Springboks flyer Cheslin Kolbe takes on the All Blacks’ defenders during their recent Rugby Championship match in Cape Town. Kolbe has been playing some great rugby in 2024. FILE - Springboks flyer Cheslin Kolbe takes on the All Blacks’ defenders during their recent Rugby Championship match in Cape Town. Kolbe has been playing some great rugby in 2024. Photo: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
Antoine Dupont is viewed by many pundits in the north as the best player in the world at the moment after leading France to the gold medal in the Rugby Sevens at the Paris Olympics.
However, three Springboks have entered that group chat following some fine performances during their run to the Rugby Championship title.
IOL Sport’s John Goliath looks at three Springbok superstars who must be considered as world rugby’s current GOAT along with Dupont.
At this point South Africans are trying to find actual things that Kolbe may not be good at. Because, on a rugby field, he can do pretty much anything.
A STUNNER!!!!
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 28, 2024
Cheslin Kolbe's footwork. 😮💨 #RSAvARG pic.twitter.com/lAAggaJd2y
Kolbe put balls into the scrum against the Wallabies, fed a lineout against the All Blacks and was on standby to take over the place-kicking against Argentina’s Los Pumas in Mbombela. The ultimate footballer.
But it’s his unbelievable abilities with ball in hand that makes him one of the world’s greatest players at the moment. From bumping off locks to “breaking ankles” with his lethal sidestep, Kolbe is just a menace to defend against.
Kolbe beat an unbelievable 21 defenders during the Rugby Championship, four more than the next best player. He also had six clean breaks and made 239 metres with ball in hand. And he didn’t even feature in all of the Boks’ matches.
Add that to his defensive qualities and his work in the wide breakdowns ... the guy is just special.
Sit back and enjoy some Pieter-Steph du Toit pic.twitter.com/f5QK7gge0o
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) December 3, 2019
The Springboks’ energizer bunny seamless switched between both lock positions and flank during that epic Test match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park when the Boks suffered a crisis in the second row.
This year also saw him perform a different role, away from his normal grafting play, which saw him make an unbelievable 28 tackles in the World Cup final against the All Blacks. He was asked to play a bit more wide on attack, where could stretch his long legs with ball in hand.
His skill-set and rugby brain is criminally underrated, and we saw Du Toit carry the ball a lot more, showing off his ability to get the ball away in the tackle. His support play saw him score three tries in the tournament, to go with his epic work-rate.
Du Toit remains a player who can go to war with, but the Boks must really start to manage him as the 2027 Rugby World Cup draws closer.
😳 OX NCHE!!!!! pic.twitter.com/BVZrtii84L
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 22, 2024
It’s not often that a prop is considered for such an accolade, but Nche is a special one. Not only does he love a piece of chocolate cake, but he takes pleasure in obliterating tightheads.
Nche had to play a lot more minutes and take on a lot more responsibility in the absence of the injured Steven Kitshoff in the Bok No 1 jersey. And it looked like he relished the opportunity as he pumped everyone he faced in the scrum.
He was so dominant that Australia almost lost all of their props to “head injuries” in Perth, while he had the highly rated Los Pumas prop Joe Sclavi doing the moonwalk in both their Test matches.
But it was not only his scrumming that was good, Nche’s ball-carrying was that like that of a 21-year-old, as he powered through tacklers to give the Boks quick ball.
IOL Sport