Back to his best: Bryan Habana
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Now that the dust has settled in the southern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the players who stole the show in the Rugby Championship.
15 Zane Kirchner (South Africa): Even Pat Lambie supporters can't argue that Kirchner had a solid outing - and not for the first time - at the back for South Africa. He ran hard and his positional play was sound. His try in front of his home crowd was just reward for a job well done, while he was exceptionally unlucky not to have bagged a brace.
14 Bryan Habana (South Africa): Habana is like a fine red wine - he just keeps getting better with age. Whilst not fully satisfied with one try, he crossed for two more to take his tally of Test tries to 46 as the veteran flyer picked Australia's defence apart. Superb!
13 Marcelo Bosch (Argentina): Things didn't go according to plan for his team, but Bosch did his reputation little harm and made the most of his chances with ball in hand whilst he was very busy on defence.
12 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand): Exposed some poor Pumas defence on multiple occasions. Nonu powered through to set up Aaron Smith, before crossing for one himself in one of his better outings for NZ.
11 Cory Jane (New Zealand): Played on the right, but there was no way we were going to leave the All Blacks' hat-trick hero out of this team. Jane simply reconfirmed his class out wide for the world champions. Magnificent!
10 Dan Carter (New Zealand): He's baaack! It was a clinical performance from Carter, who missed the last two rounds of the championship due to a calf injury. Slotted three conversions and two penalties, but his precise option taking is what really stood out. Mention too for Johann Goosen who, in his first start for the Boks, turned in a thrilling display at Loftus Versfeld.
9 Ruan Pienaar (South Africa): It was a toss up between Pienaar and Aaron Smith, but in the end we went for the Bok number nine who was full of sniping breaks and proved to be an annoying thorn in the Wallabies' side. Also shouldered much of the kicking responsibilities (for goal and tactical).
8 Kieran Read (New Zealand): It's official: Read is without a doubt the best number eight in the business. There's not much else we can add to that!
7 Francois Louw (South Africa): If everyone thought replacing Morne Steyn with Goosen was Heyneke Meyer's best decision yet as Bok coach... you're probably right. But another good decision was sending an SOS to England-based Louw, who has answered his country's call with aplomb. It was one of Louw's finest performances in a Bok jersey.
6 Liam Messam (New Zealand): A demon on defence. Messam also affected some important breakdown turnovers, and was successful in slowing the Pumas' ruck recycle to the point where the hosts battled for any significant attacking momentum. In his best display in the black jersey so far.
5 Andries Bekker (South Africa): Much, much better from Bekker who made up for his dismal outing in Mendoza. Got stuck in from start to finish, smothering would-be Wallaby attackers on defence while produced some nice handling touches as well. Australia's tall timber struggled to scale South Africa's man-mountain, who won all of his own line-out ball.
4 Luke Romano (New Zealand): Prominent in the set-pieces, and covered plenty of ground on defence, whilst got the ball over the advantage line on attack. Also instrumental in support play.
3 Jannie du Plessis (South Africa): Anchored South Africa's scrum and impressed in the tight-loose. His general play has also improved considerably since the start of the tournament.
2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa): Good darts in the line-out from South Africa's vice-captain and held up well at scrum-time. Got through a mountain of donkey work at ruck time too, and helped SA to dominate the breakdown.
1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand): As usual, he did his basics well and also impressed with his defensive work - especially around the fringes of the rucks and mauls.
By Dave Morris
Comments
scot_rsa says...
@letsgoboks - I don't think it has just been Sharks fans wanting Lambie ahead of Kirchner, it was simply that he has been uninspiring up to now and most people don't see him making the next World Cup. Having said that he deserves the praise for his Saturday performance. I'd also add that Lambie isn't the answer at fullback, for me he's a no10. The real question is why do the Boks have quality fullbacks at their disposal ie Frans, Taute, Ludik, Aplon, Pieterson, Daniller but choose not to use them there? Who is the answer at no15 in HM's mind because I'm still not convinced it is Zane despite his last performance.
Posted 20:46 01st October 2012
missionary says...
@ Fastmax. How can you feel sorry for the Australians about running out of subs? That comes down to the coach trying to bend the rules and rotate his props - ala rugby league, when he subbed off the first one in the first half. The plan was obviously to feign an injury and bring him back on. And then his injury woes caught up with him. It's not in the spirit of fair play or sportsmanship and as far as I was concerned, I totally agreed with the SA commentators. Deans made his bed on that score and had to sleep in in.
Posted 20:43 01st October 2012
ManWarrior says...
Thank you PR for finally mentioning the Springboks. I would agree with this team. Reed is great but watch out, Duane is close behind. I think he is gonna grow into a very similar player for the Bokke. Francois Louw is a real asset and one more thing, Uh! Ah! Habana!! Go Bokke!
Posted 20:27 01st October 2012
paulynz says...
Thought Owen Franks had a strong game as usual. Can't argue with the selection otherwise. Very impressed with Marcelo Bosch. Very consistent player in the Conrad Smith mold.
Posted 20:11 01st October 2012
gn100 says...
The player ratings suggest Tony Woodcock (6/10) and Luke Romano (5/10) were 2 of the poorest All Blacks but both made this team??
Posted 20:03 01st October 2012
Fastmax13 says...
I have to agree with most of the pics !! I felt very sorry for the Ozzies running out of subs they were out on there feet for the last 10 mins very impressed with the Boks and A.B, makes for a interesting weekend ahead
Posted 20:00 01st October 2012
Terry_English says...
A politcally correct selection perhaps with 7 ABs and 7 Boks? Aaron Smith was a cut above the rest and should have been selected at 9. Etzebeth was better than Romano. Conrad Smith was the best 13 on show - his importance in the backline is often undetected.
Posted 18:52 01st October 2012
bloemboy says...
About right selection here. Have to feel for Vermeulen who I thought had a fantastic game, but Read is in top gear at the moment. Cant wait to see the two of them head to head. The other head to head that leaves me salivating is Goosen / Carter. Going to be a cracker.
Right call to not have any Wobblies in here. Cant pick any injured players for a team now can you?
Posted 18:05 01st October 2012
Kiwikev says...
What no players from Oz? ha ha ha
Posted 17:37 01st October 2012
tuffnut says...
Pretty spot on.
Pity can't fit Julian Savea in there too but I guess Habana and Jane both were better. Very close between Smith and Pienaar, and also McCaw and Messam too.
Posted 17:19 01st October 2012
melkdave says...
Not a single ozzie ,and PR are right to omit them.Cant argue with who theve picked at all.On side note any news on A.ACooper i know his going home,but just how long is he going to be out ect.Only player worth a damn of those that played for Australia last weekend
Posted 16:18 01st October 2012
passtheball says...
Cory Jane player of the weekend for me. Very pleased to see Liam Messam make the team; strong tackling and buried in the rucks while providing effective passing links too.
Posted 16:11 01st October 2012
letsgoboks says...
Yep - Zane is pretty solid at 15. It irritates me reading all the hate towards him. He's solid under the high ball, tackles well, is rarely out of position, has scored tries and kicks well. All the sharks supporters crying for Lambie to take his place should just chill out. Lambie is a utility back. No one doubts his skill. Its great having him on the bench as this option. His time will come.
Posted 16:08 01st October 2012