Team of the Week: Roaring start
The defending champions, the Golden Lions, got their Currie Cup campaign off to a roaring start and they were rewarded in our popular weekly selection.
The men from Johannesburg have seven players in our starting XV, with trans-Jukskei neighbours the Blue Bulls next best at three.
The Sharks, also off to winning, albeit scrappy, start, have two, along with Griquas, while the Free State Cheetahs have one.
The Bulls and Sharks are further rewarded with five members each in our back-up squad, followed by three Lions and one each from Griquas and Western Province.
Team of the Week – Round One:
15 – Andries Coetzee (Golden Lions):
He showed plenty of promise in Super Rugby and at Currie Cup level he could be devastating.
Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (Griquas)
14 – Akona Ndungane (Blue Bulls):
The two Ndungane twins still have plenty of rugby left in these seasoned legs.
Bubbling under: Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
13 – Paul Jordaan (Sharks):
He continued to press his claim for higher honours – to add to his South African Under-20 and SA Sevens selections.
Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Golden Lions)
12 – Waylon Murray (Golden Lions):
The veteran Bok is still working his way back to full fitness, but at Currie Cup level he is very effective.
Bubbling under: Francois Venter (Blue Bulls)
11 – Raymond Rhule (Free State Cheetahs):
This young man is another of the SA U20 stars who is going to set the Currie Cup scene alight.
Bubbling under: S'bura Sithole (Sharks)
10 – Butch James (Golden Lions):
The World Cup winner showed that at flyhalf he is still a class act. Keep him out of the midfield please!
Bubbling under: Riaan Viljoen (Sharks)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Sharks):
Like his dad, Jaco (a double Bok in athletics and rugby), the young Sharks No.9 has pace to burn. However, his skills set is just as impressive.
Bubbling under: Ruan Snyman (Blue Bulls)
8 – Derick Minnie (Golden Lions):
The shift to No.8 seems to have done him the world of good.
Bubbling under: Tera Mtembu (Sharks)
7 – Arno Botha (Blue Bulls):
The Bulls are going to miss the flank, who will be sidelined for next few weeks with a hamstring injury.
Bubbling under: Josh Strauss (Golden Lions)
6 – Cobus Grobbelaar (Golden Lions):
The veteran showed there is life left in his old legs.
Bubbling under: Deon Fourie (Western Province)
5 – Martin Muller (Griquas):
One of the few men from Kimberley who stood their ground against the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions)
4 – Hendrik Roodt (Golden Lions):
He seems to be reviving a once stalled career.
Bubbling under: Wilhelm Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
3 – Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas):
He made the Bulls front row work hard for their money and got involved in other aspects. If only he had more support.
Bubbling under: Frik Kirsten (Blue Bulls)
2 – Willie Wepener (Blue Bulls):
Those midfield breaks were simply sublime and ripped the heart out of the Griquas defence. He certainly didn't shirk his duties in the tight phases.
Bubbling under: Craig Burden (Sharks)
1 – JC Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions):
He seems to be enjoying the captaincy. Leading from the front is a fitting adage.
Bubbling under: Dawie Steyn (Blue Bulls)
Our individual selections!
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Butch James, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Craig Burden, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Butch James, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Butch James, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
