Ken Borland

10. Willie le Roux (Cheetahs)

The 22-year-old fullback was fearless in bringing his running game into his debut SuperRugby season, his counter-attacking skills often lifting an ailing Cheetahs team. Good in the air too and a strong kicker, his move from Boland has certainly paid off.

9. Paul Jordaan (Sharks)

The Sharks have had a motley record recently in terms of backline selection, but they recognised an exciting talent in centre/wing Jordaan, who was not even a member of their original squad. An explosive runner, the IRB Junior World Championship winner has the pace to threaten the best but also the ability to read the nuances of the game.

8. Tim Whitehead (Sharks)

The 24-year-old is in his third season of SuperRugby, but moved this year from the Stormers, who have considerable riches in midfield. The move has paid off for Whitehead, who has been a regular in the Sharks team and has stated his claim for future higher honours with commanding displays at centre, especially defensively. Well organised and strong.

7. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)

Inexperienced and the youngest member of the Stormers squad, but charged with being the foundation of their scrum, a problem area in the past. The 20-year-old member of South Africa’s winning IRB Junior World Championship squad made life difficult for far more experienced tightheads and was also a test for defences with ball in hand.

6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)

The 21-year-old filled in for the injured Schalk Burger so well that the Stormers hardly noticed the absence of the Springbok legend. A major defensive force, Kolisi gets himself around the park and has impressive strength.

5. JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls)

Lanky but fast with ball in hand and ferocious in defence, the former Stormer enjoyed a top-class season that brought him to the brink of a Springbok cap. Works well with the Bulls backline coach, former Springbok wing Pieter Rossouw, with whom he shares many similarities in playing style.

4. Jacques Potgieter (Bulls)

One of the Bulls’ best signings in many years, the former EP Kings loose forward delivered for his new employees with his unyielding defence and the momentum he generated with ball in hand. And he’s now a Springbok having never played SuperRugby before this year.

3. Juandre’ Kruger (Bulls)

The 26-year-old lock resurrected his career with his fiery displays in the tight and his tremendous lineout ability, both in terms of winning his own ball and disrupting the oppositions’. Seen as the potential successor to Victor Matfield, Kruger’s move from the Northampton Saints paid off with selection for the Springboks.

2. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)

His work-rate alone pulverises the opposition and his all-action game includes efficient defence, powerful ball-carrying and the ability to play to the ball, working hard in the rucks as well. Coetzee made his SuperRugby debut last year, but this year he became a standout for the Springboks.

1. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)

It is not often that someone as brilliant as Bakkies Botha seems to have a ready-made replacement within a year, but Etzebeth was a massive success both for the Stormers and South Africa. Over two metres tall and weighing 120kg, the 20-year-old lock makes big hits, can dominate the front of the lineout and has an unrelenting work rate.

While the Stormers or Sharks will still have to ward off a New Zealand franchise to win the 2012 SuperRugby title, it is fair to say South African teams have dominated the competition thus far.

The Stormers sit proudly on top of the standings and will host the final if they beat the Sharks, cock-a-hoop after their stunning qualifier triumph in Brisbane over the Reds, while the Bulls also finished in the top six and made the playoffs, although they then messed up in Christchurch against the Crusaders.

The Cheetahs had their best season yet in the southern hemisphere competition, winning five matches and earning 10 bonus points to finish in 10^th place.

The Lions, however, were the major disappointment again. Beset by rumours that they are going to be relegated from SuperRugby and replaced by the Eastern Cape-based Southern Kings, in financial trouble and then having to suspend coach John Mitchell because of unhappiness with his management style, they won just three games and finished last.

South Africans had approached the season with cautious optimism … and it turned out way better than expected.

The Stormers were tipped to challenge for the title, but to top the log was a massive bonus, even if there was some concern over their inability to score tries. They became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages without earning a single try-scoring bonus point, although the fact that they won 14 of their 16 matches shows tries might be over-rated in this competition.

The Sharks and Bulls both had handy line-ups, but the loss of key experience was meant to keep them from challenging.

John Smit and Stefan Terblanche had left the inconsistent Sharks, while the Bulls had said goodbye to Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha and Derick Kuun.

The strong finishes of the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks also suggests they timed their climb to the summit better than some of their Australasian rivals in the first season of extended SuperRugby with a break for the June Tests.

South Africa are also the SuperRugby powerhouses based on attendances and TV viewership.

On any weekend, nearly 350 000 people could be expected to watch a SuperRugby match on TV, an increase of 17% on last year.

On derby days, that would increase to nearly a million – the average audience for derbies was 990 062.

The average attendance at the ground for all South African games was 26 617 but the Stormers, especially when they went on their six-match unbeaten run at the start of the season, had the best attendance figures averaging around 40 000. Compare this to the 16 000 people who watched the Crusaders beat the Bulls in such impressive fashion in their qualifier in Christchurch last weekend.

But the figures still do not match those of South Africa’s traditional domestic competition, the Currie Cup, and there is still a large school of thought that Sanzar have fabricated the current SuperRugby format in order to favour Australia.

Critics pointed to the fact that the leading Australian franchise were guaranteed at least third place on the final log as evidence and the Reds would have finished sixth had normal rules applied.

South Africa acquitted themselves superbly as they thrashed England by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test at the Oval in London on Monday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120723/SA_acquit_themselves_superbly_at_Oval

England, the official world number one, were bowled out for 240 in their second innings on the fifth and final day, making South Africa resounding favourites to win the three-match series and take that top ranking away from the hosts.

South Africa’s officials were adamant that the team had enough preparation leading into the Test, despite many pundits suggesting otherwise, and, apart from a first-day performance that lacked intensity and focus, they were always on top of the England team.

England began the final day on 102 for four and fought valiantly to save the Test before Dale Steyn, building up a wonderful head of steam with the second new ball, claimed three for eight in four overs midway through the afternoon session to break their resistance.

Steyn had begun the day by sending Ravi Bopara packing for 22, the batsman flashing at a wide delivery outside off stump without much conviction and dragging the ball back on to his middle stump.

But Ian Bell and Matt Prior batted with admirable tenacity and application, while showing solid technique and no little skill as they took England through to lunch on 177 for five.

Bell had survived two chances, AB de Villiers clanging a simple catch off leg-spinner Imran Tahir when he was on 20 and the wicketkeeper then missed what would have been a spectacular run out when Bell had 28.

Steyn, getting big reverse-swing, and Tahir, obtaining turn and bounce out of the rough, combined well after lunch to keep the pressure on England.

Tahir, who served his team well in the second innings with figures of three for 63 in 32 overs, provided a crucial breakthrough by removing Prior 11 overs after the break.

England’s wicketkeeper/batsman tried to sweep, but the bounce Tahir was getting always makes that stroke a very risky one and the safe hands of Jacques Kallis snaffled the top-edge at slip as it flew past De Villiers.

Prior had stuck around for 86 balls, scoring 40, a good effort for England and Bell, about whom much has been written as a strokeplayer, showed plenty of resilience, character and skill in scoring 55 off 220 balls.

The key wicket of Bell came in the second over with the new ball as the batsman followed an away-swinger from Steyn, second slip Kallis taking the catch, which came very quickly as the ball basically came off the face of the bat.

The wickets of Stuart Broad, caught behind for a duck gloving a leg-side lifter, and Graeme Swann, driving straight to cover-point, came quickly thereafter for Steyn, giving him superb figures of five for 56 in 21 overs.

After some brief resistance from Tim Bresnan (20 not out), Tahir then ended the innings by trapping Jimmy Anderson lbw for four with a delivery that basically rolled after it pitched in the rough.

The delighted South Africans, with their first victory at the Oval at their 14th attempt, are now calling the tune in the three-Test series that will decide the number one ranked team in the world.

South Africa lay down the law in no uncertain terms as they hammered England by an innings and 12 runs on the fifth day of the first test at the Oval in London on Monday.

97th over – Tim Bresnan bashes a well-flighted delivery from Imran Tahir through the covers for four. WICKET – But Jimmy Anderson has to face the last ball of the over and a leg-spinner scuttles under the bat from out of the rough, trapping the left-hander lbw for 4.

94th over – Bresnan glances Morne Morkel down to fine leg for four runs.

89th over – Dropped! Jimmy Anderson’s forceful square-cut off Dale Steyn goes through the hands of JP Duminy diving full-length at point and runs away to the boundary.

87th over – WICKET – Five wickets now for Steyn as Graeme Swann drives straight to cover-point and is out for 7.

86th over – Swann reaches a thousand test runs as he drives Vernon Philander uppishly through cover-point for four.

85th over – WICKET – Steyn strikes again with the first ball of his next over as Stuart Broad fends at a lifter down leg and gloves it through to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers. Umpire Asad Rauf gives it not out, but South Africa are convinced and call for the review. Although HotSpot doesn’t provide much evidence, it is clearly out and Broad is on his way for a duck!

83rd over – WICKET – Steyn strikes with his second delivery with the new ball, Ian Bell following an away-swinger and steering it straight to Jacques Kallis at second slip. Bell showed plenty of resilience, character and skill in scoring 55 off 220 balls.

78th over – Bell strokes a full delivery from Kallis superbly through the covers for four.

77th over – WICKET – The steep bounce Tahir has been getting finally brings reward! Matt Prior goes for a sweep, the ball climbs steeply and he can only get a top-edge. The ball flies past AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis takes a sharp catch high to his left at slip. Prior stuck around for 86 balls, scoring 40 – a good effort for England.

74th over – Bell goes to 49 as he tickles a Kallis delivery on to his thigh pad and then away to fine leg for four runs. His slowest test 50 is up at the end of the over as he pushes the seamer square on the off side for a single. It’s taken Bell four hours and 189 balls to reach it. He’s England’s key man.

68th over – Big inswing from Steyn, but Bell gets the ball away to fine leg for four runs.

Morning session

Ian Bell and Matt Prior were determined people as they carried England to 177 for five at lunch against frustrated South Africa on the final day of the first Test at the Oval in London on Monday.

66th over – Bell ends a strong session for England on an emphatic note as he steps out to the last ball of the morning, meets Imran Tahir on the full and drives him straight down the ground for four.

63rd over – Oh no, AB de Villiers has missed another chance but this one would have been spectacular! Prior pushes Jacques Kallis into the covers and sets off for a foolish single. Ian Bell is scrambling, Jacques Rudolph’s throw is just over the stumps, De Villiers, rushing in, dives to take the ball but can’t get it back on to the stumps as he tumbles hard into the ground! Bell has another life on 28.

59th over – Kallis is on for the first time in the innings but Prior plays a lovely shot, driving him off the back foot through the covers for four. The wicketkeeper/batsman collects a second boundary in the over off the last ball as he turns Kallis off his legs with lovely timing to the fine leg boundary.

58th over – 150 up for England, the deficit just 102 now, as Bell thick-edges a steer off Vernon Philander between the slips and gully for four.

56th over – Super shot from Prior as he strokes Philander wide of mid-off for four runs.

49th over – Dropped! De Villiers has not been totally convincing keeping to Tahir in the second innings and he now he drops a clanger! Bell, on 20, pushes forward to a perfect leg-spinner that turns just enough to get a thin edge, the ball goes straight into De Villiers’ midriff, but he can’t hang on!

47th over – Prior is off the mark with two boundaries in three balls off Dale Steyn. He flicks a short ball down leg away to the fine leg boundary and then punches firmly off the back foot, through cover-point, as the fast bowler offers some width.

46th over – Morne Morkel has been erratic this morning and now he strays on to Bell’s leg stump and is glanced away for four to fine leg.

45th over – WICKET – Not the sort of shot you want to play when trying to save the Test. Ravi Bopara flashes at a wide delivery outside off stump from Steyn, there is a bit of extra bounce and he drags the ball back into his middle stump! Bopara is out for a defiant 22 off 55 balls.

44th over – Bopara turns a short delivery from Morkel to square-leg for a single to bring up the fifty partnership with Bell off 106 balls. Sticking in there well.

43rd over – Bopara leaves a delivery from Steyn that jags back off the pitch and keeps low, missing the off-stump by an astonishing 0.8mm according to Hawkeye! Surprising that the turbulence of the fast bowler’s delivery didn’t knock off the bail!

41st over – Steyn drops short and Bopara slaps him to the square-leg boundary with an excellent hook shot.