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Currie Cup Team of the Tournament

Currie Cup Team of the Tournament. Bulls stars lead the charge in our Currie Cup Team of the Tournament, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
Currie Cup Best Players

Bulls stars lead the charge in our Currie Cup Team of the Tournament, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Having romped to a second successive title with a record 44-10 rout against the Sharks in the final at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend, it should come as no surprise that players from the Pretoria outfit feature prominently in our side. Six of Jake White’s standouts have been included, while the Durbanites have a pair of representatives, as do Griquas and the Cheetahs.

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Western Province, the Pumas and the Lions have to be content with just a solitary representative each, although, the Cape side boast the honour of having the Player of the Tournament in their ranks.

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15: Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs)

Consistently created tries with his flair, vision and skill, most memorably for Rosko Specman and Ruan Pienaar, both on more than one occasion. Influential all season but produced his best performance in his milestone 50th Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein, where he inspired the hosts to a 17-16 win over the Pumas with a Man of the Match display.

14: Rabz Maxwane (Lions)

Entrenched himself as the new magic man of the Lions. Left defenders grasping at air with his pace and a heap of ankles in his wake with his hot-stopping en route to running in six tries, the second-most by a backline player. The Bulls’ Madosh Tambwe and the Sharks’ Yaw Penxe put their hands up as well.

13: Werner Kok (Sharks)

Is there a more passionate or harder working player in the game than the former Blitzbok? “Mr Mile-a-Minute” played up a storm for the Sharks yet again, in the midfield and out wide. The defibrillator of the Durban side whenever they needed inspiration, creating tries with his size, speed and skill and saving them on the other end through sheer determination.

12: Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)

The hits kept on coming from the reborn Hendricks. Pure class, both at No.12 and when he reverted to the wing where he played 12 Tests for the Springboks. Strong, skilful and street smart, the Bulls stalwart made sure he was in the thick of the action and hardly put a foot wrong.

11: Eduan Keyter (Griquas)

‘Binne buite, sien jou Keyter.’ This tune followed the Peacock Blues wherever they went as their left-winger lit up one field after the other with his scintillating speed and footwork, scoring more tries than any other backline player – seven – four of which came in the 41-31 win over the Lions at Ellis Park.

10: Johan Goosen (Bulls)

Another masterstroke on Jake White’s part, Goosen was the Pretoria outfit’s perfect 10 in his first tournament back in South African rugby after several seasons abroad and a short-lived retirement. Oozed tactical poise and playmaking prowess as he piloted the Bulls with aplomb. Such a pity he missed the final after testing positive for Covid following a sublime semi-final showing.

9: Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs)

Speaking of generals…on form alone, the veteran deserved a Springbok recall, but with that door being shut when the squad for the British & Irish Lions series was announced, Pienaar proved once again why he’s one of the most valuable players in South African rugby as he directed the Cheetahs from nine and 10, scored tries and slotted kicks with world-class accuracy.

8: Evan Roos (Western Province) – Player of the Tournament

An irresistible force. No one made a greater impression and took the competition by storm like the rampaging Roos. A beastly ball-carrier who overpowered and “outpassioned” defenders all season, perfectly summed up by the memorable try – one of a joint-tournament leading eight touchdowns – he scored against the Sharks at home. Equally immense on defence, the 21-year-old announced himself as a future Springbok.

7: Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

Power personified. Iron sharpens iron and being able to play alongside and learn from Springboks like Marcell Coetzee, Duane Vermeulen, Arno Botha and Nizaam Carr has ramped up the 21-year-old’s development to the point that he looked like a seasoned pro himself. Stamped his authority on the competition, whether at seven or eight, and stood tall with a Man of the Match performance in the final.

6: Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas)

If gutsy Griquas are a monster movie-like character that can’t be killed, Van der Merwe’s their life source. As always, the tough-as-nails openside flanker played like a man possessed, putting his body on the line and causing nightmares at the breakdown.

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

Provided further evidence that he’s the next great Springbok lock with another brilliant body of work across the board. The best of both worlds, he left the rest in his dust with his old-school muscle and new-school engine. Tireless and tough, he stood tall in the lineouts and mauls and matched loose forwards with his output and pilfering skills.

4: Le Roux Roets (Sharks)

One of the toughest decisions to make as 22-year-old Janko Swanepoel was a revelation for the Bulls. Roets’ mammoth presence, however, played a greater part in the Sharks pack as a whole. The 138kg gargantuan was unstoppable at times and equipped with a freakish gas tank, perfectly highlighted by his Man of the Match performance in the semi-final win over Griquas.

3: Mornay Smit (Bulls)

Stepped up to the plate in a big way to offer the Bulls stability at scrum time. Showed some good hands for a front-row forward and won a few turnovers at the breakdown as well. Had stiff competition in Western Province’s Neethling Fouche and the Lions’ Carlu Sadie.

2: Simon Westraadt (Pumas)

The evergreen 35-year-old may not have many more seasons left, but he more than delivered to help take the Pumas to the precipice of a play-off berth. Strong in the scrums and excellent with his lineout throwing, he made the set pieces and driving mauls purr and reaped the rewards as he tied Roos with a tournament-leading eight tries.

1: Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)

Like his prop partner in crime, Steenekamp came through for White upfront. The 24-year-old put in good work in general play as well and is quite skilful for a big man. His strongest competition came in the form of Griquas’ Mox Mxoli and the Lions’ Sti Sithole.

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Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.

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