Stock Watch for South Africa Players in the 2014 Rugby Championship

For a team that lost twice in the Rugby Championship and nearly got turned over twice by the competition’s traditional whipping boys, South Africa emerged surprisingly chipper.

That’s what toppling the world champions does for you. The Springboks had a stammering start to this season’s championship with narrow wins home and away to Argentina and then came unstuck against Australia and New Zealand on their travels.

But a late comeback that turned into a convincing margin against the Wallabies was then followed by an inspired display against New Zealand.

That 27-25 win was packed with fire and fury, and no little ambition, from Heyneke Meyer’s men, and has sent the rugby world a message that next year’s World Cup will be no one-horse race.

The Boks mean business, and they proved they have the tools to do a job on the best team in the world.

With a team full of quality experience and promising potential, this stock watch focuses on those positives rather than drilling down to find a player suffering a desperate dip in form.

As far as the latter is concerned, there simply isn’t one.

1. Handre Pollard: Buy Before It Gets Too Pricey

Handre Pollard was fresh on the market as a new commodity with a promising reputation from his glowing performances at the under-20 level.

He looked initially as though he would struggle after making the step up, but his value started to rocket when he faced the All Blacks.

In Wellington, he looked comfortable running the game against the world champions. His cool drop goal in the second half demonstrated his confidence.

Then in the return fixture, he exploded into life with two virtuoso tries that spearheaded the Springboks’ charge to victory over their fiercest rivals.

Pollard’s stock could be rising for many years to come. Get on it. Now.

2. Duane Vermeulen: Record High

Duane Vermeulen got better and better as the tournament progressed, and he capped his good form with his best display in a green shirt in South Africa’s win over New Zealand.

South Africa, under Heyneke Meyer, have been developing more facets to their game than the traditional power they have always possessed, but that foundation remains crucial to the way they play, and Vermeulen is the man who delivers it.

His ball-carrying and tackling were prominent in every game, but also notable was his ability to get his huge 6'4", 250-pound frame over the ball and force turnovers.

His stock is currently sitting at an all-time high following the final game of the championship, in which he outplayed the great Kieran Read.

3. Jean De Villiers: Don’t Sell Just Yet

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South Africa captain Jean de Villiers, at times, looked to be on the wane in this championship.

Ineffectual against New Zealand in Wellington and culpable for Ben Smith’s try in Johannesburg when he let Conrad Smith ghost past him, the man who won his 100th cap in this tournament showed signs that his time was coming to an end.

But South Africa have always valued experienced leadership—think the retention of John Smit as skipper well beyond his sell-by date as the best player in his position—and De Villiers is showing he still has that quality in this side.

His two tries against Australia pulled a result out of the fire for the Boks, and to have a player of his wisdom standing outside the callow Handre Pollard is no bad thing.

Hang on to your De Villiers shares for a while.

4. Willie Le Roux: Shares Performing Solidly

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It is probably unfair to expect fireworks from Willie le Roux every time he sets foot on turf.

Such was his entrance to the international stage when he ripped apart the Scots at Murrayfield, he almost set an improbably high standard for himself. He met it when South Africa faced Wales this year.

But against sterner opponents in the Rugby Championship who, one year on, are wiser to his many attacking attributes, he was not afforded so much space and time.

But what we missed in pyrotechnics, we saw in competence and intelligence from the man who has nailed down the No. 15 jersey.

Where the South Africa back line was once all about battering rams, they now feature brilliance and pace. Their willingness to put the ball through the hands means Le Roux gets to see more of it and influence the game.

5. Victor Matfield: A Late Rally

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Any Matfield shareholders who cashed in when the big man bowed out in 2011 will now be kicking themselves.

After returning to the green and gold, the lock has eased back into the high standards he left behind and sent his stock rising once more.

The 37-year-old’s stats for the tournament testify to the fact his contributions have not dimmed with his advancing years.

He completed 56 tackles, took 23 line-outs and played 320 minutes, per the New Zealand Herald's Opta Stats Centre.

He only missed the opening two Tests against Argentina. It may just be coincidence that these were the two matches in which the Springboks pack came off second best.

If he is managed properly and avoids injury, it’s probable that he will once again play a key role at next year’s World Cup.