Much has been said ahead of one of the biggest Tests of the year as the Springboks host Ireland at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
In light of the world champions facing the Six Nations champions, we have put together a combined XV that is absolutely loaded with superstars.
Combined XV
15 Willie le Roux (South Africa): The full-back is ageing like a fine wine through his ability to link up the attack. Le Roux reads the game very well and has all the skills to exploit the space that he spots. The veteran is a dream for any fly-half as he will step in and help run the game with ball in hand. How the Bulls dropped off in the United Rugby Championship final is a testament to the immense value he brings.
14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): One of the greatest wings to ever play the game. Kolbe’s elusive running needs no introduction as he remains a player who has the ability to break a game wide open from situations with very little opportunity. The speedster has consistently produced in high-pressure moments throughout his Springboks career making him a no-brainer for selection.
13 Jesse Kriel (South Africa): Robbie Henshaw is a class operator but Kriel’s rise in the last 18 months has been nothing short of sensational. The centre has always been a quality player but he took his chance with Lukhanyo Am injured and transformed into a world-class warrior. His athleticism, decision-making and very low error rate make him a dream midfielder.
12 Damian de Allende (South Africa): If Bundee Aki was still showing that World Cup form he would have been in but the Irishman has since (ever so slightly) dropped off meaning the Springbok edges him out. De Allende is a very consistent performer and even though his role is obvious to the entire world there are few that can prevent him from going over the gainline time and again. The massive ball carrier was important for the Springboks against Ireland last year and needs to produce again.
11 James Lowe (Ireland): It was always going to be tough to pick between the Irishman and Kurt-Lee Arendse but Lowe’s additional skills give him the edge. The Leinsterman’s canon of left boot is hugely important to Ireland and often used to exit their red zone, something that will certainly be used at high altitude in Pretoria.
10 Handre Pollard (South Africa): This selection comes with massive respect to Jack Crowley, who is excelling at the beginning of his Test career, but it would be wrong to look past the calm, composed veteran in Pollard. The fly-half has been there and done it more than once, he is not just a quality pivot but also a leader of men. Pollard is Rolls Royce of a fly-half.
9 Faf de Klerk (South Africa): Jamison Gibson-Park would have made this very interesting but with him out De Klerk gets the nod. The livewire is vastly experienced and is often the go-to man in massive games like this weekend’s. From the quality of his kicking to sound distribution to defensive reads, De Klerk is a top, top scrum-half.
Bernard Jackman: Where the Springboks will look to ‘bully’ Ireland
The pack
8 Caelan Doris (Ireland): World-class. One will rarely find a game where Doris is not influential. He is not shy of the physical game and will lead that charge on both sides of the ball against the Springboks. He looks set to become Ireland’s future full-time skipper at some point and he will be important at the weekend.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa): A rugby player who defines the term ‘engine’. It is hard to find a player who will work harder than the blindside as his 28 tackles in the World Cup final suggests. He is a nightmare for all fly-halves and one can expect Du Toit’s tackle count to be through the roof… again.
6 Siya Kolisi (South Africa): A leader of men and one of the icons of rugby union across all eras. He may have been criticised for his Racing 92 form but he ALWAYS kicks it up several levels in the green and gold. His running ability in the wide channels has been a hallmark of his game in the last few seasons while on defence he is always present. Kolisi also has the luxury of knowing he won’t play the full game, meaning he can empty the tank.
5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland): Often described as a unicorn in rugby terms and that is spot on. Beirne is excellent in the line-out, menacing at the breakdown, not shy of a carry and a gladiatorial defender. You may have noticed that covers just about every facet of the game and that is because the Irishman is a sensational player and arguably in the top five in the game right now.
4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): A giant (literally) of the game. The centurion is on a one-way road to becoming the greatest Springbok in history as he climbs up the all-time appearance list. Etzebeth is outrageously physical, a beast in the line-out and a leader. He will set the tone on Saturday in the collision and will have a bone to pick with Lowe after the winger picked him up in a tackle the last time the sides met.
3 Frans Malherbe (South Africa): Scrum expert. The massive Springbok has long been the anchor of South Africa’s scrum and gets in ahead of Tadhg Furlong. The reliability of Malherbe has been a dream for Rassie Erasmus and he will expect the same again this weekend. The fact he only plays just over half of the game means you will always see the best of him.
2 Dan Sheehan (Ireland): The Springboks have two legendary hookers but Sheehan is the epitome of a modern hooker in how mobile and attacking he is. The brilliant aspect of Sheehan’s game is that he adds that dynamism without losing the physical, gritty side of packing down in the front-row. He is a borderline unicorn all on his own.
1 Ox Nche (South Africa): A player who just about single-handedly kept the Springboks in the World Cup with late scrum penalties against England in the semi-final. Nche is explosive in the scrum and arguably the best loosehead in that facet right now. 28 years old is fairly young in prop years meaning he will only get better – a frightening thought.