If there is to be the greatest Springbok XV since 1995, then it is only fitting that we start at the best part of the team - the front row.
While some may doubt this, this is the area where games are won and lost, where teams showcase their physical dominance and where the big men get to practice their dark arts.
The front row is the core of the pack of forwards and the number one jersey has that number on it for a reason. The loosehead prop is the first name on the team-sheet, and someone who can set the tone for any game, or change it for that matter.
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So when it comes to looking at the top five candidates for our Greatest Springbok XV, these are heavyweights of the game. Big boys who know how to scrum, but who all have that bit of X-factor that have made them legends of the game.
Your candidates are as follows:
Os du Randt (1994-2007 Springboks)
There are few players who have had such an illustrious and long career as the man known as Os. A behemoth of a player, standing officially at 1.90m and 135kg, the Elliot farmer is a name known worldwide for his rugby prowess.
Du Randt made his debut for the Springboks in 1994 during a 42-22 victory over Argentina and was a key man in the Springboks historic victory in 1995, starting the final at loosehead prop. Du Randt continued to be a key member of the Boks in the following years, and was named by Rugby World magazine as the second-best loosehead of all time in 1999.
However in 2000, he started struggling with injuries that forced him to retire.. After being on the sidelines for three years, an invitation from Rassie Erasmus to return to rugby for the Cheetahs enticed him back into the game and a year later he was recalled to the Springbok side under Jake White and was a key part of their resurgence.
Du Randt featured in the 2007 World Cup winning squad and became the first player to win two World Cups - although they were 12 years apart. When he retired in 2000 he was the third-most capped Springbok and after he returned, went on to be the most-capped player with 80 tests, which has since been passed by others.
A giant in stature and on the field, Os retired after the 2007 World Cup final, a double World Cup winner and a legend in the game.
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Steven Kitshoff (2016-2024 Springboks)
It is hard to miss Steven Kitshoff on a rugby field. The fiery ginger hair and the baby face are rarities in the modern game, and Kitshoff was just as rare in terms of talent. The Spicy Plum, as he was named by his team-mates, made his name as early as 2011 when he was selected by Western Province while still just a teenager.
Kitshoff played SA under-20 and nailed down the Stormers starting role at loosehead from 2012 onwards, but was only selected for the Springboks four years later, and at that time was playing for French club Bordeaux.
Kitshoff really came into his own when current Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus took over the reins in 2018 and was part of the powerhouse front row that dominated in both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup victories for the Springboks.
A strong leader on the field, he led the Stormers to their 2022 Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory and played the last of his 83 caps in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, after which injury made him miss the entire 2024 season.
Kitshoff also has a British and Irish Lions series victory behind his name and is the second most capped Springbok prop behind Tendai Mtawarira.
He also boasts the second highest number of starts in a Springbok front row with Frans Malherbe and Malcolm Marx (17 Tests) – trailing record holders of Mtawarira, and brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, by three Tests.
He also has a World Rugby U20 Championship gold medal with the Junior Boks in 2012.
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Tendai Mtawarira (2008-2019 Springboks)
One of the most explosive players ever to wear the number one jersey, the former Zimbabwean-born flanker first came to prominence for the Sharks, where his strong scrummaging, as well as his prowess with the ball and ability to get around the park, became his strength that elevated him to the Bok squad.
Mtawarira - who was affectionately nicknamed “Beast” by fans and who would hear the chants of his name whenever he carried the ball, is widely seen as one of the legends of the game and even elicited a congratulatory phone call on his 100th cap from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
One test that will always be in the memory of fans is the 2009 first test against the British and Irish Lions in Durban where Mtawarira destroyed Phil Vickery and set the platform for the Boks to win that game. Vickery was substituted after 45 minutes and Mtawarira won the man of the match award.
Mtawarira played his 100th test against England in 2018 and overcame a neck injury which made him miss the 2018 tour of Europe. He started for the Springboks in the 2019 World Cup and was particularly devastating in his scrumming in the final, helping the Boks to victory over England. He retired after the final.
Mtawarira also holds the SA record for most Super Rugby caps with 160.
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Ox Nche (2018-present Springboks)
It may be strange to see Nche’s name already on this list as he still has a large part of his career ahead of him. The de facto successor to Mtawarira when he retired in 2019, Nche quickly established himself as a leading loosehead who devastated opposition scrums with his power in the setpiece.
Well-known for his massive smile and his motto that “salads don’t win scrums” Nche is widely regarded as the strongest loosehead in the game and has a World Cup title to back it up.
The loosehead made a game-changing appearance in the World Cup semifinal in 2023 against England from the bench and won penalties that allowed the Springboks to sneak home by a single point.
His form in 2024 was particularly devastating and it was a travesty that he wasn’t named as one of the nominees for the World Player of the year, especially as he had an exceptional season.
Nche’s best days are likely still to come and we are sure there will be many more accolades in his future.
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Gurthro Steenkamp (2004-2014 Springboks)
One of the unsung heroes of Springbok rugby, Gurthro Steenkamp was a strong scrummager who found his way around the field and was surprisingly mobile. The 2010 SA Rugby Player of the year made his debut for the Springboks in late 2004 against Scotland and became a fixture in the team with consistently high-quality performances for the Springboks.
His strong scrumming performance against the Wallabies at Ellis Park in 2005 is well-remembered and he was on course that year for a massive season before a broken hand curtailed his involvement for the rest of the year.
Strong performances for the Bulls in 2006 and 2007 made him an easy choice for the Boks and behind Du Randt, Steenkamp was the next loosehead in line when the selection was made for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Steenkamp continued to perform at a high standard and while he may have been slightly overshadowed by Du Randt and Mtawarira, would still have walked into any international team around the world.
Nowadays he is known as a top scrum coach who has worked with the Champions’ Cup winning sides of La Rochelle and Toulouse.
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