SA-Based Boks XV To Slay Dragons

The South African United Rugby Championship sides’ recent whitewashing of the Welsh clubs on home soil showed there’s enough quality for a local-based Springbok team to slay the Dragons in July, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. 

An injury-ravaged Wales team finished fifth in the Six Nations after managing just one win – a 20-17 triumph over Scotland – in a dire campaign that ended in the worst possible way, a shock 22-21 loss to Italy, who’d entered the encounter on a seven-year losing streak.

Any hopes of building some kind of momentum ahead of the three-Test series against the world champions through the URC instead added more cause for concern for Welsh coach Wayne Pivac.

He could do nothing but watch the worst-case scenario play out in March and April as the South African teams claimed maximum log points in each of the eight matches and sent the Welsh sides packing without a single log point between them.

With such a complete shutout, odds are a team of South African-based players would have enough firepower to clinch the Test series in July. So, we selected such a side in which we rewarded players for their form rather than simply naming the strongest possible line-up. As a result, you’ll see some surprising names and a few notable absentees.

15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

The magic man of the Stormers has left no stone unturned to return to the Test arena. A world-class playmaker in his prime, he’s been nothing short of sensational, consistently unlocking defences and winning games with his extraordinary vision and skillset. No backline player has earned a Springbok recall more.

14: Seabelo Senatla (Stormers)

It’s taken a while, but the former Blitzbok’s phenomenal form this season screams that his transition to the 15-man game is now complete. He’s scorched his way to joint-second on the URC try-scoring list with nine touchdowns, has a knack for winning turnovers and the temperament for Test rugby after years of high-pressure showdowns on the Sevens circuit.

13: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

The best outside centre in the world. Am’s a virtuoso who sees the game through a different lens that allows him to make reads like no one else, which translates into mind-blowing touches on attack and unrivalled stability on defence. On fire prior to and back from a two-month sabbatical in Japan, he would not only form the glue of the backline but also captain the team.

12: Burger Odendaal (Lions)

Admittedly, Frans Steyn would be a wiser selection, but for all the years of playing like he’s in someone else’s body every time he laces up his boots, how great would it be to see such a hard-working and criminally underappreciated servant of South African rugby get his moment in the sun?

11: Lionel Zas (Stormers)

Makazole Mapimpi would be the obvious choice, but it would be overkill to unleash the incumbent on the Welsh. Instead, it’s the perfect time for high-flying Zas to strike. After looking like he’d fade out in the crowd, he’s reignited his career in the inaugural URC season, scoring an unrivalled 10 tries.

10: Manie Libbok (Stormers)

Again, Frans Steyn would be the safer choice, but given the state of Wales, he could serve as an insurance policy on the bench. Giving Libbok a run would be just reward for his red-hot rise since making the move to Cape Town. The ambidextrous ace has taken full advantage of the freedom he’s being afforded and is undoubtedly the form flyhalf in the country.

9: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)

The argument could be made that Herschel Jantjies would be a better fit considering his experience at Test level and partnership with Libbok at the Stormers. However, he’s been struggling with form for a while. Morne van der Berg is an exciting offensive option but Hendrikse is the total package, offering attacking spice and tactical prowess.

8: Evan Roos (Stormers)

Initially overlooked by the Springbok brass, Roos continued his rampaging form and forced his way into the second national alignment camp. A prodigious talent, the 22-year-old has been consistently colossal in all aspects of the game and has his name plastered over the leading URC performers’ lists. He, as well as Elrigh Louw, shouldn’t have to wait until after next year’s World Cup to run out for the Springboks.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions)

He doesn’t shy away from physicality or doing the dirty work, but what sets him apart is his exceptional athleticism. Ultra-dynamic, Tshituka’s match-winning mix of strength, speed and skill has made him the Lions’ most valuable player for the last couple of seasons. Sorting out his citizenship issues should be high on SA Rugby’s agenda.

6: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)

No one has banged the Springbok door down louder and longer than the Bulls’ talismanic captain. His latest heroics sees him top the URC’s offload stats (32), sit joint-second on the try-scoring list (9) and joint-fourth in the successful carries category (85) and still there’s no mention of his name from the Springbok coaches. He deserves to add to his 30 Test caps and would also give Siya Kolisi a hard-earned break.

5: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

A next-generation lock, Nortje’s already a seasoned lineout leader at 23, offers loose forward-like output and has some of the best hands you’ll see from a second-rower. With the first Test taking place in Pretoria, there’s no better way to welcome Wales to South Africa and reward him for his consistently stellar form than to hand him his seemingly inevitable Springbok debut at Loftus.

4: Walt Steenkamp (Bulls)

When it comes solely to an enforcer in the engine room, unsung Lions hero Ruben Schoeman leads the way. However, Steenkamp’s a complete contributor with power and agility in equal measure. He also forms a fantastic partnership with Nortje, with the Bulls locks both in the URC top five for lineout steals.

3: Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

A one-man wrecking crew with remarkable mobility and extraordinary gas tank for a 138kg behemoth, Du Toit’s a curious case in that he’s been playing the best rugby of his career in the last two years but only one of his 13 Test caps came in this period. His position in the stacked pecking order’s understandable, but he deserves to be rewarded for taking his game to the next level.

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

Robust and relentless, the Bulls hooker with his red scrum cap almost seems destined to don the green and gold. That’s how impressive he’s been. Getting his first Springbok call-up for the Rugby Championship last year only fuelled his fire more and Wales would be a good first test for the 24-year-old.

1: Ox Nche (Sharks)

Like fellow first-choice stars Kolisi, Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff could sit out and the Springboks would still stave off the Dragons. Nche solidified himself as an international loosehead last year and has carried that form with him at the Sharks.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

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.