
Screenshot: YouTube
At school, I was always that one person no one wanted in their team – in any sporting code! Yet, despite my lack of sporting prowess, I feel I am a great student of the games of cricket and rugby. And I feel quite miffed that Mama Joy Chauke and Botha Msila get sent all over the world as superfans – because, as Eben Venter, Marita van der Vyver and Sonja Loots can attest, I can get quite vocal in Karoo bars when watching rugby.

Clockwise from left to right: Cheslin Kolbe, Bryan Habana, Lukhanyo Am (Image: YouTube)
So, today, as we bask in the glory of one of the finest years to be a Springbok supporter, I want to reflect on whom I consider the greatest Springboks since re-admission. Fortunately, I am old enough to have watched all four World Cup triumphs, and I thought it would be good to take a trip down memory lane. For each position, I have decided to name two players – the second to act as cover in case of injuries. So, let’s start with the easy picks.
On the left wing, in the number 11 jersey, Bryan Habana stands like a colossus. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, let alone in South Africa, he is not a controversial choice. As his understudy, I have chosen Chester Williams from the 1995 World Cup squad. Chester was in scintillating form that year, and in a fledgling democracy he was so much more than a winger to South Africa.
On the right wing, in the number 14 jersey, JP Pietersen was a stand-out player and part of the 2007 World Cup winning side. Most people would put Cheslin Kolbe in pole position, though. And rightly so. Seldom has there been a player who brings such excitement to the game every time he touches the ball. His name is already written into South African folklore.

Cheslin Kolbe (Image: YouTube)
On the right wing, I have chosen three players, because it would be scandalous to leave out James Small. I know he played far fewer tests, and controversy seemed to follow him. But no one followed Jonah Lomu more closely than James Small. Mainly into touch. Remember that in 1995, Jonah Lomu was unstoppable. He didn’t bother running around you; he ran over you – until he met his match in James Small in that 1995 World Cup final.
At full back, in the number 15 jersey, Percy Montgomery almost picks himself. Besides his longevity in the game, he remains South Africa’s top point scorer. And he had, more often than not, a trusted left boot – although watching a left-footed player kick from the touch line gave me nightmares.
However, the greatest full back I have seen is André Joubert. That man made slicing through opposition defences seems effortless. Little wonder they dubbed him the Rolls-Royce of full backs. Who will ever forget how he drilled those grubber kicks into the opposition half from well into his half, time and again? Percy Montgomery I admired, but André Joubert I loved. The passage of time has not diminished the esteem in which I hold him.
The position of scrum half, the number 9 jersey, is fairly easy. The Blue Bulls rule in this department. The two greatest scrum halves of the post-isolation era were undoubtedly Joost van der Westhuizen and Fourie du Preez. Joost was the poster boy of South African rugby. Tall, handsome, audacious talent. No doubt, though, opposition teams threw darts at posters of Joost in their changerooms, because he was a thorn in the side of so many teams.
However, if you ask me, Fourie du Preez was the more consummate scrum half. Fourie was the general in that 2007 World Cup triumph – and for many years before and after. He was better because he had a better temperament than Joost. Joost could sometimes be like the John McEnroe of Springbok rugby, and as a captain that was not a good character trait, in my humble opinion.
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In the number 10 jersey at fly half, one player’s name is engraved into South African rugby folklore: Joel Stransky. Who can ever forget that 1995 drop goal that won us the World Cup?
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In the number 10 jersey at fly half, one player’s name is engraved into South African rugby folklore: Joel Stransky. Who can ever forget that 1995 drop goal that won us the World Cup? Certainly not the All Blacks. That drop goal will haunt Sean Fitzpatrick’s men for the rest of their days.
However, since 2019, one player has challenged Stransky’s stranglehold on the title of greatest fly half. That man is none other than Handré Pollard, who almost single- handedly won us the 2023 World Cup semi-final when we were dead and buried, and then repeated the feat in the final. With two World Cups under his belt, Pollard will probably go down as the greatest fly half!
And yet, there is one other fly half who deserves a spot on the podium: Butch James. Both Joel and Handré were what you would call “in the pocket” fly halves. They stand deep and need the protection of their forwards to thrive. But Butch – that man stood in your face. He put fear into every opposition team at the 2007 World Cup. What he lacked in finesse, he more than made up for with his bone-crunching tackles that stopped any thought of attack from the opposition in its tracks. I know the purists would choose Joel and Handré, but if I were to choose my top two fly halves, they would be Butch and Handré.
The position of centre is far more complicated. Jessie Kriel and Damian de Allende are no doubt uppermost in people’s minds as the greatest centre pair in Springbok history, having played the most matches together in back-to-back World Cup winning sides. While I am grateful for their role in helping us win two World Cups, I cannot shake the feeling that the 1995 pair of Japie Mulder and Hennie le Roux were better. Japie Mulder had the reputation of something of an undertaker. And Hennie was the artiste – a magician with ball in hand. Remember, they had to contend with Jonah Lomu. No player has been more feared since 1995 than Jonah Lomu was. That the 1995 Springboks were able to neutralise the threat of Lomu makes these two my greatest centre pairing in Springbok history.
Spare a thought, though, for the centre pairing of Pieter Muller and André Snyman. They were a formidable duo. However, if I were to choose a third centre, it would undoubtedly be Lukhanyo Am. There are certain moments in World Cup history that will always feature in the highlights reel, and Am’s audacious, nonchalant pass to put Mapimpi over for a try in the 2019 final ranks as one of those great World Cup moments. He was also responsible for putting Kolbe away in the same match for that stunning try that took the fight out of a dogged English side. And then, let us not forget that audacious around-the-back pass against New Zealand, I think it was. Lukhanyo deserves another shot at centre in 2027. He is a special talent.
The forwards
In the number 1 jersey, at loosehead prop, I have Os du Randt down as one of the greats. This is a man who won the 1995 World Cup and then, after injury, came back to win the 2007 World Cup. If ever there was a fairytale, this surely has to be it.

Os du Randt (Image: YouTube)
And then the other Ox: Ox Nché. Seldom has there been a forward who has brought such joy to the rugby field by destroying opposition tightheads. If Pollard kicked us to victory in 2023, Ox Nché won those penalties for us from the front row.

Ox Nché (Image: YouTube)
But over and above these two men, I have to add one of the greats in this position: Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira. Who will ever forget his dominant performance in that 2019 World Cup final? With 117 caps, he is the most capped prop in South African history.
In the number 3 jersey, I have double-winning Frans Malherbe down at tighthead prop. And then I have 2007 Springbok captain John Smit down as my second choice. I’m sure most people remember John Smit at hooker, but in 2007 when he lifted the World Cup, he was in the number 3 jersey.
This was to make space for one of the greatest hookers I have seen don the green and gold: Bismarck du Plessis. Bismarck broke the mould of the lethargic behemoth at number 2. This man was an athlete. Who can ever forget the many steals he made at the breakdown? In my eyes, he is the greatest hooker I have seen. He was kept out of the Springbok team for too long by an aging John Smit, but Jake White knew the value of Smit’s captaincy and retreaded Smit as a tighthead prop.
The second spot must go to the incumbent double-World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi. Yes, Bongi finds himself “aan die regte kant” of my choice for hooker. Spare a thought, though, for part-time hooker Deon Fourie, who came on after just three minutes of the final, after Mbonambi got injured by dirty play from a New Zealand player in 2023 – and Malcolm Marx, who did the same in 2019 but missed out on the 2023 World Cup due to injury. However, Bongi got us that far playing as hooker.
I have spoken about Os du Randt, who won World Cups 12 years apart. Another player who emulated this feat was Frans Steyn, who won in 2007 under John Smit and then in 2019 under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. I believe that such servanthood needs to be rewarded, and so I’ve included Frans as a utility back because he could play literally anywhere in the back line – and because of the powerful boot that Frans has. In 2007, he kicked penalties from within his own half. And he was built like a tank by backline standards. Frans Steyn deserves a place among the greats.
The choice of locks was one of the easiest decisions I had to make. When you have Bakkies Botha and Eben Etzebeth in that position, you can’t argue with these two giants claiming the number 4 berth.
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If ever there was an enforcer in Springbok rugby, it was Bakkies. Eben just perfected the art, mind you. However, Bakkies reigns supreme in the “dark arts”, if you know what I mean.
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People speak of the combination of Bakkies at 4 and Victor Matfield at 5 as the greatest locks in the history of Springbok rugby. And you can’t argue with that, either. Victor was the most capped Springbok player before Eben Etzebeth broke his record of 127 caps. While Matfield earned your respect through his athletic prowess where he reigned supreme in the line-outs, Bakkies demanded your respect through brute force. If ever there was an enforcer in Springbok rugby, it was Bakkies. Eben just perfected the art, mind you. However, Bakkies reigns supreme in the “dark arts”, if you know what I mean.
So, Victor at number 5. There have been very few players who have shone as brightly in this position. For a long time, I thought maybe it would be fitting that there should be only one here, Victor Matfield, but then I remembered that lanky Natalian Mark Andrews from the 1995 winning side. Even though he played number 8 in that final, his true position was number 5, I believe.
At number 6, as blindside flanker, one man made that jersey his own and commands respect all over the world. That man is Schalk Burger. Yes, there are Francois Pienaar and Siya Kolisi, two of the greatest Springbok captains of all time, but they are no match for Schalk. Strip them of the captaincy, and Schalk Burger will always beat them to the number 6 jersey. I will talk more about Francois and Siya when I talk about the greatest captains, but I do have both of them down at blindside flank.

Siya Kolisi (Image: YouTube)
For openside flanker, in the number 7 jersey, you must be blind not to know who wears that jersey for the Springboks: none other than Pieter-Steph du Toit, yet another player who stands head and shoulders above any other Springbok in this position. Mind you, Rassie Erasmus was not too shabby in this position, but I believe that André Venter just pips Rassie as the better number 7.
In terms of number 8, one of the greatest players I have seen in this position is Duane Vermeulen. Who can ever forget his Herculean effort in helping us win the World Cup? He is held in such high regard that upon his retirement, he was immediately drafted in as defence coach.
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And as great as Duane was, it is my humble estimation that Teichmann was better. However, they have something in common: they come across as “gentleman-skollies” on the field, to use a phrase by author Kirby van der Merwe.
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But the greatest number 8 that I have seen was Gary Teichmann, the former Springbok captain. This was a player who was at the helm of a golden period of Springbok rugby. Duane and Gary were two very different players. Physically, they are different, and they played under different rules. And as great as Duane was, it is my humble estimation that Teichmann was better. However, they have something in common: they come across as “gentleman-skollies” on the field, to use a phrase by author Kirby van der Merwe.
Back to the captains. Who was the greatest captain? Francois Pienaar and Siya Kolisi are undoubtedly the front runners, because of what they have meant to the country – Francois at the dawn of democracy, Siya at a time when the country was on its knees, when racial intolerance was at an all-time high. Under Siya’s captaincy, rugby has united a country and has shown even the most hardened sceptic among us that sport actually can be a driver of social cohesion. I believe that Siya edges Francois and will go down as the greater captain.
However, you can already see from TV hosts and invitations to major events that John Smit is viewed higher up the pecking order. He is the one who gets invited onto panels, not so much Francois Pienaar nowadays. And I think that is right. John Smit was a leader of men. Unflappable under pressure. Eloquent. And with a wonderful sense of humour.
And yet, there is something in me that feels that Gary Teichmann was the best captain among the lot. Unfortunately, he never won a World Cup. Not because the Springboks of 1999 were a poor team, but because of one Nick Mallett. For those with long memories, you will remember that Mallett dropped his captain Teichmann on the eve of the 1999 World Cup and brought in Bobby Skinstad. In my opinion, it remains to this day one of the lowest points in Springbok rugby. Had Skinstad gone on to great heights as Mallett would have had us believe, we would have been more understanding.
Mallett initially offered none other than Rassie Erasmus the captain’s arm band to fill the boots of Teichmann. To his credit, Rassie declined. Rassie told Nick that the team did not agree with his decision. Nick then offered the captaincy to Joost van der Westhuizen over the telephone. Joost told Nick to give him half an hour and immediately phoned Teichmann to ask him what was going on. Joost eventually accepted, but in an interview he stated that he knew at the time that Mallett was making a mistake, and that Teichmann was probably the best captain he had played under.

Onkant! ’n Rugbyliefdesverhaal by Hendrik Hancke (Jonathan Ball, 2023)
Fast-forward three months, and who will ever forget that extra time drop goal of Stephen Larkham that knocked us out of the World Cup in 1999, from almost on the halfway line? On days like these, you can’t help but think that the rugby gods wanted to teach Nick Mallett a lesson. And when you consider that Tiaan Strauss, the ex-Springbok captain, was playing for Australia and went on to win the World Cup in 1999, you can’t help but wonder whether the Springboks were paying the price for the way they had treated two past Springbok captains. (Strauss was nudged out of the Springbok side by Kitch Christie in 1995 because he preferred Francois Pienaar, a controversy that was largely forgotten in the euphoria of the 1995 World Cup victory.) One could not help but think this way, especially once Henry Honiball was ruled out of the World Cup. With that injury, we basically could kiss the World Cup goodbye. When Honiball came up lame, I knew that the rugby gods were teaching Nick Mallett a lesson. Of that I am sure.
If you had to ask me, then, who the worst Springbok coach in post-isolation has been, I would have no hesitation in saying it was Nick Mallett. I don’t care what his win percentage was. The bottom line is that he never won a World Cup. And his axing of Teichmann was unforgivable. Till today, it pains me to see that Mallett is a commentator for all rugby tests on Supersport. It pains me to see that he has written a book and claims that the Teichmann decision was his biggest mistake, as if we must take pity on him and say, “Ag shame, at least he apologised.” We must read in newspapers how he and Teichmann made peace over a beer. No one ever asks Teichmann for his comment. As a person who organises book festivals all over South Africa, I believe that on a point of principle, I will never invite Mallett. He set South African rugby back by ten years, and he robbed one of the greatest captains a shot at a World Cup.
To sum up the captain question, then: I know that Siya will go down in Springbok history as the greatest captain of the modern era, but in my heart I feel that when Teichmann came in as captain, he was universally loved by his players. Francois Pienaar and Siya cannot claim the same, and even the selection of John Smit was regularly questioned. But Teichmann commanded respect from the start, only to be betrayed by Mallett.
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We no longer say he got picked because he’s an Afrikaner or because he’s black. That is Rassie’s greatest legacy.
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And the best coach? Without a doubt, Rassie Erasmus. I have already alluded to the Teichmann captaincy incident and how he turned down the Springbok captaincy because he felt that Mallett was wrong. I believe that shows Rassie as a man of integrity. And then there is his humour. Who can ever forget his video, teasing his English bulldog on the eve of the 2023 semi-final: “Are you South African? No you’re English!”

During the 2023 Rugby World Cup (Image: YouTube)
Never mind that he is a tactical genius. Or that he has won two World Cups. What he has gotten right is that he has succeeded in making South Africa blind to race. We no longer see players in terms of their skin colour. We no longer talk about quotas in rugby. We no longer say he got picked because he’s an Afrikaner or because he’s black. That is Rassie’s greatest legacy. I am sure he can be quite irritating, and he probably swears too much. But when I saw that video of how he cried when he realised that Makazole Mapimpi had no photographs of his family, that Mapimpi literally had no one – I saw how he cried. You can’t fake that. At that moment, I knew he was pure of heart. And one day when he starts losing – which he will – I will never turn my back on him, because his legacy is not about winning on the field. His legacy is that he gave us hope as a country in our darkest hour off the field. He did not bring out the best in just his players. He and his group of Springboks brought out the best in all of us – even though it came at great personal cost to him.
So, that is my pick of the greatest Springboks whom I’ve had the privilege of watching over the last 30 years. At this juncture in our country’s history, the words of Thomas Hardy come to mind when one thinks of the Springboks: “Happiness is but an occasional episode in a general drama of pain.” Thanks to the Springboks for being the happiness in our lives.
Lees ook:
Bou ’n Springbokspan in elke gemeenskap dwarsoor Suid-Afrika! So maak ons hoop!
"Ons een-punt-oorwinnings is ’n straf én ’n seën," vertel Hendrik Hancke, skrywer van Onkant!
Rassie, stories oor rugby en die lewe deur Rassie Erasmus, saam met David O’Sullivan: ’n onderhoud
The wonderful corniness of the Springboks: South African softness at its best
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Kolskoot met meeste keuses, behalwe vir die senters. Jean De Villiers en Jaque Fourie was ongetwyfeld ons beste senterpaar.