The Springboks will participate in their seventh World Cup this year. Darry Worthington takes a look at which ‘Boks starred at the previous six editions of the World Cup.
Get out those vintage Springbok jumpers and the grab a couple Castle Lagers as we’re going to delve into some nostalgia here as we take a look at what the best possible Springbok World Cup team would look like.
Fullback: Percy Montgomery
World Cup/s: 1999 and 2007
South Africa’s greatest comeback kid. While Montgomery went to the 1999 World Cup as a 25-year-old his best performances came in 2007 as an elder statesman. The fullback was a key cog in South Africa’s triumphant 2007 World Cup team with his dependable goal-kicking and solid decision making helping his team to their second Webb Ellis trophy.
Right Wing: James Small
World Cup/s: 1995
One of the four members of the school of ’95 to pass on. Small may not have been the most prolific of try-scorers during his playing career but he was one of the most tenacious putting in tackle after tackle and continually looking for work.
Outside Centre: Jaque Fourie
World Cups: 2003, 2007 and 2011
There honestly wasn’t much competition here with Jaque Fourie one of the few outside centres to play in more than one World Cup. Like his former centre partner Jean de Villiers, Fourie had a knack of picking up injuries at World Cups. He did remain relatively injury-free in 2007 and his running lines, as well as his experience outside of youngster Frans Steyn, were vital to the Springboks cause.
Inside Centre: Frans Steyn
World Cup/s: 2007
This title would surely belong to Jean de Villiers had the former ‘Bok captain not had a knack for picking up injuries during the first few rounds of a World Cup. Instead, Frans Steyn gets the nod at inside centre. Steyn was meant to be a utility reserve during the 2007 World Cup but an injury to De Villiers saw the then 19-year-old thrust into the starting inside centre role.
He thrived in this position with strong ball carries and heavy tackles striking fear into opponents. He also relieved a lot of pressure on his fly-halves with his siege gun boot adding an extra kicking option in the backline and also ensuring that opposition sides were punished for conceding penalties even when ten metres inside the Springboks half.
Left Wing: Bryan Habana
World Cups: 2007, 2011 and 2015
The Springboks all-time leading try-scorer and the joint World Cup all-time try-scorer, Habana was an absolute dynamo for the ‘Boks. While 2007 saw the winger at the peak of his powers, he also put in solid showings during the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
Fly-Half: Joel Stransky
World Cup/s: 1995
Stransky provided the moment of magic in 1995 with his drop goal seeing South Africa to victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park. The former Sharks and Western Province man had a solid all-round tournament and while the drop goal will always be a magic moment, it’s slightly bittersweet as it undervalues some of the good work he did prior to snapping back into the pocket for that famous three-pointer.
Scrum-Half: Joost van der Westhuizen
World Cups: 1995, 1999, 2003
The bravest scrumhalf to ever play the game, Van Der Westhuizen may have endured rather mediocre World Cups following 1995 but that was mainly because he set the bar so high at that particular tournament where his passing was crisp as a winter’s breeze, his kicking was spot on and his tackling was next level.
Eighth man: Bobby Skinstad
World Cups: 1999 and 2007
This actually took me hours to come up with as there really wasn’t a lot to choose from at number eight. I had initially gone for Mark Andrews who had excelled in the position in 1995 despite being a specialist lock, but after a few hours of mulling it over, I decided to go for Skinstad. He’s not everyone’s favourite player but he was one of the few shining lights for South Africa at the 1999 World Cup. He also played a vital role, albeit limited one, for South Africa in 2007 as he was one of the veterans in the ‘B’ side.
Openside Flank: Juan Smith
World Cups: 2003 and 2007
One of the most underrated players to ever pull on a Green and Gold jersey. Smith broke on to the scene at the 2003 World Cup where he played four matches and bagged himself a try. While he was a fresh face in 2003, he came into the 2007 World Cup as a seasoned veteran and was a standout for Jake White’s side.
Blindside Flank: Francois Pienaar
World Cups: 1995
The man who led South Africa to their first World Cup title. Pienaar had a great tournament on the field but it was his leadership ability that really stood out. He was able to unite a side that featured players that hated each other due to provincial rivalries. Turning foes into brothers and delivering one of the most iconic sporting images when he held the Webb Ellis Cup aloft with Nelson Mandela.
Lock: Victor Matfield
World Cups: 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
One of only two South Africans to play in four World Cups, Matfield will have fond memories of a few tournaments and some horrid memories of others. Matfield’s finest hour came in 2007 where he, alongside national and provincial teammate Bakkies Botha, dominated the lineouts. Matfield also had a few brilliant touches with ball-in-hand at all of the World Cups he attended.
Lock: Bakkies Botha
World Cup/s: 2003, 2007 and 2011
The Yang to Matfield’s Ying. The burly enforcer was a stalwart at the 2007 Rugby World Cup producing bruising performance after bruising performance. Had it not been for the Blue Bulls hardman, South Africa wouldn’t have had the physical dominance they had during the Jake White era. Botha was also one of the South African’s standout players at the ill-fated 2003 World Cup.
Tighthead Prop: CJ Van der Linde
World Cups: 2007 and 2011
CJ hasn’t really got the props he deserves for his showings at the 2007 and 2011 global showpieces where he put in some almighty shifts. Like Os du Randt, Van der Linde never put a foot back when it came to scrum time and was also capable of making a number of big hits during a game. He also was a solid ball carrying option.
Hooker: John Smit
World Cups: 2003, 2007, 2011
It’s no surprise that John Smit appears on this list having led the South Africans to victory at the 2007 event in France. At this point, he was a the peak of his playing powers and there was no better hooker in World Rugby. Things changed by 2011 and he was forced to move to loosehead prop to accommodate Bismarck du Plessis. And while Smit didn’t have the best of tournaments in 2011 he was still a key leader and helped the next generation make the step up.
Loosehead Prop: Os Du Randt
World Cup/s: 1995, 1999, 2007
The ultimate loosehead prop. Du Randt is the only South African to be a part of both the 1995 and 2007 World Cup squads. While ‘Big Os’ had a very sporadic international career with knee injuries curtailing how much rugby he played, he was always a stalwart for the South Africans come a global showpiece. While his scrummaging was brilliant, it was the former Free State Cheetahs’ stalwarts tackling that meant so much to South Africa in 1995 with the big man putting in multiple hits, including a memorable one on Jonah Lomu, all those years ago.
Honourable Mentions
Andre Joubert
World Cup/s: 1995
The Sharks legend is unlucky to miss out on the fullback berth in this ultimate South African World Cup team. Joubert had an amazing 1995 World Cup, with his best showing coming in appalling conditions in Durban where the ‘Boks edged France in the semi-finals. Without his brilliant left boot history would not have been made in 1995.
Chester Williams
World Cup/s: 1995
While James Small was the defensive winger at the 1995 World Cup, Chester Williams was the try-scoring machine with the Western Province man scoring four tries against Samoa in a pool phase game.
Jannie de Beer
World Cup/s: 1999
Arguably the greatest individual performance from a South African at a World Cup came from Jannie de Beer in 1999 where he kicked five drop goals against the English to send South Africa to the semi-finals. He may have not done much else at that World Cup but his name will forever live in South African World Cup folklore.
Fourie du Preez
World Cup/s: 2007, 2011 and 2015
Du Preez is extremely unlucky to have been pitted against Joost van der Westhuizen in this list as he was miles ahead of every other South African scrum-half bar Joost. Du Preez’ educated boot and ability to sniff out a gap made him a key role player in South Africa’s 2007 campaign. The veteran also was one of the ew standouts at the 2015 World Cup rolling back the years with some great snipes from the base of the scrum.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
