The 2008 Tri-Nations still has a couple of games to play but I thought I would add a bit of spice to what has already been a thrilling and tight contest between the big three. The following 22 players have played their way into MY personal SANZAR XV. This selection has been based on current and historic form, game time, potential and class - but most important of all, whether I like the player or not!

I shall update this list at the end of the Tri-Nations so consider this a late midpoint Tri-Nations XV. Now, of course, not all will agree with this selection but here goes . . .

15 Fullback - Malili (Mils) MULIAINA (New Zealand):Although initially seen more as a running fullback, he would now have to be considered as a total package with a much-improved kicking game added to his excellent vision and distribution skills making him, in my opinion, the best -fullback in the world. Runner up - Conrad Jantjes (South Africa): I don’t know much of this punter but from what I’ve seen he reminds me a bit of Mils. Plus I have never liked Percy Montgomery and while Australia's Adam Ashley Cooper is OK, you gotta be more than OK to be in my team. 

14 Right wing - Bryan HABANA (South Africa): No need for any explanation here. At this point in time Habana is arguably the best winger in the world (even if he did eat that US winger's dust. Oooh, embarrassing.) In saying that, pretty much nearly every other winger in world rugby has tasted Habana's dust. Having aid that, I’m sure if Joe Rokocoko was not injured he would be wearing the number 14 and Habana number 11. Runner-up - Peter Hynes (Australia): I think Sitaveni Sivivatu is a bit overrated, while Richard Kahui needs more time … back in his preferred centre position. Don’t rate JP Pietersen, either. Antony Tuitavake has awesome potential but has failed to fire in any of his outings. Hynes has probably been the most consistent of the aforementioned wingers so he gets the runners-up spot.

11 Left wing - Lote TUQIRI (Australia): Really, who else is there? Tuqiri would have been my third choice anyway (behind Habana and Rokocoko.) He is a well-rounded winger with speed and strength giving him great power. Also very skilful. Trouble is, I reckon the Wallabies are not utilising him well enough. If used properly (eg. given space) he would easily be the second-best winger in world rugby. Runner-up:  Ma’a Nono (New Zealand): I don’t like the rest of the wingers and I would rather have Nonu in at 13 or on the wing. I always did prefer a blockbusting left winger (think Jonah Lomu/Va'aiga Tuigamala). Give him space and he’ll definitely have the first defender sprawling on the turf wondering what the $%#@ hit him!

13 Centre - Stirling MORTLOCK (Australia): This one was difficult to decide. A mixed bag so far in 2008 Tri-Nations. However, I’m going on class and experience. You know Mortlock will turn up to play when the pressure is on. Runner-up: Conrad Smith (South Africa). Smith  came very close but in the end experience won out. Adi Jacobs has had some nice touches but is really only just OK. Just like Rokocoko, Jaque Fourie, if not injured, would have been up there also.

12. Second five-eighth - Matt GITEAU (Australia): If not for Dan Carter, this man would be wearing the number 10 jersey which in turn would allow Jean de Villiers to wear the 12 shirt. Giteau, I believe, is the closest at the moment to being on the same level as Carter. He has played a number of years in the 12 shirt for the Wallabies so has international experience there. Always an outstanding player with a set of skills that most would dream to have. Add to this his combination with Mortlock and you can’t go wrong. Runner up: Jean de Villiers (South Africa). I rate this guy very highly. His combination with Jaque Fourie in recent years can nearly be compared to that of Little and Tim Horan. He is unfortunate not to make the XV here but I must say I have always preferred a kicking second five-eighth.

10 First five-eighth(outside-half) - Dan CARTER (New Zealand) Nuff said! Runner up - Matt Giteau (Australia). As for the current Springboks ‘fly-half’? Don’t get me started on that thug!

9 Halfback (scrum-half) - Piri WEEPU (New Zealand): A surprise call for many, but I have always been a fan of Weepu's style of play. Most will choose South Africa's Fourie du Preez but he has just played the one game (loss to All Blacks, Newlands) and he didn’t play badly, either. I need to see him playing well again in another Test before deciding he is my halfback. Weepu has made an impact both times for the All Blacks and to me it seemed that Carter was getting the ball quicker? Others will disagree but that is how I saw it. I am a fan of Jimmy Cowan also. That kid from Canterbury sucks the big one! Runner up - Fourie du Preez (South Africa).

8 Number eight - George SMITH (Australia): Well, I had to put him somewhere! Smith is not my first choice No.8 but gets the nod ahead of the likes of the workhorse, Rodney So'oialo the freak Pierre Spies, the blockbusting Joe van Niekirk and the amazing Ryan Kankowski, purely because he is part of a trio of loose forwards I would regard as the best in the world. The other two fill in jerseys 6 and 7. So if not for these other outstanding loosies, Smith would have worn either. He has played a few internationals at No.8 so is better suited there than the other two. Runner up - Rodney So'oialo (New Zealand). I’ve never been a fan of this fella mainly because I prefer big, strong, intimidating No.8s (the three Springboks previously mentioned, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jerry Collins) but the past few years he’s won me over with his huge tireless workrate. The tidiest No.8 at scrum time and usually not far behind the peerless Richie McCaw. He is, as mentioned earlier, the workhorse. Australia's Wycliff Palu is a poof!

7 Openside flanker - Richie McCAW (New Zealand, captain): New Zealand and South Africa have always produced great openside flankers and will continue to do so till the end of time. But for me, one player stands out from the rest and has done since I was an eight-year-old kid watching the 1987 World Cup. Michael Jone has been the benchmark for most aspiring opensiders since his debut in that World Cup and it makes me proud especially since I am of Samoan descent, too. I always thought that no one would ever take his place as number one but McCaw is threateningly close to bringing down my wall of pride. For most, he has already climbed that mountain and claimed the best-ever title. And I am struggling to admit that he is exactly that - the best ever! Hard for a diehard Auckland man to swallow but not so for a diehard All Blacks fan! Runner/s up: Schalk Burger (South Africa), George Smith (Australia). And Australia's Phil Waugh is not far off.

6 Blindside flanker - Schalk BURGER (South Africa): Burger completes this triumvirate of openside flankers. He is a man’s man who, as everyone knows, does not shy away from the physical stuff. All you ever see is a blond-headed maniac flying every which way, taking bodies out of rucks, smashing into mauls, decapitating anyone who happens to run into his path. No fear at all! One particular Tri-Nations Yest in 2005, in South Africa I watched with satisfaction as Burger got the snot pummelled out of him by New Zealand’s own ‘man’s man’, Jerry, the Terminator, COLLINS (Oh how we miss his presence now) only to see him get up straight away, unfazed. After witnessing this machine get back up, my respect for him grew. Any normal man (Colin Charvis?) would not have survived that. Runner/s up: George Smith (Australia) , Juan Smith (South Africa).

5 Lock - Ali WILLIAMS (New Zealand): One of the most athletic locks in the business. He is an ace lineout jumper and awesome in the tight and open-field play. The most in-form lock at the moment. Always puts out 200% when playing for the All Blacks. Has a good partnership with Brad Thorn but had an even better one with Chris Jack. Imagine him partnered with the other best in the business – South Africa's Victor Matfield. Runners-up: Nathan Sharpe (Australia), Bakkies Botha (South Africa).

4 Lock - Victor MATFIELD (South Africa): The best lineout forward in the game. His form has suffered recently maybe due to playing second division rugby, but I am trusting that he has enough class to get back to his best. Has the best locking combination in world rugby with Botha. At his best, pure locking class! Runners-up: Nathan Sharpe and Dan Vickerman  (Australia). The two Wallaby locks are real class, too.

3 Tighthead prop - Greg SOMERVILLE (New Zealand): Has been around for a while now and is a very experienced campaigner. Was briefly second fiddle to Carl Hayman and probably would still be had Hayman remained in New Zealand. Very good scrummager and able around the park. Runner-up: CJ van der Linde (South Africa).

2 Hooker - Keven MEALAMU (New Zealand): The dynamic Mealamu has been used mainly as an impact player for the All Blacks but I believe he is wasted there. Prior to 2008 he was the incumbent, sharing the duties at times with Anton Oliver. This year has seen the NZ coaching panel opting for Andrew Hore in all Tests so far. It is deserved but I am going with experience which is where Mealamu edges out the other very good hookers. Runners-up: Andrew Hore (New Zealand), Bismark du Plessis (South Africa). John Smit was not considered due to injury.

1 Loosehead prop - Tony WOODCOCK (New Zealand): The best loosehead in the world completes a formidable All Blacks front row. For the past four years the New Zealand scrum has been the most dominant in the game and while it is said that it is the whole effort of all eight men, the foundation of that effort starts with the front row. And this man is integral to that foundation. Losing Hayman was bad but imagine if the All Blacks lost Woodcock as well? Although his main strength is in his scrummaging and tight forward play, his general play is above average – for a prop. Runner-up: Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa): The beast is second by a long distanced. Still inexperienced at Test level but has potential. Wallaby props not rated.

RESERVES: 16 - Hore (hooker); 17 - Van der Linde (prop); 18 Sharpe (lock); 19 - So'oialo (loose-forward); 20 - Du Preez (halfback); 21  - De Villiers (midfield/wing); 22 - Jantjes (fullback/wing).

And there you have it. A team dominated by the All Blacks. Altogether 10 New Zealanders (8 starting), 5 Australians (4 starting) and 7 South Africans (3 starting). Imagine the might of the SANZAR brothers touring the Home Nations? A fantasy for another time.