Mailbox: De Villiers' Tri-Nations team

You decide: Has De Villiers blown South Africa's chances?

All he did was name a team, and yet Peter de Villiers has come in for all sorts of criticism over his South Africa team to face New Zealand on Saturday.

Ever since De Villiers assumed control of the Springboks people have almost been waiting for him to trip up, and, according to the readers, he is about to do so this weekend.

Here is what you had to say about his team...

Stupid! Stupid! Bad enough not including Pierre Spies, but to then go on and put a useless player like Watson on the bench over Spies and Kankowski. The All Blacks are thanking their lucky stars!

Sean Quirk

I am still trying to understand Peter De Villiers' thinking in choosing his starting XV along with his bench. Does he even know what he is doing? I still don't believe that Adrian Jacobs is the best outside centre we have in South Africa. Bolla Conradie is definitely not our second best scrum-half at the moment, even if Fourie Du Preez is injured.

Joe Van Niekerk is a good player, and it may not to too bad a call to start with him, but to not have Pierre Spies or Ryan Kankowski on the bench is ludicrous. Furthermore, not having Ruan Pienaar on the bench is strange too as he is better cover than Bolla Conradie as he can play in more than one position. I think the puppet strings are being pulled from those up above him. De Villiers will never admit it though - his contract says he cannot say a word!

Iain Stirling

Good move - Kankowski and Spies have a lot of raw talent, but Big Joe has more passion.

Ian Woodrow

A wise team - what's mad is the fact that Luke Watson is on the bench and both Spies and Kankowski get the day off. This would have been the Boks best chance in years to win a Test in NZ, but De Villiers has significantly dented his own chances of victory by including Jacobs and Ndungane in the starting XV - neither of whom are likely to strike fear into the hearts of the All Blacks.

Surely it would have been far safer to have Monty at the back and move the in-form Jantjes to the wing where his boot would have been valuable and his defence priceless. Slot Steyn in at 13 and throw BJ back into the mix and you'd have a complete side without any noticeable deficiencies and without any question marks as to their BMT hanging over their heads.

Such a make-up would also have asked far more questions of the All Blacks, and the players themselves would have hugely benefited in terms of confidence simply from knowing that they were the best possible XV that could have been fielded. I'm personally sick of political/quota selections - let the best man in his position play.

Chris Hammond

As a Bok supporter I truly don't care about the colour of the team, as long as they win and prove that Africa can be the best at something. They are our BOKS and Africa's BOKS, and in the turmoil of the Dark Continent they are a glowing light and an inspiration to millions of youngsters who dream of one day wearing the Green and Gold.

All the best to both teams, and let's hope for a cracker of a game from two the world's great rugby nations, and long may this titanic rivalry continue.

Alistair Main

I am not happy about the choice to have 'Big Joe' at number eight. To be honest I am not his biggest fan, but that does not come in the way of my decision here.

Yes he had a good Super 14, but I believe that he is not an international player - plus he starred for the Lions - the Lions are possibly the worst rugby outfit in the world, I could shine for them!!

De Villiers really needs to take a good hard look at himself. Why change a formula that won us the World Cup. I am becoming very disillusioned by the way SA Rugby is going, on a coaching level especially.

Jake White was my man, and when he left I was hoping for Chester Williams, but I suppose the 'big boys' of SA rugby like to be different.

I hope that I am proven wrong come Saturday - come on the Bokke.

Francois Koekemoer

It's South Africa. When was the last time a SA side was fielded where we didn't have ourselves wondering if the coach is on narcotics?

It's sad really - all of that S14 talent and form. To be honest, there is about 20 other back-rowers in SA that I would have picked before Van Niekerk. This is a 'washed up has been' for some years now and the AB's will expose him drastically!

Stuart Smith

Very good call - good form and great talent and experience - Kankowski lacks experience, Spies as well, but both very good options for future. Should have one of them on the bench.

Paolo

I am really enjoying the new Bok game plan. We at last look like we have a more expansive running game which is in line with where rugby is moving. It is going to be a great forward battle on Saturday but I think our Bokke will be up to the challenge despite the view of the arm-chair critics.

Wayne Hendry