Originally posted by ALLBLACKS@Mar 20 2005, 11:46 AM
South Africa Springboks
15.Percy Montgomery(K)
14.Tonderai chavangha
13.Marius Joubert
12.De Wet Berry
11.Jean De Villers
10.Jaco Van Der Westhuyzen
9.Johannes Conradie
8.Joe Van Niekerk
7.Shalk Burger
6.A.J Venter
5.Victor Matfield
4.Bakkies Botha
3.Os Du Randt
2.John Smit©
1.Eddie Andrews
16.Hanyani Smimange
17.C.J Van Der Linde
18.Garrie Britz
19.Jacques Cronje
20.Fourie Du Preez
21.Gaffie Du Toit
22.Brent Russel
The Boks is close, but not the team you will see against France and the Tri Nations later this year.
Also let me inform you now that the majority of the Boks will be put on reconditioning schedules for the warm up tests (France). That means Burger, Barry, Joubert, Smmit, van Niekerk, and the like will not play the first tests of the year, but only the Tri Nations.
However the strongest lineup is as follows:
15: Percy Montgomery K
14: Ashwin Willemse
13: Marius Joubert
12: DeWet Barry
11: Brian Habana/Jean de Villiers
10: Jaco van der Westhuyzen
9: Fourie du Preez
8: Joe van Niekerk
7: Juan Smith/Luke Watson/Pedrie Wannenburg
6: Schalk Burger
5: Victor Matfield
4: bakkies Botha
3: Os du Randt
2: John Smit
1: eddie Andrews/Guthro Steenkamp
16: Hanyani Shimange/Gary Botha
17: Guthro Steenkamp/CJ van der Linde
18: Albert van den Berg
19: Luke Watson/Juan Smith/Pedrie Wannenburg/Tyabilika (I dont think he is that good, but the selectors favour him)
20: Bolla Conradie (he might even start ahead of du Preez)
21: Brian Habana/Jean de Villiers
22: Gaffie du Toit
This is more or less the team you guys can expect for 2005.
Just a note on Chavanga, I do believe he is the best winger in the country, but he is Zimbabwean born and will have to wait another 3 years before he is eligible for SA Such a shame he is a deadly winger