Pick the best springbok in each position

Ok, these are the top two in every position for the springboks, here is a little description of each, please pick your best in every position.



1. Loosehead prop - Os du Randt
Was in my view the best Loosehead prop SA have ever produced, he was surprisingly quick of the mark for such a big man, he was a great scrummager and very strong defener

1. Loosehead prop - Gurthro Steenkamp
He was and still is a good scrummager and defener, the one area he outshines Os du Randt is his ball carrrying ability.

2. Hooker - John Smit
Great inspirational leader, his career had some controversy when he was too often moved to prop. Great line out thrower, great defender and great man. Hung onto his jumper for maybe two years too long, but in his prime fantastic player.

2. Hooker - Bismarck du Plessis
Still there, he is a great all round player being able to be the ultimate all round hooker, whether you want him to pilfer ball, run with ball in hand, tackle, throw into the line out, or just use his sheer power to drive through the defence, well rounded player.

3. Tighthead prop - Adrian Garvey
In my view probably the best tight head scrummager SA has had, but it was his mobility and all round play that made him great.

3. Tighthead prop - Mof Myburg
He was considered a powerhouse and regularly outmucled his oponnents, his most outstanding quality though was at the line out.

4. Lock - Bakkies Botha
Thug, enforcer, dislike him or respect him, he was the perfect foil for Victor Matfield, great defender and intimidator, as hard as they come.

4. Lock - Frik du Preez
Sometimes used at flank, and he could kick to goal ala John Eales, perhaps the first ever utility forward as he was quick enough to also be used at flank.

5. Lock - Victor Matfield
The greatest exponent of a lineout the world has ever seen, there is simply no doubt in my mind about that. Nobody has ever dominated line outs to the extent he has or even near the length of time he did.

5. Lock - Mark Andrews
More physical than Matfield, not as great in the line out, perhaps a mixture of Bakkies an Victor, depends what your combination would be.

6. Flanker - Schalk Burger
Not the secialist pilferer, but then SA has never bothered much in regards to a pilferer, busy and tremendously physical is the only way you can describe him, in my view better now than ever before, his ball carrying ability and in recent years his offload and pass has made him the best in my view.

6. Flanker - Francois Pienaar
Inspirational captain, put his body on the line, overshadowed in my view by Burger, but nevertheless worth a mention.

7. Flanker - Juan Smith
If I had to pick an alltime world XV, Juan Smtih would be the first player on my list. He is the quint essential rugby payer, humble, honest and harder than tungsten, this guy can run through brick walls and fear nothing. Whether you want him to win lineouts, run the all, tackle, drive or mark a man, he has no equal in my view.

7. Flanker - Andre Venter
In the same mould as Juan Smith, sadly second best.

8. Eighthman - Gary Teichman
Teichman didn't have flair, but his control at the back of a scrum or maul, and a very good leader.

8. Eighthman - Bobby Skinstad
If you picked a modern day Springbok pack, Skinstad had it all, pace, flair, skill and vision.

9. Scrumhalf - Joost van der Westhuizen
No equal in my view.

9. Scrumhalf - Fourie du Preez
Perhaps more tactical than Joost, but depends on combinations

10. Flyhalf - Naas Botha
Without a doubt the biggest match winner in SA rugby history, I never liked him when he played for the Bulls as I couldn't stand him, but the Bulls owned Currie Cup rugby while he was around. He won them matches on his own. A shame the world never saw his genius.

10. Flyhalf - Bennie Osler
I never saw him play, but inducted in the IRb hall of fame, described in his time as the greatest match winner in the history of SA rugby. An attacking flyhalf in his own right.

11. Wing - Bryan Habana
Forget his loss of form in a springbok team devoid of any attacking flair during the last four years, he is the best exponent of opportunism and the intercept, he is a great all round rugby player who can defend alongside the best of them and pace to burn, at one stage under Jake White he scored 30 tries in his first 35 tests.

11. Wing - Carel du Plessis
Called the Prince of wings, Carel du Plessis had class written all over, pace and a wicked step.

12. Centre - Mannetjies Roux
Searing pace, an eye for a gap and a ferocious defener was the hallmark of Mannetjies Roux.

12. Centre - Frans Steyn
In my view success came to Frans steyn too quickly, winning a world cup medal at the age of 19 meant he was a traget for the rich clubs in europe and to an extent that stifled his talent. But as he showed during the world cup last year, he can run, kick, offload, tackle and win matches. The best 12 we has had in SA

13. Centre - Jaque Fourie
I really don't need to say much at all, simply just brilliant and the best 13 in the world in my opinion.

13. Centre - Danie Gerber
Excellent finisher and a great step.

14. Wing - JP Pietersen
He doesn't have flair, is faster than he looks, but in my view just a solid all round wing. His positional play, his defence and his ability to break tackles makes him a great in my view, and he is only 26 now.

14. Wing - Ray Mordt
Who will forget his hattrcik against the All blacks.

15. Fullback - Andre Joubert
In my view one of the best fullbacks the world hase ever seen, the Rolls Royce he was dubbed, finished the RWC 1995 with a broken hand, was electric in joining the back line, solid under the high ball and great player all round.

15. Fullback - Percy Montgomery
Solid, pace, goal kicker, what more can you say.

I've done mine.

Slightly surprised at the omission of Jean De Villiers. Also surprised at how highly you rate Steyn as a 12. A big talent, but I just don't feel that he's sufficiently delivered to be on that list.

What about the coach? Surely P Villy....

My biggest problem with Jean de Villiers is he hasn't got the ability to get the line away.

Danie Gerber at centre?

sorry made a boo boo. Will fix it now.

Some difficult picks to be made there. I recognise Botha but have no idea about Osler. I´d say Joel Stransky is more well known by Kiwis! Burger and Pienaar. Who to go for there? It´s like choosing between McCaw and Jones.

Gretgael1 wrote:Danie Gerber at centre?

I wrote the thing in word and then decided to go straight on the forum, so reduced the options to two only and somehow forgot about him.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Some difficult picks to be made there. I recognise Botha but have no idea about Osler. I´d say Joel Stransky is more well known by Kiwis! Burger and Pienaar. Who to go for there? It´s like choosing between McCaw and Jones.

Pienaar and Burger was a tight call for me. I have the highest regard for Pienaar but, in the end, went for Burger.

The same problem at hooker. I think Bismark is the best around at the moment but I went for Smit because he was such an inspirational character and glued the team together.

Biltong, you also forgot Morne Steyn

NO, I DIDN'T

I was the same. For me it´s frustrating that SA has often underutilised Burger. With the ball in hand and running at the line, he is intimidating to say the least. It´s easy to remember Smit at the end of his career when he was overshadowed by Bismark. But in his prime, he was an inspirational leader, one mean scrummager and a menace in the loose.

What about Danie Craven? Bit before our time but surely he'd be right up there. His 1937 team is one of the most illustrious in history. Liked Joe Van Niekerk too, and JDV in his pomp was better than Steyn.

Maybe, no and no.

Yeah definitely Smit for all time. Du Plessis has yet to prove he's an International hooker of standing by playing tests on a regular basis to be considered for a greatest list....i.e- you should at least be first choice.

Mordts tries I remember well on that freakiest day of all test matches.

Went for Habana as hes the ability to make something out of nothing and does it often. Starts and finishes his own tries more than most, perhaps out of necessity.

Uli Schmidt, Louis Moolman, Rob Louw, Morne du Plessis, Jan Ellis, Divan Serfontein, Gysie Pienaar, Hennie Muller spring to mind. Maybe it should be done position by position rather than in one go.

Uli was never tested at test level, Louis moolman I can't even remember, Rob Louw yes, but not compared to those in the pick, Jan Ellis maybe, but again before my time, Divan was good but not in the class of Joost and Fourie, Gysie Pienaar was exciting but not in the class of these two, Hennie Muller never saw him play.

The list is either too big or too small ,many of those mentioned I have seen others not.You cannot have a team of 4 props etc.,Naas Botha THE biggest match winner a HUGE statement.Okey Geffin and Morne Steyn would give you an argument there.Props Piet du Toit,Andries Bekker,Chris Koch were among the
finest props of there generation.Guthro Steenkamp?PLEASE Os duRandt YES.
Gerry Brand at Fullback,Danie Craven at Scrum half,Hennie Muller at 8,all would be among first choices in there day.
This is a totally futile exercise,it is impossible to match like with like physique.Laws ,playing styles all govern selection the 3-4-1 Scrum is THE BokScrum.Greats of the past would be shamed by what passes for it now,appliies to ALL nations.
Of those I have seen Tommy Bedford Flank,Doug Hopwood,8,Avril Malan ,JohannClaasens Locks,Lockyer Scrum half and so on are worthy of your list.Jan Lotz and Has Catley [NZ]were the Rolls royce`s of Hookers in there day.

Alan three quarters of your list I never saw, half your list played before I was born.

Morne Steyn is a kicker, that's it.

So this is the list I collected that most of these guys will know. Pick from them.

Really surprised Mark Andrews has zero picks.. the man is a legend and would be an all time great in every country in the world... I myself chose Matfield like everyone else but it was a hard choice and thought some votes would go his way.

I couldn't chose Monty though, through default had to go with Joubert.... Monty was capable of great things but was also consistent in having a nightmare on the pitch every now and again.

My father in law went to school with Manntjies Roux and said he was one of the best boks he has ever seen, in any position (perhaps a little bias but still... when he doesn't have too many drinks in him he talks mostly sense! )

Hi,Biltong please do not be offended by my comments,I do not claim expertise in
Bok Rugby.My viewing of the Scene has waxed and waned over nearly 60 years
So I have`nt seen many on that list,BUT bald statements like THE greatest match winner etc.Benny Osler could claim that in his day,He like Mark Nichols for the AllBlacks.Would have been watched by my Grand father,BUT he is on your list.Morne Steyn may just be a kicker,BUT he is among THE most prolific I have seen.
I presume the list purports to be among the BEST Boks of all time,I don`t need to see legends.Like Craven or Brand/Muller to know they were good it is an article of faith.
Of those mentioned Joubert,Mannie Roux,Gerber, Du randt,Myburg,Andrews,Matfield,Du plessie.frik Du Preez Burger,Juan Smith
would have been in my squad.Others there are comparative light weights,or who have yet to prove themselves.

Montgomery
Mordt
Gerber
Roux (though I'd prefer Joubert and Gerber in the centres)
Habana
Botha
dv Westhuizen
Teichmann
Smith
Burger
Matfield
du Preez
Garvey
Smit
du Randt