We pick five Currie Cup rookies of the year

HOWARD MNISI (Griquas, centre)

The EP Kings let him slip through their hands, but Griquas welcomed the 24-year-old with open arms in Kimberley. After playing Varsity Cup rugby for PE's NMMU, Mnisi made the jump to Currie Cup rugby with ease, becoming one of the best No12s in the competition in his first season. He is a fearless defender and a particularly strong runner with the ball.

CHESLIN KOLBE (WP, wing)

In 2011 he was a schoolboy at Brackenfell High, last year he stepped on to the Sevens scene and this year he dazzled at the Junior World Cup before showing his mettle in the Currie Cup.

Kolbe is a magician on the field. His side-step mesmerises not only his opponents but fans, too, leaving them in admiration of the hypnotic Kolbe. By the time they snap out of their trance his blistering pace has long put him out of reach. Having played flyhalf as a schoolboy he also has a mean boot and almost X-ray vision. He could play anywhere in the backline despite measuring just 1.70m and weighing 79kg.

FRED ZEILINGA (Sharks, flyhalf)

With Pat Lambie away on national duty and Frenchman Fred Michalak back home there was a gap many thought would be filled by World Cup-winning veteran flyhalf Butch James.

But the responsibility was thrust on a young 20-year-old to lead the side - and Zeilinga did a fantastic job. His confidence grew after making his Super Rugby debut against the Southern Kings earlier in the year, making it easy for him to fit comfortably into the Currie Cup. He was highly instrumental in the Sharks' passage to the final.

LODEWYK de JAGER (Cheetahs, lock)

The Free State Cheetahs do not have a great record of producing outstanding locks in recent seasons, but the 118kg, 2.05m, 20-year-old "Lood" de Jager demands attention. Last year he never got a run for the Leopards in the First Division. He was not discouraged, but showed enough promise in the Leopards' under-21 side to warrant interest from the Cheetahs.

De Jager was a consistently good performer for the Free State side in the Currie Cup. His size, aggressive running with ball in hand, physical presence and contribution in the set-pieces make him one for the future.

JACQUES ENGELBRECHT (Blue Bulls, loose-forward)

While it was mainly the young newbies who made their mark, a late bloomer came in the form of "Vleis" Engelbrecht. Since 2007 the 28-year-old has journeyed from WP, playing Vodacom Cup and First Division rugby with SWD Eagles and EP Kings before being a standout player in the Kings' debut Super Rugby campaign. Those Super 15 performances led to a Blue Bulls contract and his first taste of the Currie Cup Premier Division. When he joined EP in 2011 he once said of his game: "Other players like to run at the opposition, I like to run through them." That is exactly what he has done with the Bulls.