We have played selector again and we have picked our greatest players who have made their name in the Currie Cup. We have only selected players from 1980 onward, because that is our frame of reference.
Please note that we specifically looked at the players’ performance in the Currie Cup alone and some modern players might be excluded as they haven’t featured that much in the Currie Cup.
Our Dream XV is:
15. Andre Joubert: An educated left boot which will gain you meters and he joined the line better than most full backs.
14. Chris Badenhorst: An under rated wing who scored over 60 tries in the Currie Cup. Should have got more opportunities at national level.
13. Danie Gerber: A no brainer… Was the glue in the back line that made Eastern Province competitive in the 80’s. No one comes close.
12. Etienne Botha: This selection might raise eyebrows, but I would have loved to see him next to Gerber. He had deceptive speed and could break a line at will.
11. Carel Du Plessis: Was the talisman during Wester Province’s five golden years. Scored 19 tries in one season for WP.
10. Naas Botha: Another easy choice. Still holds the Currie Cup points scoring record. He could win tight games on his own, but also get his back line away with crisp distribution and decision making.
9. Joost van der Westhuizen: Captained the Blue Bulls to two Currie Cup titles. He was an amazing try scorer from the base of the scrum.
8. Bob Skinstad: Perhaps a controversial choice, but he lit up the Currie Cup between 1997 and 1999 and few players have made the impact he did.
7. Rassie Erasmus: A legend of Currie Cup rugby. Was the mastermind as a player in 2004, taking the Cheetahs to the final and one year later, he coached them to Currie Cup success.
6. Ruben Kruger: The hard man of Northern Transvaal Rugby. In our opinion he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Was an outstanding player.
5. Victor Matfield: Mark Andrews is the only challenger here, but few could argue with how good Victor was in his prime. Success followed him where he went.
4. Bakkies Botha: The balance to Matfield. Before becoming a Bok regular, he made his name as a hard worker in the Currie Cup. Legend of the game.
3. Frans Erasmus: Normally a loose head, but I couldn’t leave him out of my team. A strong srummager and very mobile for a big man. A legend of Eastern Province Rugby. Nag ou Grote.
2. Uli Schmidt: Flourished in the Currie Cup where he played as an extra loose forward at times, but was strong as an ox and could mix it with the big boys up front. Scored a lot of tries for Northern Transvaal and Transvaal.
1. Os Du Randt: He hit the Currie Cup scene line a hurricane in 1994 and was immediately selected for the Boks. He was very mobile in his youth and made a comeback to rugby in 2003, winning the title with the Cheetahs in 2005.
