The people have cast their votes and the verdict is in. After a meticulous and passionate selection process spanning several months, the Springboks Dream Team has been decisively chosen, celebrating three decades since South Africa's iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory. SuperSport spearheaded this initiative, allowing fans to pick their ultimate Bok squad, position by position, culminating in a lineup that blends the old guard with new legends.
Surprisingly, the Dream Team features no World Cup-winning captains. Icons such as Francois Pienaar, John Smit, and Siya Kolisi were all overlooked, with fans favoring other stars in their positions. The final team showcases a predominant presence from the 2007 World Cup squad, with eight players, while the recent 2019 and 2023 champions contribute seven.
Percy Montgomery clinched the full-back position, edging out competitors like Andre Joubert and Willie Le Roux. His inclusion rounds out a backline that includes the electrifying Bryan Habana on the left wing and Cheslin Kolbe on the right, with Handre Pollard steering the ship at fly-half. The midfield partnership of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie was preferred, setting a formidable center pairing.
The forwards are just as stacked with talent. Duane Vermeulen takes the number eight jersey, flanked by Pieter-Steph du Toit and Schalk Burger. The tight five is anchored by Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield in the second row, with Os du Randt, Malcolm Marx, and Frans Malherbe forming a formidable front row.
"The selection of Fourie du Preez at scrum-half certainly won't settle the debate about the greatest Bok ever, especially with Joost van der Westerhuizen also in the running,"
Os du Randt stands out as the lone representative from the victorious 1995 team, underlining the shift towards more recent World Cup successes in fan preferences. The bench features a mix of raw power and strategic flair, with players like Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, and Siya Kolisi ready to make an impact.
Final XV Springboks Dream Team: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Os du Randt. Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Joost van der Westerhuizen, 23 Damian Willemse.
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The people have cast their votes and the verdict is in. After a meticulous and passionate selection process spanning several months, the Springboks Dream Team has been decisively chosen, celebrating three decades since South Africa's iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory. SuperSport spearheaded this initiative, allowing fans to pick their ultimate Bok squad, position by position, culminating in a lineup that blends the old guard with new legends.
Surprisingly, the Dream Team features no World Cup-winning captains. Icons such as Francois Pienaar, John Smit, and Siya Kolisi were all overlooked, with fans favoring other stars in their positions. The final team showcases a predominant presence from the 2007 World Cup squad, with eight players, while the recent 2019 and 2023 champions contribute seven.
Percy Montgomery clinched the full-back position, edging out competitors like Andre Joubert and Willie Le Roux. His inclusion rounds out a backline that includes the electrifying Bryan Habana on the left wing and Cheslin Kolbe on the right, with Handre Pollard steering the ship at fly-half. The midfield partnership of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie was preferred, setting a formidable center pairing.
The forwards are just as stacked with talent. Duane Vermeulen takes the number eight jersey, flanked by Pieter-Steph du Toit and Schalk Burger. The tight five is anchored by Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield in the second row, with Os du Randt, Malcolm Marx, and Frans Malherbe forming a formidable front row.
"The selection of Fourie du Preez at scrum-half certainly won't settle the debate about the greatest Bok ever, especially with Joost van der Westerhuizen also in the running,"
Os du Randt stands out as the lone representative from the victorious 1995 team, underlining the shift towards more recent World Cup successes in fan preferences. The bench features a mix of raw power and strategic flair, with players like Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, and Siya Kolisi ready to make an impact.
Final XV Springboks Dream Team: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Os du Randt. Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Joost van der Westerhuizen, 23 Damian Willemse.