The Bok-o-meter: The Sprinbok team thus far.

We are heading in to week 6 of the Super Rugby tournament and so far it has delivered some very entertaining games. With the Rugby World Cup only a few months away the Springbok coaching team has probably started looking at the old and the new. Based on current for who should make the Springbok team today? The Hospital Pass takes a closer look.

The Front Row:

Few will argue that the Sharks front-row has been impressive and based on their current form it would be hard to think of a more settled combination than Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck Du Plessis and Jannie Du Plessis. It is still early days and anything could happen.

Locks:

Currently South Africa are in a bit of a purple patch as far as lock is concerned. We have the old combination of Botha and Matfield. There is also Steven Sykes, Andries Bekker, Franco van der Merwe, and Alistair Hargreaves. Based on current form however it would be hard not to choose Bekker and Sykes who have similar attributes to Botha and Matfield, except that they are younger, possibly hungrier, faster and stronger.

The Back-row.

Everyone has their own opinion on this area, but based on current form our flankers would have to be Brussow and Alberts. For Brussow to make a come back like he did against the Waratahs bodes very well for the Springboks. At No 8 we have the great debate between Pierre Spies and the rest. Spies enjoyed his best form for a long time in the November internationals but has been playing in a seemingly struggling team, and has not replicated that great form. He can not make it on current form. There are those who would argue for Duane Vermeulen but he is limited to tackling, and crash ball tactics. Purely based on form he cracks the nod for now.

No. 9

Scrum-half is much simpler. We have a pecking order. Fourie Du Preez, Francois Hougaard and Charl McLeod.

10.

 Based on current form it seems to be a two way race between Peter Grant and Patrick Lambie. Morne Steyn is solid but the Springbok game-plan has stifled his natural style of play. Butch James could be in contention but we'll have to see how he responds to Super Rugby first. On current form Lambie gets the nod.

The Midfield.

The usual chorus from Western Province will tell you that it should be Jaque Fourie and Jean De Villiers in the  number 12 and 13 jerseys but if one looks at the lack of tries scored by the Stormers this season one has to question that logic. Defensively the Stormers have been fantastic but a team needs to score points to win a game and can't rely only on the kickers to make it happen. Granted the Bulls have lost two games this season but Wynand Olivier has been enjoying great form. He does not possess the creativity of Jean De Villiers but he makes up for it with his strength and straight running. On his outside based on current form slot in Lion's boy Doppies La Grange!

Wing.

Lwazi Mvovo and Gerhard Van Der Heever. Two big, strong, fast, hard running wings that know how to sniff out the try-line.

Fullback.

Fullback is the only area of real concern for the Springboks. Zane Kirchner and Gio Aplon have their strengths but both will struggle to dislodge Francois Steyn from the back. However, because he is playing in France he can not be considered for this particular line-up. For the moment we'll have to go with Aplon as his counter attacking ability can not be underestimated.

Hospital Pass XV.

1. Beast Mtawarira
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Jannie Du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Andries Bekker
6. Heindrich Brussow
7. Willem Alberts
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Fourie Du Preez
10. Pat Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Doppies La Grange
14. Gerhard Van Der Heever
15. Gio Aplon

Feel free to disagree!