SA’s best non-Boks in URC

Four rounds into the United Rugby Championship, this is what we consider the best performing combined South African starting XV, write Mark and Oliver Keohane. Challenge us with your XV.

A disclaimer: no players who were selected for the Springboks end of year tour were considered. In this case the obvious one being Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat.

What was again obvious was how South African teams are spoilt for choice at loose-forward and at hooker. Where they haven’t been as strong is among the halfbacks, locks and midfield. Our wingers are always quality, no matter which of the four teams is playing.

Another disclaimer, we have focused only on players who are eligible for the Springboks and who realistically will be in the mix for the 2023 Rugby world Cup.

We have not considered the veterans Ruan Pienaar and Bismarck du Plessis, despite them being the form South African scrumhalf and hooker in the first month of the tournament.

No 15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

No 14: Madosh Tambwe (Bulls)

No 13: Jeremy Ward (Sharks)

No 12: Cornal Hendricks ( Bulls)

No 11: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls)

No 10: Manie Libbok (Stormers)

No 9: Andre Warner (Lions)

No 8: Phepsi Buthulezi (Sharks)

No 7: Evan Roos (Stormers)

No 6: Marcel Coetzee (Bulls)

No 5: Ruan Nortjie (Bulls)

No 4: Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

No 3: Carlü Sadie (Lions)

No 2: Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)

No 1: Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)

SA Rugby Magazine’s Zel Nel picks his XV

15. Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

14. Madosh Tambwe (Bulls)

13. Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)

12. Rikus Pretorius (Stormers)

11. Rabz Maxwane (Lions)

10. Boeta Chamberlain (Sharks)

9. Andre Warner (Lions)

8. Evan Roos (Stormers)

7. Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

6. Nama Xaba (Stormers)

5. Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

4. Ruben Schoeman (Lions)

3. Neethling Fouche (Stormers)

2. Kerron van Vuuren (Sharks)

1.Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)