Choosing a Bok team no easy task

With just four weeks remaining until the probable 2002 swansong for the South African Super 12 teams, I don't envy Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli one bit.

Walking through the ABSA Stadium outerfields en route to the match between the Sharks and Chiefs, there were quite a few groups of people huddled around their cars discussing the Springbok prospects under Straeuli.

One of the opinions offered was that Straeuli had at least made a significant step forward by saying that he would use current form as his sole criterion of selection for the opening test against Wales on June 8.

That is all well and good. One of the areas where Harry Viljoen messed up last year was in his tendency to ignore Super 12 form in constructing his squad.

But Viljoen had a lot more to work with than Straeuli has to work with at the end of this second week of April. Last year both the Cats and the Sharks made the semi-finals. Viljoen had more than enough form players to choose from had he been so inclined.

So there is some irony in the fact that Straeuli, who coached the Sharks to the semi-finals in 2001, is talking about choosing on form at a time when there is so little form to speak of.

It was noticeable when I challenged some of the ABSA Stadium revellers to name their form teams of 2002 that several players who are currently injured appeared on the list.

No, Gcobani Bobo cannot be regarded as a form player as he is injured at the moment and will be for several months.

So are Trevor Halstead and Robbie Fleck, which leaves us with an immediate problem at centre.

Marius Joubert, a Springbok for 20 minutes under Viljoen, started picking up the pace a bit when the Stormers played the Reds a few weeks ago. But it was the first time this season that he really stood out at Super 12 level.

He needs to perform more consistently before he can be considered a top Bok contender. The same should be said for Adrian Jacobs, who has of course been the subject of much controversy at the Bulls this season.

Etienne Botha, one of the stars of the impressive Currie Cup effort turned in by the Falcons last season, only received his first Super 12 opportunity for the Bulls this past weekend.

It may say something for the real reason why our Super 12 teams are struggling that when he finally did get to play he thoroughly vindicated those who felt he should have been there from the start.

But Botha has played just one game. Straeuli would be brave indeed to select Botha on the basis of just that one performance.

The wings might be easier. Pieter Rossouw is one of the top try scorers in the competition and Stefan Terblanche is undergoing a rejuvenation with the Sharks.

Breyton Paulse played off the bench for the Stormers against Crusaders and will get more game time in the coming weeks.

At fullback there is only one man who recommends himself at this stage - yes, Percy Montgomery, the man who Nick Mallett found so hard to drop. Apart from his second coming as a goalkicker, Montgomery has rediscovered his appetite for taking on opposing defences.

At flyhalf the dearth of established candidates is illustrated by the popularity of the retreaded Werner Greeff, who previoulsy played everywhere in the backline but flyhalf.

Gaffie du Toit played well for the Sharks against the Chiefs, but only really in the first half. Herkie Kruger was probably better the previous week.

Andre Pretorius cooked for the Cats in their defeat to the Chiefs last week but he was less impressive against the Blues. He would be an inspired choice for a Springbok squad but I am not so sure about him starting a test just yet.

Of course Bolla Conradie picks himself at scrumhalf. What an outstanding game he played against the Crusaders, and he was playing against none other than Justin Marshall nogal.

It is at forward that Straeuli faces his biggest headache.

Rassie Erasmus and Bob Skinstad are still injured and even if they played this weekend it will still be a few weeks before they are playing full tilt.

In the absence of Mark Andrews and the loss of form of Victor Matfield, there is also a big problem in the second row. Matfield was much better against the Reds, but he has work to do.

I hear Straeuli likes the look of Quinton Davids, but Hottie Louw has probably been the form lock locally.

We have to play Cobus Visagie at tighthead because Willie Meyer seems to have arrived at that point we should refer to as a season to far.

But Visagie has been a grave disappointment this year and tends to spend more time standing up in the scrums and talking to the referee than getting on with the job he is selected to do.

In the absence of Robbie Kempson, Ollie le Roux is the only experienced loosehead on the local circuit. Yet he has been as disappointing as Visagie. It would have to be between Hein Kok and Daan Human, with the former getting the nod on a marginal vote.

Springbok team selected on current Super 12 form: Percy Montgomery, Stefan Terblanche, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Pieter Rossouw, Werner Greeff or Andre Pretorius, Bolla Conradie, Shaun Sowerby, Hendrik Gerber, Corne Krige (captain), Hottie Louw, Albert van den Berg or Quinton Davids, Cobus Visagie, John Smit, Heinrich Kok.