Currie Cup team of the Tournament

Rory Duncan: Led by example

The selection of a Team of the Tournament for this year's Absa Currie Cup has been the poser of the week with more opinions flying around the office than there are members of the All Blacks' support staff.

The Final was obviously a major factor in the selections with the Free State Cheetahs fighting back from 6-18 down to beat the Lions 20-18 in a thrilling encounter.

At the end of the day there were two tries apiece with the sides running the ball more than expected as they looked to create space and opportunities - our tournament XV features four Lions players and seven Cheetahs.

However, the other 58 games also had to be taken into account, and with outstanding performances from a large number of talented players in both the league stages and the semi-finals we had a real selection dilemma on our hands.

In the end only one player got the nod from all four of the rugby635.com panel of 'experts' - Cheetahs' lock Corniel van Zyl.

After considering the merits of the best players from the tournament's 59 clashes, this is the team that we came up with...

The team of the tournament:

15 Louis Ludik (Lions):

The Lions' fullback had a superb Currie Cup. He was solid on defence, but on attack he was something special, slotting seamlessly into his side's backline to devastate the opposition defences.

Back-up: Johan Roets (Blue Bulls)

14 Eddie Fredericks (Cheetahs):

Fredericks has a turn of pace that could rival even Bryan Habana's. He scored 11 tries, the second most in the competition, but it was his defence that earned him a place in the side ahead of John Mametsa (top try scorer with 14).

Back-up: John Mametsa (Blue Bulls)

13 Waylon Murray (Sharks): One of the toughest calls to make, the burly outside centre not only had a superb Super 14, but he was on top of his game for the Currie Cup as well.

Back-up: Jaco Pretorius (Lions)

12 Peter Grant (Western Province):

The Western Province star has been billed as the next Henry Honiball, and his performance in the Currie Cup showed just why. He has been superb as a fly-half when called on to take up the pivotal role, but it was at inside centre that he really shone this year.

Back-up: Walter Venter (Lions)

11 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks):

The 'other' Ndungane, Odwa is possibly more talented than his Springbok brother Akona. It showed in the Currie Cup as the versatile Sharks star slotted in at fullback after the side lost Stefan Terblanche. Erratic at times but still brilliant on attack Odwa is our choice for the No.11 jersey.

Back-up: Rayno Benjamin (Lions)

10 Willem de Waal (Cheetahs):

Over 1000 points in the Currie Cup is a major achievement and 'Generaal' de Waal got it in the least number of games (78 as opposed to the previous record of 80). Top points scorer for the fourth time running in the Currie Cup, he has been the key to his side's success this year. No surprises here.

Back-up: Conrad Barnard (Griquas)

9 Falie Oelschig (Cheetahs):

If Willem de Waal provides the Cheetahs' stability then Falie Oelschig is the flair. The nippy No.9 has had a great season behind a solid pack and with a cool head and unerring judgment he is the obvious choice at scrum-half.

Back-up: Rory Kockott (Sharks)

8 Jacques Cronjé (Lions):

The Lions' eighthman has had a solid season at the back of the scrum. Fitter, meaner, stronger and calmer than before the big man was the heart of his side's loose trio in this years competition.

Back-up: Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)

7 Duane Vermeulen (Cheetahs):

Billed as the next Juan Smith, the talented flanker has been given the highest praise by his coach who believes that he is destined to play for the Springboks. Man of the match on a number of occasions, Vermeulen is a strong runner and handy at the breakdown as well.

Back-up: Ernst Joubert (Lions)

6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions):

"Baywatch" has reigned supreme at the breakdown. One of the great talents in South African rugby this fetcher has a bright future ahead of him.

Back-up: Jacques Botes (Sharks)

5 Corniel van Zyl (Cheetahs):

The 2 metre tall lock was our only unanimous choice for good reason. Big, strong and fast for a lock, he ruled the line-out in almost all of the Cheetahs' games and has been a solid performer in every encounter.

Back-up: Cliffie Milton (Blue Bulls)

4 Rory Duncan (Cheetahs):

The Cheetahs' captain led by example, and what an example. Duncan can break through defence like a back-line player and has not only been a powerhouse in the scrum but has done his fair share of scrapping it out at the breakdown as well.

Back-up: Steven Sykes (Sharks)

3 Patric Cilliers (Sharks):

Unfortunately injury ruled Cilliers out of the later stages of the tournament, but what we saw in the first part was enough to convince us that this new talent has a great future ahead of him. As fast as any loose forward, few will forget his Jonah Lomu-like trampling over Meyer Bosman in the first encounter between the Cheetahs and the Sharks.

Back-up: Jannie du Plessis (Cheetahs)

2 Richardt Strauss (Cheetahs):

The flanker turned hooker has excelled in his new position and his nine tries - the third most in the competition - were no accident, as Strauss proved deadly on attack. He's not too shabby in the scrum and throwing into the line-out either. No surprises here.

Back-up: Willie Wepener (Lions)

1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions):

Van der Merwe has been a powerhouse in the Lions' front row and has been the key to their scrummaging success. He is also handy at the breakdown and can hold his own on defence.

Back-up: Jaco Engels (Blue Bulls)

Individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Francois van Schouwenburg, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan (captain), 3 Robbie Harris, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe

Gareth Green XV: 15 Johan Roets, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan (captain), 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Siya Mchunu XV: 15 Alwyn Hollenbach, 14 Gcobani Bobo, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Ernst Joubert, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jaco Engels

By Gareth Green