4. André Joubert
Nicknamed “The Rolls-Royce” for his elegant running style, André Joubert remains one of South Africa’s most admired backs.
A key figure in the Springboks’ famous 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, Joubert possessed immense class and composure. However, his legendary status sometimes sees him ranked ahead of more complete modern players who faced tougher professional-era competition.
That isn’t a criticism of Joubert’s ability, merely an acknowledgement of how highly he is often rated.
Quirky fact: Joubert scored one of the most famous tries in Springbok history against England at Twickenham in 1994.
3. Schalk Burger
Schalk Burger was everything South African rugby fans love in a forward.
Aggressive, relentless and fiercely competitive, he won World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004 and played a major role in South Africa’s 2007 World Cup success.
The argument for Burger appearing on this list is simple: some supporters rank him as the greatest Springbok flanker ever. While he was undoubtedly elite, there are strong cases for Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi and Juan Smith being equally influential figures.
Quirky fact: Burger won the 2004 World Rugby Player of the Year award at just 21 years old.