CRAIG LEWIS picks a form South African XV based on performances in round nine of Super Rugby.
The quality of action dished up by South African sides this past weekend would have done little to buoy the confidence of under-pressure coach Allister Coetzee ahead of the June series against France.
The derby between the Bulls and Cheetahs, as well as the clash between the Sharks and Rebels, were both dour, error-riddled affairs. In addition, the Stormers lost further momentum as they were thrashed by the Crusaders, while the Lions struggled to overcome the Jaguares in Johannesburg.
Surprisingly, the one real highlight of the weekend came from Sydney, where the Kings produced a gutsy performance to secure a famous win over 2014 Super Rugby champions, the Waratahs.
With so few players standing out in some poor team performances, it makes this week’s Bok barometer selections rather challenging, but Jamba Ulengo and Jesse Kriel were standout performers in the Bulls’ win over the Cheetahs. Although Ulengo played on the left wing, for the purposes of rewarding form, he’s been picked at No 14 in this barometer in order to accommodate Courtnall Skosan, who impressed against the Jaguares.
Lionel Cronjé again displayed impressive composure in the second half for the Kings, while Shaun Venter added a spark to the Cheetahs’ backline while he was on the field.
Up front, the Lions’ loose trio was effective, but the Kings’ Chris Cloete was also outstanding yet again this past weekend. Meanwhile, former Junior Springbok Jason Jenkins put in a big shift against the Cheetahs, although it was the team from Free State that established the ascendancy at scrum time.
SA FORM XV (ROUND 9)
15. Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs)
14. Jamba Ulengo (Bulls)
13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
12. Harold Vorster (Lions)
11. Courtnall Skosan (Lions)
10. Lionel Cronjé (Kings)
9. Shaun Venter (Cheetahs)
8. Warren Whiteley (Lions)
7. Ruan Ackermann (Lions)
6. Chris Cloete (Kings)
5. Franco Mostert (Lions)
4. Jason Jenkins (Bulls)
3. Ross Geldenhuys (Kings)
2. Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs)
1. Charles Marais (Cheetahs)
ALSO READ: Super Rugby Power Rankings (Round 9)
SA FORM XV (ROUND 8)*
15. Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
14. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs)
13. EW Viljoen (Stormers)
12. Harold Vorster (Lions)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Kings)
10. Elton Jantjies (Lions)
9. Ross Cronjé (Lions)
8. Warren Whiteley (Lions)
7. Ruan Ackermann (Lions)
6. Jaco Kriel (Lions)
5. Lood de Jager (Bulls)
4. Andries Ferreira (Lions)
3. Ruan Dreyer (Lions)
2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
1. Pierre Schoeman (Bulls)
*The Sharks had a bye in Round 8
Phopto: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix
