The inside centre debate is over - at least for this week. Fans have spoken, and Jean de Villiers has strutted away with the spoils, claiming a commanding 47 per cent of the vote to secure his place in our Springbok Dream Team. When it comes to class, leadership, and that trademark intercept try, Jean clearly still owns the hearts of Bok supporters.
Hot on his heels was Damien de Allende, who grabbed a strong 31 per cent share, proving that modern muscle and midfield magic have their admirers too. The rest of the votes were scattered among other contenders, but let’s be honest - this was always going to be a two-horse race between a legend and a current powerhouse.
Jean’s victory is more than nostalgia; it’s a nod to a player who combined brains and brawn in equal measure. From his debut in 2002 to captaining the Boks at a Rugby World Cup, he was the glue in the green-and-gold backline. Fans didn’t just vote for a name - they voted for memories of silky passes, crunching tackles, and that calm authority under pressure.
So, inside centre is locked in. From tomorrow, we move our attention to the outside centre position. Stay tuned for our list of nominees that will be announced on Tuesday morning.