Over the years, the Springboks have been blessed to be able to call on the services of some remarkable athletes in the all-important openside flank role.

It’s no easy to task to rank the greatest three, but here are our podium picks, having considered players from all generations.

TOP THREE SPRINGBOK OPENSIDE FLANKS OF ALL TIME

1 Schalk Burger

The ultimate Springbok dynamo, Burger was a generational talent who had the ability to feature across all three back row positions, while he often popped up in the backline in open play – such was his speed and skill.

Yet, there is no doubt that Burger made his biggest impact when wearing the Springbok No 6 jersey, regularly displaying the sort of dynamism and cutting-edge impact that set him apart as a world rugby great over an unforgettable 86-cap career.

There will surely never be another player like Burger, and he most certainly deserves to slot in at the top of this list.

2 Siya Kolisi

From Francois Pienaar to Siya Kolisi, the Springbok No 6 jersey has become synonymous with iconic players and leaders, and the current national captain will certainly leave the jersey in a better place when he eventually hangs up his bots.

Kolisi currently sits at the top of the all-time list for starts as a Springbok flank, and by the time he retires, that record may stand the test of time.

The abrasive flanker has often said he feels like ‘super man’ in the Springbok jersey, and there can be no debate about the impact he has made on the national team, both on and off the field. In the current golden generation of Springboks, he has become virtually irreplaceable, with his legacy already well established as an all-time great.

3 Ruben Kruger

When it comes to powerhouse players from the past, you can’t really look beyond Kruger, who will be well remembered for his contribution in the 1995 World Cup team, where he was an integral part of the side that swept South Africa to the William Webb Ellis trophy at Ellis Park.

He was one of the hardest and most consistent rugby players in the history of South African rugby, and if it were not for injuries that disrupted the latter parts of his career, there is no doubt the hard-as-nails loose forward would have played far more than 38 Tests.

Kruger tragically passed away at the age of 39, but he lives on in the memory of all rugby fans who had the privilege of watching the so-called ‘silent assassin’ in action.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS RANKING?

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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/ranked-three-greatest-springbok-openside-flanks/