JON CARDINELLI picks a form South African XV based on performances in round six of Super Rugby.
Curwin Bosch scored 19 of the Sharks’ 29 points at Ellis Park on Saturday. While the Lions managed to hold on for the win, the 19-year-old Bosch produced his most complete Super Rugby performance to date. It should come as no surprise to see him selected at No 10 – again – in this Form XV.
ALSO READ: Bosch is a diamond in the rough
The Stormers thrashed the Cheetahs 53-10 at Newlands. No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe made 111m with ball in hand and scored a hat-trick. While the Sharks’ Jean-Luc du Preez deserves plaudits for his performance at Ellis Park, Siya Kolisi is favoured at No 7 due to his ball-carrying feats and high tackle-count.
The inclusion of just one Lions player – Jaco Kriel – is bound to raise a few eyebrows. While the Lions produced a strong team performance to score the biggest win of the round, there were stronger individual showings by players in the Stormers and Sharks teams.
Neither Faf de Klerk nor Cobus Reinach impressed at Ellis Park, while Jano Vermaak was stretchered off with injury at Newlands. In the end, scrumhalf Rudy Paige cracked the nod on the basis of his strong first-half performance against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
SA FORM XV (ROUND 5)
15. SP Marais (Stormers)
14. Kobus van Wyk (Sharks)
13. EW Viljoen (Stormers)
12. Daniel du Plessis (Stormers)
11. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
9. Rudy Paige (Bulls)
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers)
7. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
6. Jaco Kriel (Lions)
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
3. Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
1. JC Janse van Rensburg (Stormers)
ALSO READ: Lions cling to top spot
LAST WEEK’S SA FORM XV
15. Andries Coetzee (Lions)
14. Kobus van Wyk (Sharks)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions)
11. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs)
10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
9. Dewaldt Duvenage (Stormers)
8. Warren Whiteley (Lions)
7. Andisa Ntsila (Kings)
6. Jaco Kriel (Lions)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions)
4. Andries Ferreira (Lions)
3. Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
1. Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)
Photo: Anne Laing/HM Images