Thinus Delport’s Perfect XV

The former Bok fullback selects a team of the best he played with and against.

15. CHRISTIAN CULLEN
Christian was an inventive player from the back, and fast and strong on the counter-attack.

14. JOE ROFF
Joe was always cool under pressure, good under the high ball and worked hard to get involved in play.

13. JAPIE MULDER
He was such a strong runner and a ferocious defender.

12. TANA UMAGA
He brought pace to the midfield and had a great eye for the game.

11. JONAH LOMU
He was a phenomenal athlete. He was big and strong but, more importantly, he was fast and mobile.

10. HENNIE LE ROUX
His ability to read the game and put players outside him into space was fantastic. I scored quite a few tries with him on my inside.

9. JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Joost was combative, physical and scored some fantastic tries.

8. TOUTAI KEFU A really strong ball-carrier from the base of the scrum.

7. ANDRÉ VENTER
One of the most competitive guys I played with or against. Definitely the fittest I played with.

6. RASSIE ERASMUS
Rassie has a fantastic rugby brain. He would analyse and study the opposition and then come up with strategies to flay them.

5. HANNES STRYDOM (c)
Hannes’ leadership and mentoring had a great influence on my personal development.

4. JOHN EALES
Any lock who kicks at goal for his country has to be in my side.

3. PHIL VICKERY
Vicks was a big unit, but he was very mobile and deceptively fast for his size. He brought more to his position than just scrumming.

2. JAMES DALTON
A fiery competitor, who was a strong scrummager and gave his team another ball-carrying option.

1. OS DU RANDT
Os was a big man who brought more than just scrumming and set-phase play to his position. He made brilliant ball-carries and some big hits.

– Adrian Jacobs’ Perfect XV is in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale now!

Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images

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