The Springboks defended their Rugby World Cup crown in 2023. But do you know the 10 players who started the final in 2019 in Japan and the 2023 final in Paris?
Springboks survivors from 2019 to 2023
Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe are the men in question. It points to a seriously impressive level of continuity that 66.6% of those who started in Yokohama also started in the showpiece four years later in the French capital.
PSDT was an animal
Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2023 showpiece. To put that absurd number into some type of context, the previous record for tackles made by one player in a Rugby World Cup final was 18 by Richie McCaw back in 2011. To eclipse that mark by 10 is a monumental effort. Collectively, the Springboks made 208 tackles in the final, the most ever in a knockout match at the RWC World Cup.
Rugby World Cup Hall of Fame
The William Webb Ellis trophy isn’t for everyone. Here’s the honours roll of all champions and the team they vanquished that year.
- 1987: New Zealand beat France
- 1991: Australia beat England
- 1995: South Africa beat New Zealand
- 1999: Australia beat France
- 2003: England beat Australia
- 2007: South Africa beat England
- 2011: New Zealand beat France
- 2015: New Zealand beat Australia
- 2019: South Africa beat England
- 2023: South Africa beat New Zealand
Rassie took the Boks back from the brink
Who is your favourite player ever to represent the Springboks?
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/10-elite-springboks-started-the-2019-and-2023-rugby-world-cup-finals/
