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)