\u2014 FloRugby (@FloRugby) August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Under his leadership, South Africa reached unparalleled heights. Kolisi guided the Boks to Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, making him only the second man after Richie McCaw to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice as captain. He also steered the team to victory in the 2021 British & Irish Lions series and helped secure multiple Rugby Championship crowns.<\/p>\n After a brief spell with Racing 92, he now represents the Hollywoodbets Sharks, continuing to bring intensity and inspiration on the field.<\/p>\n Kolisi\u2019s influence stretches far beyond rugby. Through the Kolisi Foundation, he works to advance education, equality and community upliftment, reinforcing his status as a leader whose legacy is as powerful off the field as it is on it.<\/p>\n 9. RG Snyman | Leinster Rugby | FloRugby World No. 34<\/p>\n RG Snyman is one of the sport\u2019s true outliers, a player whose physical profile and skill set barely seem real.<\/p>\n Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 136kg, he moves and handles the ball with the ease of a back, making him just as dangerous in traffic as he is in open space.<\/p>\n A two-time Rugby World Cup champion, Snyman became central to the Springboks\u2019 famed Bomb Squad, providing game-changing impact whenever he entered from the bench. His blend of power, awareness and offloading instinct has made him a matchup nightmare for opponents.<\/p>\n Try | RG Snyman | Min 72<\/p>\n This is getting ugly for the All Blacks! South Africa are in again! This time it is RG Snyman who powers through Kiwi defenders. NZL 10 – RSA 36.#NZLvRSA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DdV1nIBwxm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FloRugby (@FloRugby) September 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n His stint at Munster was marked by both setbacks and success, but even injuries couldn\u2019t dull his influence. When he made the high-profile switch to Leinster, questions quickly turned into praise as he helped the side claim URC honors in 2025.<\/p>\n At his best, few locks in world rugby can rival his athleticism or his feel for the game. Snyman brings both intimidation and creativity, whether he\u2019s rumbling forward in support or pulling off audacious offloads under pressure.<\/p>\n Back to full prominence on the global stage, \u201cThe Viking\u201d remains one of rugby\u2019s most striking and unforgettable figures.<\/p>\n 8. Handr\u00e9 Pollard | Leicester Tigers | FloRugby World No. 32<\/p>\n Handre Pollard has spent more than a decade as the Springboks\u2019 calming force at fly half, a playmaker whose poise and r\u00e9sum\u00e9 place him among South Africa\u2019s greatest.<\/p>\n A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, he has been the steady presence guiding the team through its most pressure-filled moments.<\/p>\n His accuracy from the tee has defined entire tournaments. Pollard topped the scoring charts at the 2019 World Cup and delivered every one of South Africa\u2019s points in the nail-biting 12\u201311 win against New Zealand in the 2023 final. With more than 770 points in test rugby, he sits second on the nation\u2019s all-time scoring list.<\/p>\n TRY | Handre Pollard | Min 80<\/p>\n Signed, sealed and delivered! Handre Pollard puts the gloss on a powerful Springbok performance with the final try of the match! #RSAvGEO<\/a> #Springboks<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OBm74CtDkn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FloRugby (@FloRugby) July 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Pollard\u2019s professional journey began with the Blue Bulls and later took him to Montpellier, NTT Docomo and Leicester, where he played a central role in the club\u2019s Premiership push. In 2025, he returned to Pretoria for a new chapter with the Bulls in the URC.<\/p>\n Before his rise to senior level, he already had star credentials: a Junior World Championship title and the honor of World Rugby Junior Player of the Year.<\/p>\n Across every step of his career, Pollard has combined tactical control, physical presence and a steady temperament, making him one of the most dependable big-game performers South Africa has ever produced.<\/p>\n 7. Damian de Allende | Saitama Wild Knights | FloRugby World No. 26<\/p>\n In a team filled with flash and flair, Damian de Allende is the engine room that keeps the Springboks moving forward.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old inside center has become one of South Africa\u2019s most reliable competitors, known for his toughness, defensive bite and willingness to take on the heaviest collisions.<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t chase highlights. Instead, he pounds over the gainline, snuffs out attacking threats and slips in the understated passes that help unlock bigger moments for others. His game is built on sacrifice, and the Boks have benefited from it for more than 85 tests.<\/p>\n Japan holds a special place in the heart of Damian de Allende and the experienced #Springboks<\/a> centre is very excited to line up against some of his club teammates in London on Saturday – more here: https:\/\/t.co\/lwfjT2vCXk<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 \u2014 Springboks (@Springboks) October 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n A two-time Rugby World Cup champion, de Allende has personified the physical style that has come to define South African rugby. He may operate out of the spotlight, but he is central to many of the team\u2019s defining victories.<\/p>\n His time across clubs\u2014from Munster to Japan and back\u2014has only refined the edges of an already complete game.<\/p>\n In an age where backline players often dazzle, de Allende supplies something rarer: unshakeable reliability, unselfish work and the steel that championship sides depend on.<\/p>\n 6. Damian Willemse | DHL Stormers | FloRugby World No. 23 Damian Willemse has become one of the Springboks\u2019 most dynamic weapons, a backline player whose mix of skill and adaptability gives South Africa options few teams can match.<\/p>\n Capable of starting at fullback, fly half or center, the Stormers playmaker sees the field with uncommon clarity. His athleticism and composure allow him to shift roles without losing impact, whether he\u2019s directing traffic, counterattacking or breaking defensive lines.<\/p>\n At 27, he already owns two Rugby World Cup titles, making him the youngest player ever to earn that distinction. It\u2019s a remarkable arc for someone who stepped straight into professional rugby from Paul Roos Gymnasium and quickly grew into a fixture for both the Stormers and the national side.<\/p>\n Willemse\u2019s versatility shapes how the Boks construct their bench and approach tactical shifts, and his ability to create opportunities from broken play makes him dangerous no matter where he lines up.<\/p>\n Away from rugby, he puts considerable energy into community and environmental work in his hometown of Strand, reflecting a purpose that stretches well beyond the field.<\/p>\n With his game still evolving, it\u2019s not hard to imagine him chasing a third World Cup medal by 2027.<\/p>\n 5. Jesse Kriel | Canon Eagles | FloRugby World No. 19<\/p>\n Few players reflect perseverance quite like Jesse Kriel. Long before he became a mainstay of the Springboks midfield, he was a promising schoolboy talent out of Maritzburg College, tipped for big things alongside his twin brother, Dan. Only three years after graduating, he was wearing the green and gold.<\/p>\n More than 85 caps later, Kriel has experienced nearly everything the sport can offer. He has celebrated two Rugby World Cup titles, endured stretches out of the starting lineup and faced the frustration of seeing his jersey pass to Lukhanyo Am during Am\u2019s rise.<\/p>\n Test match Rugby \ud83d\ude0d\ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 @Springboks<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/roKEymHqgc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jesse Kriel (@JesseKriel15) June 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n That ability to absorb setbacks and come back stronger has shaped his path. When opportunity opened at the 2023 World Cup after Am\u2019s injury, Kriel stepped in without hesitation and delivered a tournament so consistent he kept the role through the Boks\u2019 march to the trophy.<\/p>\n A decade into his test career, he remains a reliable presence for both South Africa and Japan\u2019s Canon Eagles, producing steady performances with little demand for spotlight.<\/p>\n Kriel may not always be the loudest name attached to Springboks success, but his dependability and competitiveness make him the type of player championship teams are built on\u2014even if not everyone notices it.<\/p>\n 4. Ox Nch\u00e9 | Hollywoodbets Sharks | FloRugby World No. 15<\/p>\n Ox Nch\u00e9 has become the foundation of South Africa\u2019s dominant scrum, a loosehead prop whose command of the set piece has played a central role in the Springboks\u2019 rise.<\/p>\n Built on equal parts force and technique, the Hollywoodbets Sharks front-rower has grown into one of the premier scrummagers in the sport. His reputation didn\u2019t arrive overnight. Nch\u00e9 spent his early years refining his game in the Varsity Cup system, age-grade internationals and domestic competitions, sharpening the craft that now defines him.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude0d Ox Nch\u00e9\u2026 His URC Top 100 card upgrade incoming \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n Dominant scrums? \u2714\ufe0f \u2014 Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Since stepping into test rugby, he has given the Boks the kind of stability every power-based attack relies on, locking down his side of the scrum and giving the pack a platform to dominate.<\/p>\n With nearly 50 caps, his influence goes well past the set piece. His surprising mobility, relentless work rate and grounded personality have earned him widespread respect.<\/p>\n Now firmly established as South Africa\u2019s first-choice No. 1, Nch\u00e9 has already carved out a place in Springbok lore while continuing to build a career worthy of the green and gold.<\/p>\n 3. Eben Etzebeth | Hollywoodbets Sharks | FloRugby World No. 10<\/p>\n Eben Etzebeth has spent more than a decade embodying the edge and intensity that define South African rugby. Few players have shaped the Springboks\u2019 identity as completely as he has.<\/p>\n Now in his 14th season at test level, the veteran lock sits atop South Africa\u2019s caps list and carries two Rugby World Cup titles, achievements that reflect both longevity and dominance.<\/p>\n Although he no longer plays with the same burst he showed early in his career, his command of the set piece, imposing physical presence and steady leadership keep him central to the Boks\u2019 plans. When matches tighten and momentum swings by inches, Etzebeth is frequently the one who steadies the side or delivers the moment that matters.<\/p>\n His influence stretches to club rugby as well, highlighted by the Sharks\u2019 2024 Challenge Cup victory and another strong Springboks push through the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n All eyes on Eben Etzebeth as he\u2019s set to break the South Africa Rugby caps record \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n \ud835\uddd9\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddd9\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude01: This legend is hard to miss at 6\u20198\u201d \u2014 that\u2019s as tall as 6 Springboks pic.twitter.com\/LKeF8oMhJb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FloRugby (@FloRugby) September 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n Since making his debut in 2012, he has been the anchor of South Africa\u2019s engine room, known for winning aerial battles, punishing ball carriers and bringing an unmistakable intensity to every confrontation.<\/p>\n At 33, he remains a towering figure in every sense\u2014still shaping matches, still setting standards and still adding to a legacy that has already secured his place among the game\u2019s great locks.<\/p>\n 2. Cheslin Kolbe | Tokyo Sungoliath | FloRugby World No. 5 Cheslin Kolbe has built a career out of rewriting expectations. One of the smallest men on any pitch, he\u2019s nonetheless become one of rugby\u2019s most explosive and decorated figures\u2014a player whose presence can tilt the sport\u2019s biggest matches.<\/p>\n Before he was a global superstar in Japan with Tokyo Sungoliath, Kolbe collected silverware everywhere he went: Olympic bronze with the Blitzboks, two Rugby World Cup crowns with South Africa, and a cabinet full of French titles including the Top 14, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.<\/p>\n His international rise began in 2018, and since then he has scored 18 tries in 40 tests\u2014numbers made even more remarkable by how he scores them. Kolbe plays with a mix of courage, sharp instincts, and footwork so sudden it borders on illusion.<\/p>\n Versatility is part of his mystique. Whether stationed on the wing, sweeping from fullback, stepping in at fly-half, or covering scrumhalf, he brings the same sense of danger. Opponents prepare for him; few manage to contain him.<\/p>\n Cheslin Kolbe finishes off a stunning try to take the Springboks twenty points clear off Los Pumas at half-time!#TRC2024<\/a> #TheRugbyChampionship<\/a> #RSAvARG<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OiERKDQmx7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FloRugby (@FloRugby) September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n For all the medals and accolades, what endures is the way he changes a match: darting through gaps others don\u2019t see, finishing chances that seem to vanish, creating chaos from positions where most players simply settle.<\/p>\n Now one of the world\u2019s top earners, Kolbe continues to captivate crowds in Japan\u2014still the magician, still the relentless competitor, still proving that size has never been the measure of his game.<\/p>\n 1. Pieter-Steph du Toit | Toyota Verblitz | FloRugby World No. 3 Pieter-Steph du Toit\u2019s reputation has been carved through grit, recovery and a level of consistency few forwards have ever matched. Long considered one of the defining players of his era, he has turned setbacks into fuel for a career that continues to shape South African rugby.<\/p>\n Despite a history of serious injuries, the Springboks stalwart has built a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that places him among the sport\u2019s greats. He owns two World Rugby Player of the Year awards (2019 and 2024) and two Rugby World Cup medals, achievements that trace back to his relentless presence in the Bok pack. Even at 32, while competing in Japan for Toyota Verblitz, he remains central to South Africa\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n His influence was never clearer than in the 2023 World Cup final, where he delivered a staggering 28 tackles in a match that secured another title and cemented the Boks\u2019 run of dominance. The following season only strengthened his standing as he helped win 9 of 10 tests and added another Rugby Championship triumph.<\/p>\n Pieter-Steph Du Toit raises the roof once again with his second try of the match! \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6#TheRugbyChampionship<\/a> #RSAvARG<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FKb0XGRoz4<\/a><\/p>\n
The Test will be broadcast live on @SSRugby<\/a> \ud83c\udfa5\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/mmBxpdklUc<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/668ed32980785.png\")
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Offloads? \u2714\ufe0f
Now\u2026 kicks?! \ud83d\udc5f\ud83d\udca5@Vodacom<\/a> #URC<\/a> | #EDIvSHA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MjqD3mmore<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/66e47af72e300.png\")
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