5 million individuals in New Zealand will undoubtedly disagree, however an unequalled report of 4 Rugby World Cup victories arguably makes the Springboks the best of all time – particularly as they’ve gained half the RWCs they’ve ever performed in. In consequence, a few of the biggest gamers within the historical past of the sport have worn that well-known inexperienced and gold jersey.
Over time the Springboks have earned a fame for uncompromising ahead power, brute pressure and – once in a while – enjoying the chances. However South Africa has additionally produced rugby stars of prodigious potential, expertise and aptitude. With the Rugby Championship about to get underway, listed here are the highest 12 South Africa gamers of all time (in alphabetical order). Need to see the present crop of Springboks in motion? Our information will let you know the way to watch the Rugby Championship wherever you’re.
1. Schalk Burger
Picture: Getty Photographs
There’s been no scarcity of legendary back-row forwards for the reason that flip of the millennium – 9 out of twenty-two World Participant of the 12 months awards have gone to flankers or number-eights – however 2007 World Cup winner Schalk Burger was in a category of his personal. An all-action free ahead, his capability to place his physique on the road for the nice of the workforce was legendary, as was his potential to return from setbacks – throughout surgical procedure in 2013, Burger contracted bacterial meningitis that might have proved deadly.
Burger ended his legendary profession at Saracens aged 36, serving to the workforce to a Premiership/European Champions Cup double in 2019.
2. Bryan Habana
Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Photographs
The statistics say all of it: 67 tries and 124 Springbok caps.
It’s not simply that Habana’s South Africa common is healthier than a attempt each different recreation, nevertheless. Or that his Springbok profession lasted properly over a decade. Or that no participant – not even Jonah Lomu – has scored extra tries in a single World Cup. And even that his haul places him second within the all-time record, behind Japan’s Daisuke Ohata, and forward of bona fide legends corresponding to David Campese, Shane Williams and Rory Underwood.
Habana’s mixture of lightning tempo and dazzling footwork additionally ensured he was pure field workplace. On the lookout for a wing on your all-time record? This Springbok has obtained to be within the dialog.
3. André Joubert
Picture: Mike Hewitt/ALLSPORT/Getty Photographs
It’s an in depth run factor with Percy Montgomery – one other all-time nice Springbok 15 – however the 1995 World Cup winner simply will get the nod. Broadly dubbed “the Rolls-Royce of fullbacks”, André Joubert possessed a really exceptional set of abilities, each a sublime runner and a prodigious footballing expertise – the form of participant who, if he’d been born 30 years later, would have boasted one hell of a YouTube highlights reel.
As a aspect notice, Joubert put in a formidable efficiency within the 1995 RWC ultimate regardless of enjoying with a damaged hand.
4. Siya Kolisi
Picture: MB Media/Getty Photographs
The Springboks have produced greater than their justifiable share of iconic captains through the years – Clint Eastwood even made a movie about Francois Pienaar’s pivotal position on the the 1995 World Cup – however few (if any) have had the impression of Siya Kolisi, each on and off the sector. Together with the legendary Richie McCaw, he’s the one man who’s lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice, however because the Springboks’ first ever Black captain (he grew up within the iBhayi township in Port Elizabeth), he’s an inspiration to hundreds of thousands all over the world – a mantle he carries with sheer class, whether or not he’s enjoying for South Africa or Racing 92.
In addition to being an inspirational chief, he’s an all-round back-row ahead, sturdy on the breakdown, ferocious within the sort out, and an honest ball provider, too. Already one of many greats, and there needs to be extra to come back.
5. Victor Matfield
Picture: Getty Photographs
One other tight name – particularly because the opponent is the relentless Eben Etzebeth – however in the event you’re in search of the epitome of a South Africa second-row, it needs to be this man. Essentially the most-capped Springbok in historical past (he wore the gold and inexperienced a exceptional 127 occasions) and a World Cup winner in 2007, Victor Matfield’s identify on the workforce sheet (together with common second-row companion Bakkies Botha) will need to have struck concern into each opponent. And except for being an excellent all-round ahead, his uncanny potential to grab lineout ball made him a one-of-a-kind set-piece grasp.
6. Tendai Mtawarira
Picture: Gallo Photographs
In case your nickname is “Beast” you’d higher have some severe rugby abilities – and energy – to again it up. Fortunately, common loosehead legend Tendai Mtawarira did greater than sufficient to earn his standing as one of many all-time front-row greats. Essentially the most capped prop in Springbok historical past, Mtawarira lived as much as his identify within the scrum, and was a formidable tackler, He was additionally a formidable ball provider, deceptively fast with a formidable sidestep.
Mtawarira retired on the very high, calling it quits after South Africa’s World Cup win in 1999.
7. Fourie du Preez
Picture: Getty Photographs
The truth that Joost van der Weisthuizen will not be the best scrum-half on this record tells you ways good Fourie du Preez was. Certainly, in the event you had been engineering the final word 9 for the fashionable recreation, that participant would possess a skillset fairly like this 2007 World Cup winner’s.
That his distribution from behind the scrum was exemplary is a given, however du Preez additionally had tempo to burn (serving to him to a formidable 16 tries for his nation), and a formidable vary of kicking. He might additionally ship an enormous hit when he wanted to.
8. Os du Randt
Picture: AFP/Getty Photographs
One other all-time nice from the category of 2007, du Randt (that Os nickname means “ox” in Afrikaans) was a powerhouse of the Springbok pack. A veteran of the 1995 World Cup squad, du Randt was 35 by the point he lastly lifted the trophy. Within the interim, he’d suffered a severe knee damage that stored him out of the sport for greater than two years, however this 20-stone loosehead nonetheless had an enormous position to play in his nation’s rugby fortunes.
His scrummaging prowess was legendary however he additionally made his presence felt in open play, and – to make use of that outdated cliché – had wonderful arms for an enormous man.
9. John Smit
Picture: Getty Photographs
The second World Cup-winning captain on this record and one more centurion. In addition to being an inspirational skipper, Smit might play at prop in addition to his extra ordinary berth at hooker – a place the place he excelled. His accuracy as a lineout thrower was impeccable, whereas his scrummaging potential was additionally spectacular. However, as has grow to be increasingly more vital for all front-row forwards within the twenty first century, he made an vital contribution within the free, each as a tackler on the breakdown and as a ball provider.
On the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa, Shaun Edwards famously known as the then-31-year-old Smit outdated, sluggish and fats. You solely have to look at Smit play to know why Edwards later apologised for these feedback – although Smit did later admit that “My spouse thought it was hilarious”.
10. Pieter-Steph du Toit
Picture: Getty Photographs
The 2019 World Participant of the 12 months has cemented his place among the many back-row elite. A part of a rugby dynasty (his grandfather, Pieter Stephanus du Toit V, additionally represented the Springboks), the 6’6” PSDT has represented his nation at lock, nevertheless it’s on the blindside that his uncompromising, laborious tackling model has made him an automated choose for a succession of South Africa coaches.
Much more spectacular, du Toit battled again from a freak haematoma damage in 2020 that almost price him his left leg, and regained his place within the Springbok aspect. His exceptional 28 tackles in South Africa’s 2023 World Cup Remaining win over the All Blacks heralded a efficiency (and a participant) for the ages.
11. Joost van der Westhuizen
Picture: David Rogers/Getty Photographs
Making his mark on the finish of the novice period, when scrum-halves had been sometimes diminutive magicians working behind the pack, Joost van der Westhuizen stood out as an enormous of the sport.
It wasn’t simply that his muscular, 6’2” body made him really feel like an auxiliary ahead at occasions, paving the way in which for giant nines corresponding to Mike Phillips and Conor Murray. He additionally had the ability set to match any opponent, whether or not as a ball participant, or making breaks for himself – his 38 tries for the Springboks stays a world report for a scrum-half.
In 2011, van der Westhuizen was recognized with motor neurone illness, and spent the remainder of his life elevating consciousness of the situation. He died in 2017 and can be remembered as a legend of the sport.
12. Chester Williams
Picture: PHILIP LITTLETON/AFP through Getty Photographs
Crossing the whitewash 14 occasions in simply 27 matches for his nation, Chester Williams’ report as a attempt scorer speaks for itself. His innate potential to learn the sport made him a deadly finisher from the wing, and the 4 tries he bagged within the Springboks’ quarter-final in opposition to Western Samoa confirmed his standing as one of many superstars of the workforce that acquired the Webb Ellis Cup from Nelson Mandela.
Williams was solely the third individual of color to play for the Springboks, and was subsequently seen as a pivotal determine in post-apartheid South Africa. Though he appeared on quite a few billboards in his dwelling nation forward of the 1995, nevertheless, he later revealed that he was by no means comfy together with his standing because the face of the match.
Sadly, Williams died of a suspected coronary heart assault in 2019, aged simply 49.
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