Lots of ifs and "butts" in my 1st-choice team, considering all of them injuries at present, here goes:
15- Frans Steyn/Kirchner 2nd choice (considering we need to build for 2011 as well!)
14- JP, with either one of the twins backing him up.
13- Fourie. If he doesn`t regain fitness before the 1st test, no problem with starting Adi Jacobs.
12- JDV as 1st choice. If he doesn`t regain full match fitness, Meisiekind will have to do!
11- Habana. Young Nokwe can back him up.
10- PDV`s single biggest masterstroke of 2008 was finally picking Pienaar in his best position. Keep him there, with Morne Steyn as backup.
9- Du Preez as 1st choice, Jano Vermaak as backup. Remember that Jano has achieved behind a Lions pack stuck in perpetual reverse, as opposed to Du Preez and Kocky who have played behind dominant packs for the last couple of seasons.
8- Spies, Kanko as backup.
7- Smith, with Deysel as backup.
6- Schalk of course. Class vs. form. If not fully recovered, Brussouw to get the starting berth.
5- Matfield, Bekker as backup if fit.
4- Bakkies, Rossouw as backup
3- I`ll go looking for my 2 best tightheads in Irish club rugby- BJ Botha as starter, and CJ V D Linde as backup! Unfortunately, PDV will only stick to locally-based players, so Smittie it`ll have to be then. No other SA tighthead has looked even half convincing in the S14.
2- I`d go with Smittie. But if he`s already at 3, then Bismarck. Chilli as backup.
1- Beast, with Guthro as backup.