French flair and Springbok World Cup winners galore in the former South Africa, Stormers and Clermont centre’s team of the best he played with and against.
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.
9 Fourie Du Preez
Quiet but confident. Was influential on the flow of the game and his kicking boot off the base was impressive.
MORE: Joel Stransky’s Perfect XV
8 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.
7 Juan Smith
He was a strong ball carrier with a mean hand-off. Tackle low or you get a hand in the face.
6 Schalk Burger
He was dominant in every collision, and it’s even better to have a beer with him.
5 Victor Matfield
Lineout genius. His presence gave many lineout coaches sleepless nights.
MORE: Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV
4 Bakkies Botha
The physicality he brought to the playing field was something else. His success on the rugby field shows in his trophy cupboard.
3 Davit Zirakashvili
Georgian strongman. Anchored the scrum and his low body position made him a great ball carrier.
2 John Smit
World Cup winning captain. Instrumental in reviving Springbok rugby in the early 2000’s.
1 Os du Randt
Apart from being an exceptional loosehead prop, to come out of retirement and win another World Cup says a lot.
MORE: Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV
