The simply RIDICULOUS combined All Blacks and Springboks XV

Dylan Coetzee
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Rugby Championship: Split with Springboks Frans Malherbe, Damian de Allende and All Black Mo'unga

Springbok prop Frans Malherbe, All Black Richie Mo'unga and South African Damian de Allende.

The second round of the Rugby Championship will serve up a blockbuster clash between two of the biggest rivals in the game as the All Blacks host the Springboks in Auckland on Saturday.

With both teams having been announced, Planet Rugby has selected a combined XV filled with exceptional players from top to bottom.

Combined XV

15 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand): The star is almost cursed with quality and cops more criticism than he should as a result. Nevertheless, the Blues man is a lethal attacker, and he will be prowling the backfield looking for anything he can exploit. His skill-set is right up there with the best and he has extreme gas to add to his vast experience.

14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): The Springbok speedster oozes X-factor through his sensational ability to evade defenders. Kolbe is a game-changer and has the priceless ability to make something from nothing. It is a massive Test for a star who will be expected to stand up and perform particularly with Kurt-Lee Arendse scoring tries last week. Massive game for the diminutive wing.

13 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa): The Rolex of outside centres. Am is a classy operator on both sides of the ball and is right up there with the best in the world in his position. The Shark is always composed, with not much seeming to phase him. With ball in hand, he provides good link-up play if he isn’t taking on the line himself, whilst on defence, he is the key decision-maker in the backline. He will need to be at his best against Rieko Ioane, who we seriously considered in our line-up.

12 Damian de Allende (South Africa): With Jordie Barrett yet to truly sparkle at 12, the South African battering ram earns a selection in our team. De Allende gives the Springboks go-forward ball all game long and has grown into a hugely important figure for the world champions. He will need to produce a banging performance after Andre Esterhuizen’s efforts last weekend. Nevertheless, the robust man will be a handful again on Saturday.

11 Mark Telea (All Blacks): Easily one of the most exciting players in world rugby at the moment due to his absolutely red-hot form. Telea is the real deal; he knows how to beat defenders with ease, has a solid foundational skill-set and a calm head to add. He has looked at home on the Test stage and appears to be a superstar who could play a lot of games for the All Blacks. He will be a massive influence on Saturday’s Test.

10 Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand): Restored to the starting line-up this week after sitting on the bench against Argentina. The Crusader is a near-perfect fly-half and has been for years. It is his last season in black, and he will be determined to go out with a bang. He is such a difficult player to defend because he can break the line, distribute or kick sensationally well. A true triple threat and a big player for the All Blacks.

9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand): A master of his position and a legend of the game. Smith will go down as one of the greatest All Blacks and one of the greatest scrum-halves the game has seen. Crisp in just about everything he does and especially pure in his passing. Like his half-back partner, it is his last season in black, meaning games like this weekend have that much more meaning. Expect a big effort from Smith.

Brutal pack

8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand): The loose forward has grown into one of the biggest figures in the game and is selected over the emerging Jasper Wiese, who has been outstanding for South Africa. Savea is a consistent performer whether he is gaining metres with his leg drive in contact, making a clean break or causing havoc at the breakdown. The Hurricane is a coach’s dream and a passionate player who will always empty the tank.

7 Sam Cane (New Zealand): The All Blacks captain certainly has returned to form, and his influence, particularly at the breakdown, gets him the nod over Kwagga Smith. Cane is a star flanker, one who works tremendously hard and has a tremendous understanding of the breakdown and its dynamics. That is where earns his money, and he will be looking to disrupt the Springboks all game long. Expect him to make a boatload of tackles too.

6 Franco Mostert (South Africa): Another successful South African transition from lock to blindside. The key to Mostert’s game is sheer work rate typified by determination and the ability to empty the tank completely. He is one of those players who seem to have an extra lung. With such a strong bench, the flank can go full tilt for the entirety of his performance, meaning he will be absolutely everywhere.

5 Scott Barrett (New Zealand): A core member of the All Blacks side whether at blindside or lock. The only forward in the Barrett family has grown with his heightened leadership role and is a player that embodies the team ethos. He edges Lood de Jager for selection, and in the absence of Sam Whitelock, the Crusader will need to look after the line-out.

4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): Captain this weekend in the absence of Siya Kolisi if he decides to play after the tragic passing of his father. Etzebeth is a world-class player. He is extremely physical in every possible aspect of the game and enforcer, if you will. A true modern-day great and the youngest Springboks centurion. If he takes to the field on Saturday, he will be an absolutely key performer for his side from the set-piece to open play.

3 Frans Malherbe (South Africa): One does not earn the nickname ‘Buffel’ (Afrikaans for Buffalo) for no reason. The Stormer is one of the greatest Springbok tightheads there has ever been, mainly due to his incredible scrummaging prowess that his side will hope to milk penalties through again this weekend. He will also carry the ball a fair amount and make a sneakily high number of tackles.

2 Codie Taylor (New Zealand): The hooker is another player who is very consistent and very rarely makes a mistake. He has been in great form for the Crusaders and starts for the All Blacks this week. He will carry hard, throw well in the line-out and defend like a warrior. Springbok Bongi Mbonambi misses out after his poor line-out throwing last weekend.

1 Steven Kitshoff (South Africa): The loosehead’s quality outing against Australia last weekend after being brought in halfway through the week underlines how outrageously good Kitshoff is. His scrummaging is absolutely brilliant, his carrying is right up there with the best, and his jackalling ability is also very good. ‘Spicy Plum’ is just about as complete a prop as there is, and he will be an influential character this weekend.

READ MORE: Winners and losers from the All Blacks team to tackle the Springboks

Features Ardie Savea Beauden Barrett Lukhanyo Am

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