Rugby writers for Independent Newspapers were asked to put forward their likely Springbok World Cup squads as well as predictions for the likely winner of the competition.
This article was originally published on page 23 of The Star on July 14, 2007.
‘Springbok coach Jake White names his 30-man next Saturday. Will he get his first-choice squad or will it include a number of politically-motivated choices?
Here six rugby writers from Independent Newspapers list their choices for the challenge for honours in France. Interestingly Os Du Randt – a favourite of White’s – features in just one squad.
Jacques Van Der Westhuizen – The Star
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn
Wings: Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Ashwin Willemse
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Waylon Murray
Flyhalves: Butch James, Derick Hougaard
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie
Loose forwards: Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw
Locks: Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Albert van den Berg
Props: CJ van der Linde, BJ Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe
Hookers: John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Gary Botha
Unluckiest omission: Pedrie Wannenburg
Group A: South Africa, England
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Italy
Group D: Ireland, France
Semifinals: Aus vs NZ, SA vs Ire
Final: SA vs NZ
Winner: New Zealand
Zayn Nabbi – Daily News
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn
Wings: JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jacque Fourie, Adrian Jacobs, Waylon Murray
Flyhalves: Butch James, Andre Pretorius
Scrumhalves: Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie
Loose forwards: AJ Venter, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Pedrie Wannenburg, Schalk Burger, Jacques Botes
Locks: Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller
Props: Brendon Botha, CJ van der Linde, Gurthro Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe
Hookers: Gary Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit
Unluckiest omission: Brad Barritt
Group A: England, SA
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Scotland
Group D: France, Ireland
Semifinals: Aus vs NZ, Eng vs Fra
Final: NZ vs Fra
Winner: France
Kevin McCallum – The Star
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn
Wings: Bryan Habana, Ashwin Willemse, Breyton Paulse
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies
Flyhalves: Butch James, Derick Hougaard
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar
Loose Forwards: Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden, Bob Skinstad
Locks: Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw
Props: BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Gurthro Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe
Hookers: Gary Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (captain)
Unluckiest omission: Deon Carstens
Group A: South Africa, England
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Scotland
Group D: Ireland, France
Semifinals: Aus vs NZ, SA vs Ire
Final: NZ vs SA
Winner: South Africa
Mike Greenway – The Mercury
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn
Wings: JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Odwa Ndungane
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Brad Barritt, Waylon Murray
Flyhalves: Butch James, Andre Pretorius
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie
Loose forwards: Bob Skinstad, Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden, Juan Smith
Locks: Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann
Props: BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens
Hookers: John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Gary Botha
Unluckiest omission: Jannie du Plessis
Group A: South Africa, England
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Scotland
Group D: France, Ireland
Semifinals: Aus vs NZ, SA vs Fra
Final: SA vs NZ
Winner: South Africa
Vata Ngobeni – Pretoria News
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn
Wings: Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane, Ashwin Willemse
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jacque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Waylon Murray
Flyhalves: Butch James, Derick Hougaard
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar
Loose forwards: Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenburg, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Wikus van Heerden,
Locks: Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Johan Muller, Danie Rossouw
Props: Os du Randt, CJ van der Linde, Guthro Steenkamp, BJ Botha, Deon Carsten
Hookers: John Smit, Gary Botha
Unluckiest omission: Andre Pretorius
Group A: South Africa, England
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Italy
Group D: France, Ireland
Semifinals: Aus vs NZ, SA vs Fra
Final: SA vs NZ
Winner: New Zealand
Ashfak Mohammed – Cape Times
Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Conrad Jantjes, Francois Steyn
Wings: Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Breyton Paulse
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Wayne Julies, Waylon Murray, Adrian Jacobs
Flyhalves: Butch James, Andre Pretorius
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar
Loose forwards: Pierre Spies, Bob Skinstad, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson (captain)
Locks: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Ross Skeate
Props: Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Heinke van der Merwe, BJ Botha
Hookers: John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis
Unluckiest omission: Kabamba Floors
Group A: South Africa, England
Group B: Australia, Wales
Group C: New Zealand, Italy
Group D: France, Ireland
Semifinals: Fra vs SA, NZ vs SA
Final: Fra vs NZ
Winner: Franceâ€
This article was originally published on page 23 of The Star on July 14, 2007.
See who has been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. (more…)
Bryan Habana puts in a big hit on Mose Tuiali'i in the Super14 semifinal against…
Robbie Fleck takes a swipe at Ben Cohen - and connects. (more…)
Corne Krige, after nearly being strangled to death on the deck, lashes out at Martin…
Francois Steyn kicks a monster drop goal against the Western Force (more…)