were very tempted to make a change here - with Willie Wepener and Tiaan Liebenberg both putting their hands up. However, we felt it would have been a reactionary selection, rather than a case of consistent form forcing the change. No doubt Bismarck du Plessis is in need of a wake-up call, but he remains a quality player and certainly the first choice hooker for us with Smit is at prop. We are keeping Lions hooker Willie Wepener on our bench.
Bubbling under: Willie Wepener (Lions)
1 - Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls):
Firmly entrenched in the first place as South Africa's premier loosehead prop. Tendai Mtawarira also did not have his best game, with Wian du Preez beginning to come into some good form. Again, we are staying with our original choices, although things could change in the week(s) ahead.
Bubbling under: Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
Previous selections:
April 7: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Henno Mentz (Lions), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Keegan Daniel (Sharks), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).
April 14: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
April 21: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
April 28: 15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls), 14 Akona Ndungane (Bulls), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), 2 John Smit (Sharks), 1 Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
May 5: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 JP Pietersen (Sharks), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3 John Smit (Sharks), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Gürthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
By Jan de Koning
* Has Jan lost the plot? Do you agree/disagree with his selections? This is the for lively, but a civilised, debate. Give us your best XV!