Historic November tour: Is this Springbok team the greatest in rugby history?
The historic November tour of the Springbok team, marked by victories over top nations and a first win in Dublin in 13 years, has sparked debates about whether they are the greatest rugby side in history, rivalling the 2023, 2019, 2007, and 1995 World Cup teams. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP
Image: Paul Faith/AFP
With no disrespect to Wales still lying ahead in the final fixture, what this Springboks team has achieved on their November tour has been truly historic, prompting talk of comparisons with the greatest ever sides to have appeared in the green and gold.
Naturally, it’s a purely subjective exercise, but it’s one worth undertaking.
In one season, this Rassie Erasmus-led Springbok side has won a second successive Rugby Championship title, beaten top opposition, top-tier nation France with 14 men for half the game, and achieved a similar feat with a more experimental side against Italy a week later.
Then, to top it all off, South Africa physically dominated Ireland in their 24-13 victory— for their first win in Dublin in 13 years.
Evaluating the Greatest Springbok Side: A Comparison with 2023, 2019, 2007, and 1995 World Cup Teams
Where does that then leave this Springbok side in terms of greatest ever?
For starters, they must be compared with the 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning team. Of course, many of the players who lifted the Webb Ellis trophy are still in the side.
That 2023 side, though, won a second successive Rugby World Cup title, which was also a first in Springbok history.
Whether the 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning side achieved more is debatable, as that too fielded a core of the same players in their lineup, like Eben Etzebeth, captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, and Cheslin Kolbe.
Then there are the 2007 and 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning sides, but they did not go on to dominate like this current Springbok side has.
The fact that South Africa beat Ireland on their home turf cannot be understated, and given that this Springbok side has continued to maintain an incredible level not just since 2023 but since 2019 as well, it gets my vote for best-ever.
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