Currie Cup Team of the Tournament
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:42
The Blue Bulls ultimately proved to be the most powerful and impressive unit in the Currie Cup competition, but it was not till their Springboks returned late in the season that they found their true form. However, it wasn't enough to dominated out Team of the Tournament.
That honour goes two sides who lost out in the play-offs - the losing finalists Free State Cheetahs and semifinalists Western Province.
Their consistent performances throughout the season were rewarded with five members each in our prestigious selection.
The Blue Bulls did get three places in our team, with the Sharks and Griquas getting one each.
rugby365's Currie Cup Team of the Tournament:
15 - Stefan Terblanche (Sharks):
He may not have many years left of his distinguished career, but 2009 was certainly one of his better years. There was strong competition from Joe Pietersen, while players like Riaan
Viljoen, Fabian Juries and Hennie Daniller also had a look-in.
14 - Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs):
He will probably not be universally accepted, but he has come along in leaps and bounds this year. There was plenty of competition for the No.14 jersey - Gio Aplon, Francois Hougaard, Chris Jordaan, Gerhard van den Heever and Dewald Pretorius.
13 - Juan de Jongh (Western Province):
This was a 'no contest', with De Jongh well ahead of his rivals.
12 - Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls):
He may not have played the whole season, as a result of national call-ups, but he still did enough to edge strong competition from among others Barry Geel and Doppies la Grange.
11 - Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs):
Not only was he the best and most consistent of all those who played on the left wing, but Mapoe also featured strongly on the right wing. We decided he should wear the No.11
jersey. Bryan Habana didn't feature in enough Currie Cup games to beat off the youngster, while Gio Aplon was the best of the rest.
10 - Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls):
There is nothing we can say about his match-winning abilities that haven't already been said. He edged several quality rivals, despite not playing a full season. Naas Olivier, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Juan Hernandez are amongst those who lost out.
9 - Sarel Pretorius (Griquas):
Without doubt one of the unlucky ones to miss out on Bok selection for the year-end tour. A pillar throughout Griquas' campaign. There's a long list of quality scrumhalves, but Jano Vermaak, before his injury, was probably the best of the rest.
8 - Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs):
His selection for the Boks' year-end tour was justified. Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski and Luke Watson all performed admirably.
7 - Dewald Potgieter
(Blue Bulls):
He also featured strongly at No.8, but we felt his best performances were at the side of the scrum. Pieter Louw, Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen and Frans Viljoen were amongst his strongest competitors.
6 - Francois Louw (Western Province):
He was at the heart of an impressive Province campaign. Heinrich Brüssow, Cobus Grobbelaar, Deon Stegmann and Johan Wessels are all in a very impressive group of openside flanks.
5 - Anton van Zyl (Western Province):
Victor Matfield is without peer in the world, but he simply could not make up the lost ground when he came back in the last few rounds of Currie Cup action. Van Zyl was of a consistent high standard throughout the season, with David de Villiers the best of the rest.
4 - Chris Jack (Western Province):
What a revelation his performances for Province were. Just a pity he could not stay to the end. Steven Sykes was his
closest rival in terms of consistent performances throughout the season.
3 - WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs):
Also rather one-sided in this position, with Brok Harris a distant second.
2 - Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province):
It was a close contest in a two-horse race, with Adriaan Strauss also having his best ever domestic season. Two players who were very unlucky not to have gotten a Bok call-up.
1 - Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs):
The competition was fierce, but he showed why he was a Bok tourists a few years ago. He deserves another shot at he Green and Gold. Wikus Blaauw and Coenie Oosthuizen pushed him all the way, while a few others also put their hands up.
rugby365's Weekly selections:
Team of the Week, semifinals: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls), 9 JP Joubert (Free State Cheetahs), 8 Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls), 7 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week, Round 14: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls), 13 Adi Jacobs (Sharks), 12 Doppies la Grange (Golden Lions), 11 Johan Jackson (Golden Lions), 10 Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Derick Minnie (Golden Lions), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 4 Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), 3 Kevin Buys (Golden Lions), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week Round 13: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Corné Uys (Free State Cheetahs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls), 10 Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Golden Lions), 5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Team of the Week Round 12: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Fabian Juries (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State Cheetahs), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas), 8 Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), 7 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week Round 11: 15 Fabian Juries (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Jaco Bekker (Griquas), 12 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Juan Hernandez (Sharks), 9 Charl McLeod (Sharks), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs),
Team of the Week Round 10: 15 Hennie Daniller (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Frikkie Welsh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), 10 Juan Martin Hernandez (Sharks), 9 Heinie Adams (Blue Bulls), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Western Province), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wikus Blaauw (Western Province).
Team of the Week - Round Nine: 15 Hennie Daniller (Free State Cheetahs), 14 Chris Jordaan (Sharks), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Basil de Doncker (Leopards), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Burton Francis (Blue Bulls), 9 Michael Bondesio (Leopards), 8 Dewald Potgieter Blue Bulls), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Western Province), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Jacques Lombaard (Griquas), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 -Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Wikus Blaauw (Western Province).
Team of the Week - Round Eight: 15 Joe Pietersen (Western Province), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Blue Bulls), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Pieter Engelbrecht (Golden Lions), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Herkie Kruger (Golden Lions), 9 Michael Bondesio (Leopards), 8 Willem Alberts (Golden Lions), 7 Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions), 6 Francois Louw (Western Province), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Seven: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Waylon Murray (Sharks), 12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Free State Cheetahs), 10 Monty Dumond (Sharks), 9 Jano Vermaak (Golden Lions), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), 1 Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls).
Team of the Week - Round Six: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 JW Jonker (Free State Cheetahs), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Monty Dumond (Sharks), 9 Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls), 8 Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), 7 Frans Viljoen (Free State Cheetahs), 6 Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls), 5 Nico Breedt (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Gert Muller (Lions), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Five: 15 Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Frans Viljoen (Free State Cheetahs), 6 Johan Wessels (Free State Cheetahs), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs).
Team of the Week - Round Four: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Barry Geel (Griquas), 11 Gio Aplon (Western Province), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Rory Kockott (Sharks), 8 Luke Watson (Western Province), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Albertus Buckle (Griquas).
Team of the Week - Round Three: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Dewald Pretorius (Griquas), 13 Juan de Jongh (Western Province), 12 Stefan Watermeyer (Blue Bulls), 11 Bjorn Basson (Griquas), 10 Naas Olivier (Griquas), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Willem Alberts (Lions), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Johan Wessels (Free State Cheetahs), 5 David de Villiers (Free State Cheetahs), 4 Chris Jack (Western Province), 3 WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Deon Carstens (Sharks).
Team of the Week - Round Two: 15 Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), 14 Gerhard van den Heever (Blue Bulls), 13 Andries Strauss (Sharks), 12 Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), 11 Johan Jackson (Lions), 10 Francois Brummer (Blue Bulls), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 8 Willem Alberts (Lions), 7 Pieter Louw (Western Province), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 5 Chris Jack (Western Province), 4 Anton van Zyl (Western Province), 3 Brok Harris (Western Province), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province), 1 Wian du Preez (Cheetahs).
rugby365 staff
Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Advertising
