Your 2015 Rugby World Cup dream team

Fulcrum29

Fulcrum29

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I selected my 31 man Springbok World Cup squad, the selection was made on Sunday upon our August test series conclusion.

The starting lineup lacks an experienced Springbok captain, however I can start Burger on 6 (open side). I dropped Jean De Villiers and replaced him with Frans Steyn, at the time I didn’t know that Steyn would be able to make the real training squad, but considering this I will replace le Roux on my bench with Steyn. I am happy with the rest. Alberts and du Toit will serve as my utility players (loosies conditioned to play lock).

Note, the 23 man team is my 1st selection.

Backs (13):
Willie le Roux, Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Lionel Mapoe, Frans Steyn, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard, Pat Lambie, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Cobus Reinach.

Forwards (18):
Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Victor Matfield, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jannie du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Schalk Brits.

Starting lineup:
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Lwazi Mvovo
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Bryan Habana
10. Pat Lambie
09. Fourie du Preez (b/c)
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)
07. Francois Louw
06. Marcell Coetzee
05. Lood de Jager
04. Eben Etzebeth
03. Jannie du Plessis
02. Bismarck du Plessis
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Beast)

Substitutes:
16. Schalk Brits
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Willem Alberts
20. Schalk Burger (r/c)
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Handré Pollard
23. Willie le Roux

So… anyone willing to suggest their Springbok (or other) World Cup dream team, and comment?
 
Fulcrum29 said:
I selected my 31 man Springbok World Cup squad, the selection was made on Sunday upon our August test series conclusion.

The starting lineup lacks an experienced Springbok captain, however I can start Burger on 6 (open side). I dropped Jean De Villiers and replaced him with Frans Steyn, at the time I didn’t know that Steyn would be able to make the real training squad, but considering this I will replace le Roux on my bench with Steyn. I am happy with the rest. Alberts and du Toit will serve as my utility players (loosies conditioned to play lock).

Note, the 23 man team is my 1st selection.

Backs (13):
Willie le Roux, Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Lionel Mapoe, Frans Steyn, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard, Pat Lambie, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Cobus Reinach.

Forwards (18):
Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Victor Matfield, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jannie du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Schalk Brits.

Starting lineup:
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Lwazi Mvovo
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Bryan Habana
10. Pat Lambie
09. Fourie du Preez (b/c)
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)
07. Francois Louw
06. Marcell Coetzee
05. Lood de Jager
04. Eben Etzebeth
03. Jannie du Plessis
02. Bismarck du Plessis
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Beast)

Substitutes:
16. Schalk Brits
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Willem Alberts
20. Schalk Burger (r/c)
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Handré Pollard
23. Willie le Roux

So… anyone willing to suggest their Springbok (or other) World Cup dream team, and comment?
Click to expand...

Good team. I'd substitute Coenie Oosthuizen for either Malherbe or Kitshoff (can't remember which one of them is a tighthead or loosehead now)...
 
Agent_Smith said:
Good team. I'd substitute Coenie Oosthuizen for either Malherbe or Kitshoff (can't remember which one of them is a tighthead or loosehead now)...
Click to expand...

The only reason that I put Oosthuizen and Nyakane in my 1st selection is that they are able to bind on both sides when needed. We had serious scrum issues during the Championship when the replacements was brought in, either leave an working trio in play or replace them with an capable replacement(s).
 
Stevi said:
Zane Kirchner over Willie le Roux? :confused:
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As I suggested I will even replace le Roux with Steyn in my 1st selection. My 1st selection isn’t the team which I will play throughout all the pool games. Le Roux needs room to play his rugby, up there in the North they play close combat and quick everything.

In the team I selected Willie must be able to play wing which he is capable to do.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
As I suggested I will even replace le Roux with Steyn in my 1st selection. My 1st selection isn’t the team which I will play throughout all the pool games. Le Roux needs room to play his rugby, up there in the North they play close combat and quick everything.

In the team I selected Willie must be able to play wing which he is capable to do.
Click to expand...

Never thought I'd agree with you on Kirschner but to his credit, he was good against the Argies and he knows NH conditions well. I also agree with you regarding the style of rugby that those heavy fields are conducive to and I think on balance, Kirsch would be a more solid (if unspectacular) pick.
 
Team very close to the one I would pick also, just not sure about 15. Zane Kirchner, in fact I would play F. Steyn fullback with Willie on the bench and drop Zane all together... the rest looking solid, unfortunately agree J. de Villiers needs to go. Would have loved a place for F. Hougard as well.
 
I'll do one for the All Blacks.

Starting team:

15. Ben Smith
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder / Waisake Naholo (depending on recovery)
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Julian Savea
10. Daniel Carter
9. Aaron Smith
8. Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Owen Franks
2. Dane Coles
1. Wyatt Crockett / Tony Woodcock (Not really convincing so far this year, but provides experience and stability)

Substitutes:

16. Codie Taylor (Mealamu's over the hill, imo)
17. Ben Franks
18. Charlie Famuina / Nepo Laulala
19. Luke Romano
20. Victor Vito
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett / Colin Slade
23. Malakai Fekitoa
 
Feck it, I'll do a Wallaby one, too.

Starting team:

15. Israel Folau
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Tevita Kuridrani
12. Matt Toomua
11. Joe Tomane
10. Bernard Foley
9. Nick Phipps
8. Wycliff Palu
7. Michael Hooper
6. Scott Fardy
5. Rob Simmons
4. Will Skelton
3. Sekope Kepu
2. Stephen Moore
1. Scott Sio

Substitutes:

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Greg Holmes
19. Dean Mumm
20. David Pocock
21. Will Genia
22. Kurtley Beale
23. Matt Giteau

Not sure whether Pocock should be starting - he's good enough, of course, but he's great as an impact player, too. Better than someone like Fardy would be late game, I think.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Strong team. Close to what I would pick/consider, but I'm keener to pick Liam Messam over Jerome Kaino - Kaino is the better player to be honest. I do wish to see Naholo to be World Cup ready.
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Kaino is the better player but you'd pick Messam over him?

I'd likely only put Messam on the bench in place of Vito.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
Kaino is the better player but you'd pick Messam over him?

I'd likely only put Messam on the bench in place of Vito.
Click to expand...

Based on the 2015 Super Rugby season Messam did more work than Kaino in my opinion. When it comes to putting the All Black team together Kaino is ‘team’ ready. Messam like the du Plessis brothers are wildcards in my opinion, you never know when they will cost you the game. Discipline.
 
One thing that concerns me is that F du Preez seems to be a shoo-in but we have not seen him play yet. I think we should take F Hougaard with.
 
Vrotappel said:
One thing that concerns me is that F du Preez seems to be a shoo-in but we have not seen him play yet. I think we should take F Hougaard with.
Click to expand...

Francois Hougaard is prevented to participate in the World Cup 31 due his Currie Cup commitment. Reading the news yesterday it looks like they will be dropping Reinach to get Paige into the team. I don't like Pienaar and in my opinion he is a very slow scrummie, but he do have the experience up North and know when to make a good decision.
 
Any compilation as long as Ruan Pienaar isn't scrumhalf and Fourie Du Preez is back!
 
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