CONRAD JANTJES
15 Christian Cullen: One of my idols growing up. The first time I played against him, I tackled him and told him, ‘Yes, I got you’, which was a bit embarrassing.
14 Tonderai Chavhanga: One of the quickest players I have ever played with and against. Watching him run was a thing of beauty.
13 Jaque Fourie: The ultimate team man. Never a dull moment with him around. He always made things happen on attack and defence.
12 Japie Mulder: Hard as nails. He knew how to get you up for a game. He showed me it’s OK to have a ‘chat’ with the opposition on the field.
11 Jonah Lomu: I don’t have to say much about the human wrecking ball. The first time I played against him was at a sevens tournament as a 19-year-old.
10 Jonny Wilkinson: A fullback’s nightmare. He could kick equally well off both feet. I never felt I was in position against him because he would always find space.
09 George Gregan: I got to play against him when I was starting out. He taught me about mental strength. He loved having ‘chats’ on the rugby field. A good guy off the field, too.
08 Jerry Collins: The Grim Reaper. If I was running at Jerry, I would say the Lord’s Prayer. I felt each and every hit.
07 Richie McCaw: A real pest (in the nicest way). You always had to be on the lookout for him. A bloody good man.
06 Schalk Burger: A terror on the field and one of the nicest guys off it. He could do everything, make a monster hit and kick a 30-metre torpedo.
05 Victor Matfield: With him in my team, I would be calling a backline move knowing there’s a good chance of us stealing the opposition lineout.
04 Bakkies Botha: Hated playing against him, but loved having him in my team. Playing against the Bulls, I would put my head in the ruck hoping Bakkies wasn’t near. He once taught me about art on a day off in Scotland.
03 CJ van der Linde: One of the quickest props around during my time. I watched in awe as he ran 50m plus against the Crusaders.
02 John Smit (c): My captain. He always knew what to say to get the best out of me.
01 Os du Randt: Besides doing his job in the scrums, he would be all over the field in general play.
AARON SMITH
15 Ben Smith: Mr Calm. Fearless in attack and defence and massive work rate.
14 Shane Williams: Speed kills and add his foot work! Changed the game.
13 Brian O’Driscoll: Just had it all! Speed, power, vision.
12 Ma’a Nonu: The complete 12. Power mixed with skill. Big-game player.
11 Jonah Lomu: A superstar. And what he did at the 1995 World Cup no one will forget.
10 Dan Carter: The perfect 10.
09 Fourie du Preez: My favourite player growing up. Best halfback of all time.
08 Duane Vermeulen: His nickname is Thor. Enough said!
07 Richie McCaw: The GOAT.
06 Thierry Dusautoir: Tough, strong and a beast over the ball.
05 Victor Matfield: Lineout guru, good ball-carrier and leadership.
04 Brodie Retallick: Tough, competes for everything. High skill player with massive rugby IQ. Deadly mix.
03 Carl Hayman: Big man who moved well and owned the set piece.
02 Bismarck du Plessis: Beast! Could ball-carry, offload, big hits and jackal.
01 Tony Woodcock: World-class prop, could do it all.
JOEL STRANSKY
15 Christian Cullen: He had unbelievable pace and was a devastating counter-attacker.
14 David Campese: Could make the odd horrendous mistake, but was a game-breaker.
13 Danie Gerber: Silky running skills and pace were unadulterated entertainment.
12 Tim Horan: He was a clever player with the physical attributes to execute to perfection. Great reader of the game.
11 Jonah Lomu: He was completely destructive as a ball-carrier and the first real superstar of rugby.
10 Dan Carter: Most complete flyhalf to have played the game. His all-round prowess set him apart.
09 Joost van der Westhuizen: Not the best scrumhalf technically, but an excellent attacker and aggressive defender.
08 Zinzan Brooke: Any No 8 who kicks a drop goal in a World Cup semi-final walks into my team!
07 Richie McCaw: Arguably the greatest player of all time. Peerless leader and dominant presence.
06 Andre Venter: Big, strong man, who performed every dirty job thrust upon him.
05 John Eales: As athletic as any of the locks playing today. Brilliant in the lineout and a leader of men.
04 Martin Johnson: As hard as nails. Had an incredible work ethic and would be the enforcer in my pack.
03 Jason Leonard: Mainly played at loosehead, but as a player and a leader was a huge part of England’s team spirit.
02 Sean Fitzpatrick: My hooker, captain and the referee! A real streetwise player and well respected by everyone.
01 Os du Randt: A great scrummager, real grafter in the tight loose and a great ball-carrier.
MARIUS HURTER
15 André Joubert: The Rolls Royce of fullbacks.
14 Jason Robinson: How quick was this guy!
13 Brian O’Driscoll: ne of the greatest centres of all time.
12 Matt Giteau: Normally when you see a centre with headgear, it is a sign that they are likely to truck the ball up. He is a true gamebreaker.
11 Inga Tuigamala: ‘Inga the winga’ would round off the big hits he put on his opponents with the words ‘God bless you brother’.
10 Jonny Wilkinson: With his quick feet he created a number of opportunities and gave me the ball, but I was a bit slow to take the gaps.
09 Gary Armstrong: Although I struggled to understand a word he said, he was tough as a junkyard dog.
08 Sébastien Chabal: Intimidating and confrontational.
07 André Venter: The fittest rugby player I knew. Hard as nails too.
06 Ruben Kruger: There was no end to his determination.
05 Doddie Weir: A lineout specialist that towered over others.
04 Johan Ackermann: The enforcer. When he warned you, you tended to listen.
03 Olo Brown: Scrummed lower than a lawnmower.
02 Sean Fitzpatrick: A fierce competitor and leader on the field.
01 Heinrich Rogers: When I thought I had him, he lifted the whole scrum with one leg! It looks like his son Robbie is a chip off the old block. I also have lots of respect for Garry Pagel. He scrummed the hell out of me.
03 Carl Hayman: Big man who moved well and owned the set piece.
02 Bismarck du Plessis: Beast! Could ball-carry, offload, big hits and jackal.
01 Tony Woodcock: World-class prop, could do it all.
MARIUS JOUBERT
15 Chris Latham: Great under the high ball and difficult to get hold of when he got going. Could create something out of nothing.
14 Aurelien Rougerie: He was big and strong in stature and one of the go-to-guys if you needed some direction.
13 Brian O’ Driscoll: His centre of gravity made him a well-balanced runner. He was the all-in-one package and you always needed to keep an eye on him.
12 Yannick Jauzion: For me he was the centre of attention – the backline revolved around him with a well-judged offload game.
11 Bryan Habana: Had world-class acceleration and pure pace, surprised all with his ability to finish a try.
10 Dan Carter: Flyhalf maestro, possessed all the attributes a coach needed from his 10. He had control over the game by using the right tactics at the right time.
09 Fourie Du Preez: Quiet but confident. Was influential on the flow of the game and his kicking boot off the base was impressive.
08 Julian Bonnaire: He was a gem of a guy and a No 8 with French flair. He had the ability to read the game and was always well-positioned.
07 Juan Smith: He was a strong ball carrier with a mean hand-off. Tackle low or you get a hand in the face.
06 Schalk Burger: He was dominant in every collision, and it’s even better to have a beer with him.
05 Victor Matfield: Lineout genius. His presence gave many lineout coaches sleepless nights.
04 Bakkies Botha: The physicality he brought to the playing field was something else. His success on the rugby field shows in his trophy cupboard.
03 Davit Zirakashvili: Georgian strongman. Anchored the scrum and his low body position made him a great ball carrier.
02 John Smit: World Cup winning captain. Instrumental in reviving Springbok rugby in the early 2000’s.
01 Os du Randt: Apart from being an exceptional loosehead prop, to come out of retirement and win another World Cup says a lot.
DANIE ROSSOUW
15 Israel Folau: The ultimate modern-day fullback and one of the best rugby players I have seen.
14 Rupeni Caucaunibuca: His speed and power were unbelievable. He would make magic with the ball.
13 Brian O’Driscoll: You need someone with the X factor and he could create something out of nothing.
12 Aaron Mauger: His ability to read the game and create space was special.
11 Nemani Nadolo: Skills, strength, speed, vision – he has it all. Entertainment at its best.
10 Jonny Wilkinson: The ultimate professional. He was just too good not to pick.
09 Fourie du Preez: The bigger the game, the better he played. The best player I competed with in my career.
08 Duane Vermeulen: When Duane was younger, I thought he was quite average but, boy, did he prove me wrong. Mr Consistency.
07 CJ Stander: A modern-day blindside flank who could poach like an opensider, and he was a great ball-carrier, too.
06 George Smith: One of the best openside flanks with a great skill set.
05 Victor Matfield (c): The king of the lineout. He would steal lineouts to win you a game. He was an absolute professional and loves the game of rugby.
04 Bakkies Botha: Bakkies was the enforcer every No 4 lock wants to be.
03 Carl Hayman: I would go to war with this man. He had an unbelievable work rate and was as tough as they come.
02 Bismarck du Plessis: A great scrummager and ball-carrier who acts like an extra loose forward.
01 Andrew Sheridan: He was an English gentleman off the field, but he had no mercy for the opposition tighthead on it.
JOHN DOBSON
15 Serge Blanco: I was too young to appreciate HO de Villiers who, by all accounts, revolutionised fullback play with his attacking style – the way he could hit a line I think changed the role of fullback to a large degree and for a long period they were the game’s most important ‘strikers’.
14 Niel Burger: Given my Western Province bias and impressionable younger years, I’m going with Burger. He probably wouldn’t make it today, in that he probably couldn’t high-line defend and there were no box kicks in his day, but those thighs … unstoppable.
13 Danie Gerber: Again he may have limitations in today’s game, especially in set piece attack and defence. But to be the world’s best when South Africa was isolated from international rugby is just remarkable. I will never forget the commentary of Bill McLaren when the southern hemisphere played the northern hemisphere in 1986, “Gerber to Du Plessis! Du Plessis to Gerber!”… marvellous!
12 Conrad Smith: The inside centre, with the quality of my outside backs, simply has to be a playmaker and I don’t think I’ve seen better than Smith. Other than Christian Stewart, because he’s my friend.
11 Jonah Lomu: The best attacking wing of all time. Between Jonah and Neil, defenders will certainly have to strap their shoulders. I was tempted to choose Carel du Plessis but I managed to resist my bias.
10 Dan Carter: Easy and obvious.
09 Fourie du Preez: In the old days coaches talked about the scrumhalf “getting the backs away”. It’s very different now in how the No 9 must drive the other 14 players forward and Fourie gets my vote because of what he did for his pack of forwards.
08 Kieran Read: A lot of this depends on which eras you played. If you look at Zinzan Brook and Buck Shelford, only 10 years apart and so different, but which would suit today’s rugby? The roles of the No 8 have ebbed and flowed in physicality versus playmaking. You couldn’t get more different than Mark Andrews in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final and his Springbok predecessor Dugald Macdonald in 1974. My best? Kieran Read.
07 Gert Smal: Gert gave me a job! That aside, I saw him score the greatest try I’ve ever seen while playing in Potchefstroom. He caught a ball pinned against the touchline in his own half with 15 opposition players in front of him and scored under the poles. Big. Fast. Aggressive.
06 Rob Louw: The bias continues! Rob changed the traditional role of an openside flanker with creative play. He was a forward who could link, and he stood for a lot of things. Rob was forerunner to Michael Jones, who I rate as the best loose forward of all time, but he didn’t break the mould and he didn’t play for Western Province.
05 Victor Matfield: Like Du Preez, Victor is picked for what he could do to a pack of forwards, in terms of their standards, and ability to go forward.
04 Bakkies Botha: Boring, I know, but what a combination!
03 Carl Hayman: The complete tighthead prop in build, technique and temperament. And skilled. He just pips Hempies du Toit for me!
02 Uli Schmidt: I know he was only 90kg but Uli took the ‘fourth loose forward’ role to a new dimension long before it was very fashionable. Incredibly skilled and overly aggressive. Sorry James.
01 Os du Randt: The best.
TONDERAI CHAVANGHA
15 Israel Folau: King of the skies. It is unfair how he beats his man in the air.
14 Bryan Habana: The best wing to put on a Bok jersey. Bryan was a lethal finisher. His ability to turn on the gas from a standing start made it incredibly difficult to mark him.
13 Tana Umaga: He was well respected by his peers. Incredibly physical and had a low error rate despite being an X-factor player.
12 Jean de Villiers: Jean was just such an intelligent rugby player that always created opportunities for his players.
11 Joe Rokocoko: Joe weighed over 100kg but had blistering speed and a mean step. He knew his way to the tryline.
10 Dan Carter: DC was probably one of the most complete rugby players. He had a great running game and nerves of steel.
09 Fourie du Preez: If there is a single Bok player who has been difficult to replace, it is him. His understanding of the game is unmatched.
08 Taulupe Faletau: Probably the most athletic No 8 I have ever seen. He plays like a back, with an efficient tackle count.
07 David Pocock: With Dave it was “your ball is my ball” at the breakdown. He was such a machine.
06 Richie McCaw: One of the greatest the game has ever seen. His reputation as a tackler preceded him so much that he won penalties just by looking at the breakdown.
05 Victor Matfield: Vic was supreme in the lineout. His ability to know where the opposition would throw made him an asset for any team.
04 Bakkies Botha: Bakkies was born to hurt people on the field. But he was also a great lineout option and carried with purpose.
03 Owen Franks: An absolute anchor at the scrum. Owen is effective at the ruck and gets around the park.
02 Schalk Brits: Had Schalla been Australian or a Kiwi, he would have played over 50 Tests. Devastating with ball in hand and a menace at the breakdown.
01 Tendai Mtawarira: Incredible scrummager with a ridiculous work rate. Always made yards and never missed a tackle.
BREYTON PAULSE
15 Christian Cullen: Had the finesse and instinct of the perfect rugby player, absolutely magical on all fronts!
14 Dougie Howlett: Speed galore and a lethal finisher!
13 Jacque Fourie: A master on defence and a man who could take an outside gap like the traditional, classic No 13s.
12 Tim Horan: A centre with the smoothest of hands who could effortlessly put players into gaps.
11 Jonah Lomu: The big man had it all, pace, power and he was a skill machine.
10 Dan Carter: A general who bossed games the way he wanted, individual brilliance at its finest.
09 Fourie du Preez: A silent architect who demanded obedience from his forwards and a man who did his talking on the field, such a calm and influential player!
08 Bob Skinstad: Changed the role of No 8s for his generation with skill and innovation, and kept pushing boundaries all the time with new ideas on the field. He played with pizzazz!
07 Richie McCaw: Leadership personified, a menace on the field and a leader who always got the best out of his players!
06 Schalk Burger: A man who put his body on the line week in and week out, had a brutal approach with some soft touches now and again. Monstrous.
05 Martin Johnson: A no-nonsense leader and physical beast who liked the tough stuff.
04 Bakkies Botha: Enforcer who imposed himself with grit and physical dominance.
03 Cobus Visagie: Man loved scrumming and hitting rucks, also a good student of the game!
02 John Smit: Inspirational captain who let the men around him express themselves. Helluva motivator.
01 Os du Randt: Athlete and work rate of an Ox so to speak, doesn’t shy away from the dark places where the “tighties” go into.
