The Springbok squad was trimmed down to 24 players by coach Peter de Villiers and we as the public have to deal with it. De Villiers will once again make his own choices and reaffirm them with statements like “we decided for the better of…” and “in light of recent events...” So guess I can do the same with the squad that my disposal. Definitely not the one I would have selected, but who said picking a Springbok team is easy.

Bok team I would pick:

15. Gio Aplon
14. JP Pietersen
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Brian Habana
10. Morne Steyn
9. Francois Hougaard
8. Schalk Burger
7. Juan Smith
6. Francois Louw
5. Victor Matfield
4. Danie Rossouw
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle
1. Gurthro Steènkámp

Reserves:
John Smit
CJ van der Linde
Flip van der Merwe
Pierre Spies
Dewalt Potgieter
Wynand Olivier
Butch James

Reasons for the key selections:

Fullback: Since Steyn is injured or claim to be? I have to go with Aplon. He wasn’t put a foot wrong this season and deserves a place wherever.
Centre combination: Juan de Jongh at 13 with Jean de Villiers in at 12. De Jongh has plenty potential and along with De Villiers might just prove to be the injection the Bok line-up needs to score put our wingers away.  Olivier had his chances and must be demoted to the bench.
Trio: Spies, although great with ball in hand, needs to make way for a fetcher. We can’t afford to go without ball against the Ab`s. So Burger in at eight-man with Louw and Smith to fulfill fetcher roles. We should also have a backup, hence Potgieter on the bench.
Hooker: We all admire Smit for his captaincy and how apparently he brings out the best in his players, but who said he should be in the starting line-up? I would start with Chiliboy, after all is he our next Bok captain?

Well, this is my team for what it is worth.

Thanks.
Bok Squad
Backs: Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, JP Pietersen, Morne Steyn.
Forwards: Schalk Burger, Jannie du Plessis, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe.

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xdunes   |2010-08-17 07:26:53 Met Hougaard op 9 en de Jongh in die span het ek moed dat ons dalk `n paar driee sal kan druk. Goeie idee met Burger op 8, sou net Potgieter wou sien op 6. En nee met Chilliboy. As ek moet kies tussen `n oorgewig Smit en Chilliboy, sal ek nog steeds met Smit gaan.

shifmeisterz   |2010-08-18 08:38:57 Ek sou ook wou he divvie moet Spies drop tot in die bench. Die Bokke sou beter af gewees het met Louw in die span. Maar daar gaan hy weer en kies Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger. Nie sleg as jy teen Italie speel, maar Reid, McCaw en Kaino gaan ons weer ore aansit en dan is Hougaard en Steyn weer uit die game. Ek hoop regtig die skare gaan te veel wees vir die AB`s anders sien ek weer `n 4drie loesing

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