Here are the SuperSport team's top ten moments that won the Springboks the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
LIBBOK NO-LOOK PASS TO ARENDSE AGAINST SCOTLAND
If ever there was a moment that Manie Libbok could have announced himself on the world stage, it was here. The no-look kick pass caught Scotland off-guard, flummoxed the defence and caused them to waver just enough so that the pinpoint kick could find a flying Kurt-Lee Arendse, who went in for the try. It was the moment that Libbok answered his critics and announced to the world that he was a genuine test player.
REINACH 20-MINUTE HAT-TRICK AGAINST ROMANIA
The owner of the fastest hat-trick in a Rugby World Cup - Cobus Reinach - added a second hat-trick against a poor Romanian side - this one the second fastest in Rugby World Cup history and showed just how much depth the Boks have among their halfbacks.
MAPIMPI MATCHES REINACH AGAINST ROMANIA
There was so much talk of the old warrior - Makazole Mapimpi - after the arrival in the squad of young turks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie that his hat-trick was a firm reminder of just how exceptional he is. The veteran had tricks up his sleeve and while his World Cup didn’t last long, he made an indelible impression on a lot of Springbok fans.
KICKING MASTERCLASS AGAINST TONGA
With so much pressure on Libbok after the arrival of Handre Pollard, there was a lot of speculation on just how the Boks would handle the two flyhalves, especially as Libbok had struggled with his kicking. Pollard delivered a kicking masterclass, slotting four kicks to get the Boks rolling and then Libbok appeared and put over three tricky conversions to give them a full house on the kicking stats
KOLBE CHARGES DOWN RAMOS' CONVERSION
A moment that was debated over and over again, and in the end made a telling difference to the result. Cheslin Kolbe did the unthinkable and charged down Thomas Ramos’ conversion in the quarterfinal against France. It was a moment that came out of nowhere and stunned everybody. Afterwards it was suggested that he started early, and the debate raged, but the charge was checked by the TMO and remains a magical moment that helped the Boks oust the World Cup hosts.
POLLARD COOL AS ICE LATE ON AGAINST FRANCE
Ice in the veins - Handre Pollard’s 100 percent record at the Rugby World Cup continued with a magnificent penalty against France, one that turned the tide in South Africa’s favour from 50 metres out. It was a moment that saw the Boks through by a single-point into the semifinal, and showed why the Bok pivot was so crucial in his late arrival in the tournament.
FAF'S LAST-MINUTE STEAL AGAINST FRANCE
With France heavily on the attack and desperate to make up the one point deficit, the smallest man on the field fronted up to France’s forward pack as they rumbled upfield, ripping the ball and ending the game, sending the host nation into mourning and Springbok fans into rapture.
POLLARD CONVERTS AFTER MASSIVE SCRUM PENALTY AGAINST ENGLAND
For 70-odd minutes the Springboks were losing the battle to a tactically superior England. Then Ox Nche came on and everything changed. Four scrum penalties changed the tide, and the fifth, which ultimately was the crucial one with time almost up, came as Vincent Koch forced Ellis Genge onto his knee, winning the penalty in a much-debated decision.
And after that it was no surprise that Pollard stepped up and delivered an 50-metre bomb to send South Africa into the final.
ARENDSE'S LAST DITCH TACKLE ON IOANE
Down 12-3 but on attack, New Zealand’s ascendancy looked to end in a try as they had the Boks firmly on the back foot, and when Rieko Ioane got the ball, it was a foot race with the smallest Bok winger chasing him. Kurt-Lee Arendse showed his heart is double his stature as he made a massive tackle, not only stopping the try but causing Ioane to lose the ball in the process.
PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT TACKLING MASTERCLASS IN THE FINAL
Is there anything that Pieter-Steph du Toit can’t do? The man is a machine. He hunted down every All Black - and especially Jordie Barrett on a night where he was everywhere. When 12-14 tackles a game is accepted worldwide as a high standard, his 28 was out of this world.
The former World Player of the year deserved the man of the match award with his tackle count being the joint most by any player in a Rugby World Cup match and the most by any player in a men’s final, overtaking the 18 made by Richie McCaw against France in 2011.Â