Our Tri-Nations team of the tournament

Springboks to the fore!

It is time for us to play selectors again and name our 'Team of the Tournament' for the 2004 Tri-Nations series. South Africa, after losing their first two matches on the road, bounced back at home to clinch the title - and we duly reward them for their heroics.

Six Springboks make our XV. The second-placed Wallabies provided five players, whilst members of the bottom-dwelling All Blacks filled the final four berths.

Our 'selectors' - rugby writers Andy Jackson, Danny Stephens, Rob Peters, Paul Dobson and Jan de Koning - put their heads together and came up with a very exciting combination.

But it certainly wasn't a straight forward selection, with some positions causing quite a bit of debate and much gnashing of teeth.

Inside centre (or second five-eighth as they say in New Zealand) turned out to be a tussle between the hard-tackling Bok, De Wet Barry, and the creative Australian, Matt Giteau - with the latter getting the vote for his performance in the 'final' at the weekend.

Scrum-half also provided us with some food for thought, with Bok No.9 Fourie du Preez eventually shading Wallaby George Gregan - based on his second half performance as a replacement in Durban.

The other big debate centred around a partner for the rejuvenated Victor Matfield at lock, with All Black Chris Jack eventually winning the vote, based on his good form early in the series. But South Africa's Bakkies Botha certainly gave him a run for his money.

The players that we unanimously selected are fullback Mils Muliaina, left wing Lote Tuqiri, fly-half (first five-eighth) Stephen Larkham, No.8 Joe van Niekerk, flankers George Smith and Schalk Burger, lock Victor Matfield, hooker Keven Mealamu and prop Os du Randt.

So there you have it - the 15 best players from the southern hemisphere! Or are they? Feel free to shoot us down in flames...

Team of the Tournament:

15 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)

The elegant fullback struggled to get to grips with the All Blacks' flat-attack system, but his try against South Africa in Johannesburg showed what can happen when he is launched from depth - you won't see a finer individual score all season.

14 Clyde Rathbone (Australia)

Knocked Wendell Sailor off his perch, and confirmed his reputation as the 'new' Tim Horan of Australian rugby with some bullocking runs and big tackles. Was a little off the beat in Durban, but considering the fraught personal circumstances, it was perhaps to be expected.

13 Marius Joubert (South Africa)

The hat-trick against the All Blacks in Johannesburg stands out, but it was Joubert's defence - and his ability to morph from conductor to wrecking ball within an instant - that won the South African a spot on our team.

12 Matt Giteau (Australia)

The young centre is developing a highly cultured nose for the gap, and sent alarm bells ringing every time he received the ball. This guy has got a big future.

11 Lote Tuqiri (Australia)

The big Wallaby wing ran amok amongst the All Blacks and Boks, committing several defenders to each of his runs. Time after time he managed to get his nose past the gain-line, setting up quick clean ball for his support runners.

10 Stephen Larkham (Australia)

More kicking then usual - and perhaps a tad hesitant when the pressure built up - but still the finest tactician in the game, and the font from which every Australian assault sprung.

9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa)

Du Preez personifies this current crop of Bok - nothing overly fancy, just pure solid grit and industry. It is not an exaggeration to say his intervention during the Durban decider changed the course of the game, and - indeed - the course of the Tri-Nations.

8 Joe van Niekerk (South Africa)

After spending a miserable year in the doctor's office, 'Big Joe' returned to the fray on a mission to catch up on lost time - and he did just that. Van Niekerk is the model of a modern No.8 - as comfortable at the heart of a rolling maul as he is when tearing down the wing.

7 Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Undoubtedly the 'find' of the Tri-Nations. Strong, fast, industrious, dexterous and obscenely athletic - Burger seems to be blessed with the works. Surely one of the all-time greats in the making.

6 George Smith (Australia)

The king of the turn-over, the Ronnie Biggs of the break-down - there isn't a player alive today who is as streetwise as Smith. Quite what he was doing warming the bench during Australia's loss to New Zealand in Wellington is anyone's guess - Well, Eddie Jones' actually.

5 Victor Matfield (South Africa)

South Africa's prodigal son packed up his troubles in an old kit back - and clobbered the Wallabies over the head with it! His try and scoring pass in Durban - not to mention some impeccable line-out work and his stout defence - showed the benefits of giving wayward talents a kick up the backside from time to time.

4 Chris Jack (New Zealand)

The towering lock added a huge amount of 'go-forward' to New Zealand's campaign. In fact, he probably made more metres than the both of his team's wings! In addition to his work around the fringes, Jack is also a consummate line-out forward and a fine scrummager.  

3 Carl Hayman (New Zealand)

Another performer who is helping to put the 'grizzle' back into the All Black pack. There's no frills with Hayman, he does what is asked of him, and does it well. He never came off second best at the scrum, and made some telling tackles around the park.

2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)

The live-wire hooker was never far from the action, and showed some fine skills in the loose. Not that Mealamu is a wannabe fly-half, he is one rugby's true hard men - as he showed by take receipt of a meaty right hook from Brendan Cannon without as much as a blink of the eye!

1 Os du Randt (South Africa)

What a season the Ox is having - and he shows no signs of tiring. Besides his impeccable scrummaging, Du Randt put in the tackles, strung together the passes, and found the overlaps. He probably also carried the rest of the Boks to their post-match functions.

Individual selections:

Andy Jackson: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 George Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Os Du Randt

Danny Stephens: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 George Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Victor Matfield, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 John Smit, 1 Os Du Randt

Rob Peters: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Daniel Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 George Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Os du Randt

Paul Dobson: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 George Smith, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Os du Randt

Jan de Koning: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 George Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Os du Randt