The former Lions, Cheetahs and Stormers hooker picks a team of the best he played with and against.
15 Tonderai Chavhanga
When people talk about speed in our generation, Tondi is always top of that list. He also had no problem with being physical. He is just special.
14 Bryan Habana
I played with Bryan at U19 when he was a scrumhalf. It wasn’t obvious he would become a Springbok legend, but his work rate and intensity were undeniable.
He had a gift to time his tackles from the opposition’s blindside. They never saw him coming. He also carried and offloaded very well.
12 Thabang Molefe
Thabang was an integral part of the successful 2005 Junior Springbok team. I am disappointed he didn’t become a bigger name in South Africa.
11 Fetu’u Vainikolo
I played against him when he was at the Highlanders and with him at Connacht. Playing against him, you would be desperate to keep the ball away from him. Alongside him, you would be screaming to get the ball to him.
10 Butch James
Butchie took heads off with tackles, had a soft touch with ball in hand and led the gees after a game. What more could you want?
9 Neil de Kock
Simply class, as a player and a human being.
8 Ernst Joubert (c)
Ernst captained every team he represented. That tells you enough about the man. He was like a wing in the outside channels.
7 Justin Melck
One of those guys you hated playing against but were always glad to have on your side. His hand-off was vicious and some of his tackles were scary.
6 Jacques Burger
It’s a coin toss between Jacques and Wikus van Heerden as the toughest player. Wikus was a World Cup hero for good reason. But I know what Jacques had to do to get to the top. I respect him for sacrificing his body for the game.
5 Daniel Ramsey
The best rugby player I played with and against. He should have been an All Black. In France he was unbelievable.
4 Cobus Grobler
Man of the Match in the Lions’ win against the Crusaders in 2007, but was surprisingly not considered by the management four months later. That was France’s gain as he had an illustrious career with La Rochelle.
3 Brian Mujati
There is a reason Brian is a legend at Northampton. He anchored their scrum at a time when they were so strong.
2 William Servat
His scrum power and size were a joke. Like Malcolm Marx, but bigger. Won numerous championships with Toulouse and was the hooker for France in the 2011 World Cup final.
1 Heinke van der Merwe
He played his first game with me at 18 and by 19 he was bullying men in the Currie Cup. In his prime, nobody came close to him.
