Bok options for EOYT

Considering that the Springboks will take a sizeable squad of 37 players on their looming five-match European tour, it is gratifying that the 2009 Absa Currie Cup has offered up a solid harvest of fresh candidates for green-and-gold honours.

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While the nucleus of the 2007 World Cup-winning side have signalled their intentions to have another, ambitious stab at the Webb Ellis trophy in 2011, two years is still a long way up the drag in rugby terms.

So getting some slightly more youthful ducks in a row by way of back-up options is a wise course to follow, and the non-Test outings against Leicester and Saracens provide perfect opportunities to gauge the longer-term claims of a variety of “dirt-trackers”.

The Currie Cup, with just next weekend’s Blue Bulls-Cheetahs final to come, retained its key reputation this year as a breeding ground for credible international customers.

And to demonstrate that very point I have assembled here my suggested XV of players — the qualification being strictly no caps yet at senior level by South Africa — to show consistently compelling form in the 2009 domestic competition.

The accent is not wholly on spring chickens … one or two mid-career provincial players came strongly to light in the Currie Cup this year and may yet be long-shots at earning elusive Springbok honours.

Do not accuse me of any regional bias, either: keep in mind that giant franchises like the Bulls and Sharks already boast robust numbers of seasoned, shoe-in Boks, hence their relative lack of representation here.

But I tip quite a few of the names below to be awarded passages to Europe when the national squad is announced after the Currie Cup final at Loftus on Saturday, simultaneously keeping a few already-valued Bok warhorses on their toes …

15 Joe Pietersen (WP, 25)
Outstanding in the Currie Cup at virtually every skill required of a fullback, including real blossoming as a deadeye, short-range place-kicker. Lacking some centimetres, yet not obviously exposed for that under the high bomb.

14 Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs, 21)
One of the attacking finds of the season. Notably swift, and blessed with strong thighs, the former Sevens star also slips tackles like a frog might escape the naïve clutch of a child. The Bulls’ Francois Hougaard was a bit of a revelation in the position too.

13 Juan de Jongh (WP, 21)
An exciting bundle of energy, the proverbial dynamite in a small package. Gutsy and committed in the tackle, but also a handful probing gaps. Best suited to 13, but can also do the business competently at 12.

12 Doppies la Grange (Lions, 27)
One of those really admirable, solid pros. Perhaps lacks a critical yard to genuinely revel at Test level, but nobody could complain if this Sasolburg product won a few belated caps as a midweeker Bok. Looks for work, isn’t easy to haul down, and gives yeoman service as an extra fetcher, too. Barry Geel (Griquas) and Riaan Swanepoel (Sharks) were solid in this important “channel” as well.

11 Gio Aplon (WP, 27)
The man with a swerve which Carel du Plessis would be proud of; so good to watch on the counter-attack. Has added some flesh and muscle to his lightweight bones, albeit that he has never lacked anything in bravery anyway, as evidenced in bringing some big, raging Bulls to the turf in the semi-final thriller.

10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Cheetahs, 25)
Doesn’t look like the most natural footballer on the planet, does he? But those sometimes flat-looking feet can be deceptive, and his blond mane was prominent – mostly for the right reasons – throughout the Cheetahs’ weird road to the final. Unpredictability and opportunism are strengths.

9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas, 25)
Perhaps prone to isolating himself a wee bit too much from the rest of his back division at times, but this scrumhalf was electric on the break throughout the Currie Cup and amazingly tireless; the sort of No 9 his opposite number could not afford to take an eye off for a second.

8 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs, 23)
Inherited this jersey almost by accident and just got more and more prominent as a crunching tackler and tight-loose marauder as the competition reached its advanced stages. A chunky 110kg, he could find heavy European conditions to his liking, and has proved he can be a half-competent emergency hooker.

7 Dewald Potgieter (Bulls, 22)
Very close call for this spot ahead of another standout blind-sider in Duane Vermeulen (WP), who may even be preferred for the Bok squad. But Potgieter is a fine, “complete” loose forward who can win lineout ball and do his share of turnover work as well. Cerebral, articulate personality who might just lead his land one day.

6 Francois Louw (WP, 24)
With Luke Watson’s successful deployment as full-time Province No 8 in the Currie Cup, this 112kg unit belied his mass and height by serving with aplomb in the open-sider’s role. A force in driving play, and a real “80 minutes” player.

5 David de Villiers (Cheetahs, 29)
A bit of a late developer whose last two years or so have probably been the best of his career. The Cheetahs’ main “go to” man in the lineouts, this two-metre beanpole also gets encouragingly stuck into less glamorous work. There’s a wee bit of “red mist” about him that may not be such a bad thing, either.

4 Anton van Zyl (WP, 29)
Perhaps it’s a bit of an indictment on some younger, non-Bok South African locks (though Steven Sykes retains firm promise) that another player getting slightly long in the tooth cracks the nod here? But, benefiting from Chris Jack’s temporary wisdom in the WP second row, the former Rondebosch boy returned to the Cape in mid-year from the Lions to play probably his best domestic season. Ceaseless, uncomplaining engine-room worker and strategist, and great devotee to the “team” ethic.

3 WP Nel (Cheetahs, 23)
Perhaps the best thing about this front-row find is that he just “looks” like the Full Monty in bull-necked, squat, brick-outhouse tighthead! And Bok loosehead Beast Mtawarira now knows more about Nel’s scrummaging skills than he might wish. Hails from unfashionable Loeriesfontein, which makes neighbouring Nieuwoudtville seem like New York in comparion. Has almost certainly leapfrogged Emerging Springbok Werner Kruger now in the No 3 pecking order.

2 Craig Burden (Sharks, 24)
In-form Tiaan Liebenberg (WP) not eligible for this combo because he has already played for his country – albeit only against the BaaBaas – Burden earns the nod on the strength of some really explosive performances for his province midway through the Currie Cup, before the return of first-choice Bismarck du Plessis. Admittedly more of a “run-around” No 2 in Schalk Brits mould, than compelling grappler/scrummager.

1 Wicus Blaauw (WP, 23)
The 2009 Currie Cup saw confirmation from the Windhoek-born Blaauw that he has “arrived” as a genuinely forceful scrummager – he gave Werner Kruger no fewer than three uncomfortable days at the office in the competition. Just needs to be on his guard legality-wise from a few more “technical” referees, but that is also something he will iron out with greater experience.