It’s a skill thing

Who would ever have said that one could sit down to pick a Tri-Nations XV and include two Wallaby props?

Well that’s exactly what I’ve done. With the rugby year now at an end I decided to pick my team of the year and at prop I’ve opted for Australia’s two Bens – Alexander and Robinson.

Hold on, before you rush to the “Comments” bar to fire off a snide remark, I do know that one of them, Robinson, spells his Christian name with two n’s – i.e. Benn Robinson.

Robinson, in fact, is responsible for my picking his partner in the frontrow. Robinson(n!) has troubled everyone he has scrummed against, he runs with the ball, he makes tackles but when you look at the improvement in the Wallaby set piece you have to give his mate Ben Alexander some credit – especially as there is so little to pick from among the other No3s; John Smit, Owen Franks or Neemia Tialata?

The rest of the pack was easy. Bismarck du Plessis, arguably the best in the world in his position, at No2; the Bok twin towers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha at lock and a loose trio of the peerless Richie McCaw, Heinrich Brüssow and Pierre Spies.

The positions I struggled with were No4 and No8. Bakkies Botha needs to get rid of his tendency for indiscriminate actions while I put in Pierre Spies because eighthman is a position in which not much is going on.

Spies’ worth to the Boks was shown when he was absent but to me he does not have enough skill in a position that links the backs and the forwards. Still he’s well ahead of some of the others who played in the 8 jersey – Rodney So’oialo, Wycliff Palu, Kieran Reid, George Smith and Richard Brown.

And at this point South African fans might as well hit “Comments” because Bryan Habana is not in my backline.

I put my side together before the Barbarians game against the All Blacks and I decided not to change it because my feeling about Habana was confirmed by that game in which he scored three tries.

Playing in a Springbok team that does not do much with the ball he did not get to see it very often and he seems happy with that. I wanted him to get more involved. He has become more of a kick chaser and runner-in and I was disappointed that he wasn’t more influential. It may not be his fault, given the Boks’ propensity to kick, but I hope it’s something he takes on board.

I would love to see the backline I’ve picked play together because it bristles with talent, skill and intelligence.

Fourie du Preez is by far the best scrumhalf and I’ve paired him with Dan Carter at flyhalf with Matt Giteau operating at inside centre. Can you imagine trying to contain them?

My outside centre might surprise you – Conrad Smith of the All Blacks. He’s a man who does what centres used to do and are meant to do – change the angle, stall the defence, make the break but most of all pass the ball; not just scoop it along but put someone else into a better position or away for a try.

My wings are Sitivini Sivivatu because he offers so much and I’ve really been impressed by Corey Jane this season – especially with the way he has stood up to the aerial barrage and tried to do something with the ball rather than just kick it back.

Fullback was a difficult one. Mils Muliaina has been around the block and back and his experience was there for all to see but I really liked what I saw of Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Injuries forced to the Wallabies to use him up in the line but I reckon he could really go places if Robbie Deans allows him to settle at 15 and that’s why, because I don’t like a cop-out, I’ve put him in my side which appears below.

It’s a team I believe would be able to play with the style I like.

1 Benn Robinson (Australia)

2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)

3 Ben Alexander (Australia)

4 Bakkies Botha (South Africa)

5 Victor Matfield (South Africa)

6 Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa)

7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

8 Pierre Spies (South Africa)

9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa)

10 Dan Carter (New Zealand)

11 Sitivini Sivivatu (New Zealand)

12 Matt Giteau (Australia)

13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand)

14 Corey Jane (New Zealand)

15 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)

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by thomas ash December 8, 2009 11:13 GMT

I like the look of that team. Although i'd struggle to leave out the experience of Mils Muliaina. and as a bok fan I also battle with the thought of not having Habana on the field...but the 9, 10, 12, 13 combination would be a treat to watch.

by JOEL BONNAUD December 8, 2009 14:33 GMT

Pretty nice XV indeed! For the wingers, agreed with Jane but I didn't find Sivivatu as efficient as he used to be. Quite disappointed actually. I would have preferred Habana, for his defensive skills. I remember one game against Australia where he saved 2 / 3 tries before getting injured. Besides that, just like Thomas said, would love to see those backs together!!

by Colin Hardy December 8, 2009 16:01 GMT

It might sound crazy but I value Drew Mitchell on the wing. He is always tough to bring down, usually gains good ground, and has a good LEFT boot. Not to mention he can play #15 as well. His running style along with Adam AC always amazes me how they wiggle through and always make ground and break the first tackle.

by Nicholas Hunter December 8, 2009 18:12 GMT

Good line-up. In 5 years or less you will reconsider Owen Franks. At present time, I think Mtawarira deserves more looks at loosehead, if you're talking about someone who crushed legendary Vickery in the scrum, is an absolute menace with ball-in-hand, and has only upward to go from here.

by Budd Bay RFC December 8, 2009 18:27 GMT

very strong line-up. Sivivatu and Habana i believe are interchangable. Sivivatu hasnt really been in form since he was first injured in the super 14, and when in form is just as explosive as Habana and a better counter-attacker as well. The 9-13 would be an unstopable force. Oppositions would $h!t there shorts. Muliaina would be my pick for fullback though. Too good under the high ball and invaluable experiance.

by Izak Du Toit December 8, 2009 18:45 GMT

I have to say that you must have been asleep during the Tri nations, De Villiers and Fourie at centre pair for SA was by far better than any other combination. Matt Giteau was playing terrible rugby all year and you choose him in a different position than he played all year which is very strange, if you choose him because of the barbarian game you are unfair to Habana who played a great game. Habana has been the best winger for many a season in world rugby now and I think you are afraid he will be known as one of the best wingers in rugby history and might even knock you off that spot. I think you where great but a great need to be able to put pride aside and acknowledge when someone greater comes along. With Frans Steyn not in the team and Adam Ashley-Cooper is, you once again make a very strange choice. Steyn is world class and Cooper is Australian, that is about all he has going for him. Steyn destroyed the opposition and his kicking boot alone should make him a first choice for any world team, especially a tri nation team. And on a last note, you seem to have a problem with Habana and SA wingers, is that because of what happened to you in Cape Town in 1995 World cup opener? You might want to forget that day but it will always be remember as the day that the great Campo’s goose step got it’s feathers plucked! I also find it hard to believe all the NZ players in the back line. I remember how miserable they looked against the boks, knocking on balls getting tackled backwards and looked quite ordinary when they played the boks. But you get paid to do this and I don’t, so I guess you can put 4 Aussies in this team even though they finished a very comfortable last place.

by Izak Du Toit December 8, 2009 18:45 GMT

I have to say that you must have been asleep during the Tri nations, De Villiers and Fourie at centre pair for SA was by far better than any other combination. Matt Giteau was playing terrible rugby all year and you choose him in a different position than he played all year which is very strange, if you choose him because of the barbarian game you are unfair to Habana who played a great game. Habana has been the best winger for many a season in world rugby now and I think you are afraid he will be known as one of the best wingers in rugby history and might even knock you off that spot. I think you where great but a great need to be able to put pride aside and acknowledge when someone greater comes along. With Frans Steyn not in the team and Adam Ashley-Cooper is, you once again make a very strange choice. Steyn is world class and Cooper is Australian, that is about all he has going for him. Steyn destroyed the opposition and his kicking boot alone should make him a first choice for any world team, especially a tri nation team. And on a last note, you seem to have a problem with Habana and SA wingers, is that because of what happened to you in Cape Town in 1995 World cup opener? You might want to forget that day but it will always be remember as the day that the great Campo’s goose step got it’s feathers plucked! I also find it hard to believe all the NZ players in the back line. I remember how miserable they looked against the boks, knocking on balls getting tackled backwards and looked quite ordinary when they played the boks. But you get paid to do this and I don’t, so I guess you can put 4 Aussies in this team even though they finished a very comfortable last place.

by Hermanus Wessels December 8, 2009 20:23 GMT

Good team. Maybe Steyn at full-back?

by Toby Francis December 8, 2009 20:41 GMT

gotta love saffas with their feathers ruffled :)

by Nicholas Hunter December 8, 2009 21:44 GMT

^^^ True. If his comment continued any further we would have just wound up with the Springboks 1-15. "Australians aren't good, here are my picks (all RSA.) I can't believe those NZ players in the back line, here's who I would pick (all RSA...)" It's become quite easy to stereotype Bok fans on rugbyzone. Such a shame, as South Africa rugby doesn't NEED all these apologists.

by Peter December 8, 2009 23:24 GMT

11 Habana- he must be in this line up. He is the most dangerous winger in the world, even tho the SA gameplan does not serve him he is still sucessfull. 15 Mils Muliaina At 10Giteau is questionable because he had a so so trinations. Everyone knows how good he can be but he did not perform that well this year (btw he is my favorite player). Izak, you make some good points about De Villiers and Fourie but I disagree about F. Steyn at fullback. Steyn has the boot, but not much else. He showed virtually no creativity from 15 and was only useful as a kicking option, 15 has to go to Mils because of his picture perfect field positioning, great attacking prowess and solid defence throughout the trinations. I think Campo ought to be making more of a stink about Du Preez not being selected for IRB player of the year. He is the biggest no-brainer for the trinations best player.

by Eugene ?? December 9, 2009 03:08 GMT

Man, although sometimes Campo winds me up, I think this team is pretty well balanced. RSA forwards have always been respected and the OZ and NZ backs have always been respected. SA has 6 players in the team, NZ 5 and OZ 4. This does say a lot about Campo's attitude towards SA players. He respects them and acknowledges their ability. This was aTri Nations pick not an RSA pick as I understand, i don't quite agree with Cooper at fullback but as for the rest of the team, thats a Baabaas team I would love to see go on a tour of destruction through Europe on a Lions type setup. On that tour Bryan Habana, Frans and Morne steyn would deffo be taken on tour as backup, along with Drew Mitchel, Mills and a couple of other backs and loosies. Even I'm getting tired of the "hey Campo, you hate Soufaffriganraaagby sou shaat uup" attitude on his blog, and I myself have dropped a few comments like that. We're starting to look like we have an inferiority complex the way some South Africans drop comments about our rugby on this blog. 1995 was a looooooooooooong time ago. Thank you Izak for helping me be more objective about this blog.

by william green December 9, 2009 04:32 GMT

Good team except Mils at 15 and Habana at 11.

by Robert Pieterse December 9, 2009 19:53 GMT

I would like too see a Tri-Nations 15 picked every 4 years to play up north (maybe Grand Slam) or play the Lion's in a 3 match test. Mil's at 15 for sure. I agree on the 2 lock's, but BIG Brad must of come close. Matt at inside centre is stupid, we all know he is a world class player, but this year he has done nothing at all. Besides that we never saw him play 12 this year, this is just campo sticking in a few aussie's, just like he did with Ashley-cooper. No room for Woodcock??

by Eben VR December 11, 2009 01:04 GMT

I can't believe it. Campo not insulting the Springboks? There must be a hacker on this sight! Seriously: 90% agreement with your team. But would include Habana (even though I doubt his handling of the ball sometimes). Also; your reason for leaving him out of the team is a little weak. SA isn't playing very running rugby right now. It's an anti-Habana side (just like the bulls). In your team with that backline, I think he will be devastating. I would also include Frans Steyn in that side (the Frans Steyn Lite version playing for the French club right now) since he will be allowed to play his more offensive type game in such a team. I agree with your pick of the centres, only because it seems everyone CONSISTENTLY underestimates Conrad Smith! Giteau would be safely tucked between the two bigger players on defense, and obviously be dangerous on attack. I don't know about Spies. But I am also at a loss for any better player. Corey Jane never impressed me. I would rather have a Tiqiri or Loki Turner in there. Not a bad team as it is though. Unbeatable even.

by Eben VR December 11, 2009 01:05 GMT

Wait wait wait! Forgot about Jaque Fourie! Dammit. WOuld replace Conrad Smith at half-time.

by Reini van Dyk December 11, 2009 03:19 GMT

Coming from a bok supporter can't agree more, good choice

by Anton du Preez December 12, 2009 15:08 GMT

Good team, would have liked to see them play. Mils at 15 though. I have always thought Conrad Smith is underated.

by conor flynn December 14, 2009 03:57 GMT

what about david polcock at 6? stunning on the tour of europe. and rocky elsom at no.8? i agree that owen franks is a player to watch for the future and that the two aussie props are very good. problem with australia is only 7 or 8 international level players, south africa have a wonderful15 and nothing else and NZ have 2 or 3 world class players with about 500 good players. i think it was the aussies who said you need 5 world class, 5 very good and 5 good players to be a good team. SA have that, neither NZ nor australia have it yet....

by Brian Jardine December 14, 2009 16:24 GMT

What an exciting team that would be. For me, I'd have Habana instead of Sivivatu and Fourie instead of Giteau. Fourie can add that physicality needed to help draw defenders and open up the wings. But, overall, even this team Campo has picked would be a joy to watch. I love the concept of these guys touring like the Lions do. Give them a few weeks to gel together and they will be awesome.

by Nicholas Hunter December 15, 2009 00:08 GMT

Great. Let's call it the Kiwibokaroos and tour the World.