Spies the best No 8 in the history of Super Rugby

Pierre Spies is the best No 8 to have played in Super Rugby. Mark Keohane was privileged to report live from the ground on 14 of the 16 South African Super rugby matches in Australia and New Zealand in 1996. Kehane wrote about every Superrugby season since 1996 and travelled to Australia every year for a decade. Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield were as good in the Super and Test rugby as they were in rugby league.

The original Super Rugby was the best competition in the world. The travel schedule never favoured South Africans.

After 25 years of writing about Super Rugby, I have put together my ultimate XV based on my experience.

Pierre Spies is a Super Rugby veteran and a former Bulls No 8. He won three Super rugby titles with the Bulls.

Spies is the best No 8 in the history of Super Rugby. Zelim Nel has picked his best Super rugby XV.

Christian Cullen was a freak of nature with ball in hand. He was at his peak playing for Hurricanes.

Bryan Habana is the best player in Super Rugby. He played most of his career at No 11. Spies is one of the greatest No 8s in the history of Super rugby.

Stirling Mortlock is one of the best No 13s in Super Rugby history. Jacque Fourie, Conrad Smith and Tana Umaga are other players I consider as good No13s.

Ma'a Nonu is the best No 12 in Super Rugby. Jean de Villiers is second. Sonny Bill Williams is better in international Test rugby.

Jonah Lomu, Joeli Vidiri, Rupeni, Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Ben Tune, Caleb Ralph and JP Pietersen were all great players in their respective eras. Joe Roff was in a class of his own.

Dan Carter is the best No 10 in Super Rugby history. Stephen Larkham, Morne Steyn, Carlos Spencer, Andrew Mehrtens, Quade Cooper, Aaron Cruden and Stephen Spies are the other players who make up the list.

George Gregan is the best player to have played at No 9 in Super Rugby. Fourie du Preez is a better player in Test rugby.

Pierre Spies is the best No 8 in the history of Super Rugby. He played 119 times for the Bulls between 2005 and 2015. He was outstanding in his final two seasons. Bob Skinstad, Kieran Read, Gary Teichmann, Duane Vermeulen, Rodney So’oialo and Toutai Kefu were also great No Eights.

Liam Messan and George Smith are in the team. They play for Chiefs and Brumbies respectively. They are the only loose-forwards in this team not to play Test rugby. There are many great loose forwards in Super Rugby. Juan Smith, Andre Venter, Jerome Kaino, Jerry Collins, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige, Phil Waugh, Willem Alberts, Owen Finnegain, Danie Rossouw, David Pocock, and David Wilson are also in.

Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha are the best No.5 & 4 combination in Super Rugby. They are also the team's best individual players.

John Afoa played for the Blues, Auckland, Ulster, Gloucester, Bristol, All Blacks and two for Barbarians. Afo played 462 matches for New Zealand. He played in Super Rugby from 2004 to 2011.

Keven Mealamu played 175 games for the Blues and 11 for Chiefs. He was equally good for them as he was for All Blacks.

Wyatt Crockett is the best loosehead prop in the history of Super Rugby. Crocksett has 202 caps for the Crusaders and has the highest winning ratio of All Blacks.