The Blue Bulls ultimately proved to be the most powerful and impressive unit in the Currie Cup competition, but it was not till their Springboks returned late in the season that they found their true form. However, it wasn't enough to dominate our Team of the Tournament.

That honour goes two sides who lost out in the play-offs - the losing finalists Free State Cheetahs and semifinalists Western Province.

Their consistent performances throughout the season were rewarded with five members each in our prestigious selection.

The Blue Bulls did get three places in our team, with the Sharks and Griquas getting one each.

iafrica.com's Currie Cup Team of the Tournament:

15 - Stefan Terblanche (Sharks):
He may not have many years left of his distinguished career, but 2009 was certainly one of his better years. There was strong competition from Joe Pietersen, while players like Riaan Viljoen, Fabian Juries and Hennie Daniller also had a look-in.

14 - Danwel Demas (Free State Cheetahs):
He will probably not be universally accepted, but he has come along in leaps and bounds this year. There was plenty of competition for the No.14 jersey - Gio Aplon, Francois Hougaard, Chris Jordaan, Gerhard van den Heever and Dewald Pretorius.

13 - Juan de Jongh (Western Province):
This was a 'no contest', with De Jongh well ahead of his rivals.

12 - Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls):
He may not have played the whole season, as a result of national call-ups, but he still did enough to edge strong competition from among others Barry Geel and Doppies la Grange.

11 - Lionel Mapoe (Free State Cheetahs):
Not only was he the best and most consistent of all those who played on the left wing, but Mapoe also featured strongly on the right wing. We decided he should wear the No.11 jersey. Bryan Habana didn't feature in enough Currie Cup games to beat off the youngster, while Gio Aplon was the best of the rest.

10 - Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls):
There is nothing we can say about his match-winning abilities that haven't already been said. He edged several quality rivals, despite not playing a full season. Naas Olivier, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Juan Hernandez are amongst those who lost out.

9 - Sarel Pretorius (Griquas):
Without doubt one of the unlucky ones to miss out on Bok selection for the year-end tour. A pillar throughout Griquas' campaign. There's a long list of quality scrumhalves, but Jano Vermaak, before his injury, was probably the best of the rest.

8 - Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs):
His selection for the Boks' year-end tour was justified. Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski and Luke Watson all performed admirably.

7 - Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls):
He also featured strongly at No.8, but we felt his best performances were at the side of the scrum. Pieter Louw, Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen and Frans Viljoen were amongst his strongest competitors.

6 - Francois Louw (Western Province):
He was at the heart of an impressive Province campaign. Heinrich Brüssow, Cobus Grobbelaar, Deon Stegmann and Johan Wessels are all in a very impressive group of openside flanks.

5 - Anton van Zyl (Western Province):
Victor Matfield is without peer in the world, but he simply could not make up the lost ground when he came back in the last few rounds of Currie Cup action. Van Zyl was of a consistent high standard throughout the season, with David de Villiers the best of the rest.

4 - Chris Jack (Western Province):
What a revelation his performances for Province were. Just a pity he could not stay to the end. Steven Sykes was his closest rival in terms of consistent performances throughout the season.

3 - WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs):
Also rather one-sided in this position, with Brok Harris a distant second.

2 - Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province):
It was a close contest in a two-horse race, with Adriaan Strauss also having his best ever domestic season. Two players who were very unlucky not to have gotten a Bok call-up.

1 - Wian du Preez (Free State Cheetahs):
The competition was fierce, but he showed why he was a Bok tourists a few years ago. He deserves another shot at he Green and Gold. Wikus Blaauw and Coenie Oosthuizen pushed him all the way, while a few others also put their hands up.

On page two, we take another look at the weekly teams selected during the tournament.

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Team of the Tournament Despite lifting the Currie Cup again, the Bulls do not dominate our 'Team of the Tournament'.