We’re one week away from the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and the SARugbymag.co.za hails the best blindside flankers to represent the Springboks in tournament history.
Ruben Kruger
A two-time World Cup campaigner known for his dogged work rate and durability, Kruger’s most impressive period in the Bok jersey – which he wore in 36 Tests between 1993 and 1999 – came in his five matches during the historic 1995 campaign.
Against Australia in the opening game, his hard tackling and resilience came to the fore, while in the knockout stages he delivered three all-round performances.
In the rain-affected semi-final against France, Kruger scored a crucial try, and in the final he tackled like a man possessed and carried strongly against the much-fancied All Blacks. After lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, SA rugby’s ‘Silent Assassin’ would go on to become the SA Rugby Player of the Year.
He died in 2010 from brain cancer, aged 39.
Juan Smith
Dubbed ‘The Sheriff’, Smith was renowned for laying down the law in the tight loose. A tireless worker during his seven-year Test tenure, Smith was an invaluable member of Jake White’s World Cup-winning squad, the towering flanker scoring four tries as the Boks reclaimed the trophy in 2007.
Smith made his tournament debut in the 2003 edition, where played four matches and scored a try.
Quiet and unassuming off the field, his demeanour contrasted with his physicality on it, and his lineout pedigree was second to none. A series of Achilles problems looked to have cut short his career, but the 70-Test Smith made a shock return to the Bok side during the 2012 Rugby Championship before injury finally forced him into retirement a year later.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Du Toit has overcome injury setbacks and misconceptions to become one of the Boks’ most indispensable players under the current coaching regime and an invaluable member to their title defence in his third World Cup appearance.
He was one of the Boks’ standout performers in a largely forgettable 2016 season, and was subsequently acknowledged with the SA Rugby Player of the Year.
Yet, Rassie Eramsus’ initial evaluation of the No 7 bruiser was that he was poor defensively, missed a lot of tackles and ran too upright as a ball-carrier. But Du Toit proved him wrong during a dominant 2018 Test season and after winning the 2019 World Cup, he was named World Player of the Year.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.Photosport.nz/BackpagePix