With the Nations Championship returning this weekend, few nations can rival South Africa in producing world-class back-rows.
The players who play here for the Springboks are the ones who prove to be the difference when the biggest prizes are on the line.
They have enjoyed a generation of exceptional players, from Rugby World Cup winners to modern-day legends who have dominated the international stage.
Here, we rank the five greatest South African back-rowers of all time.
5. Juan Smith
You do feel like, with this list, that you could make the argument for all five of these names, and with that, Smith occupies the fifth position.
The now 45-year-old was a cornerstone of the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup-winning side.
He earned 57 caps in an international career that was defined by being one of the country's most consistent top performers.
The former Toulon player was extremely comfortable putting in the hard yards defensively, and combined this with powerful ball-carrying abilities.
His place amongst the nation's greatest is richly deserved.
4. Siya Kolisi
Few players in world rugby have left a mark quite like Kolisi. He has led his country to successive World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023 and is best suited to do so again in Australia next year.
His contributions to a ‘golden age’ of Springboks go far beyond his leadership. His relentless work rate on both sides of the ball, especially in defence, is matched by his ability to step up again on the biggest of occasions.
Kolisi is still adding to his pretty international legacy with almost 110 caps to his name, and the Stormers player will continue to prove why he’s one of South Africa’s finest.
3. Duane Vermeulen
One of the more towering figures in South African rugby, Vermeulen is a member of the Springboks’ current coaching team after last featuring in the World Cup final against New Zealand in 2023.
He played a vital role in that tournament in France, and also in Japan four years earlier when South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy after putting aside England.
He was also named Player of the Match in this match in Tokyo.
He’s affectionately nicknamed ‘Thor’ for his power as a number eight, and he was renowned for his physicality and tactical intelligence.
His exceptional work around the breakdown made him a nuisance for opposition.
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2. Schalk Burger
We are in a flip of a coin territory in terms of selection for whoever takes the top spot.
Here you can make an argument for both, but Burger takes our second spot. Why? Well, few back-row players embodied the physicality of a rugby international more than Burger did.
After completing his club playing career with Saracens, following a stint in Japan with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, Burger has rightly become one of the defining players of his generation.
The 2007 World Cup winner was renowned for his incredible work rate, brutal tackling, and ability to get over the gain line.
He made a heroic return to rugby after a life-threatening battle with bacterial meningitis in 2013, and the next year he was named World Rugby Player of the Year.
There’s no surprise why so many label Burger as the complete package.
1. Pieter-Steph du Toit
Forget about back-row, forwards, Springboks; du Toit is one of the best players South Africa have ever produced.
With an already Hall of Fame record that includes two World Cup titles and two World Rugby Player of the Year awards, he’s one of the most talented players of the modern era.
The tall back-rower has the stature of a second-rower but all the ingredients and instincts that have made him South Africa’s best-ever in the back-row.
He’s an invaluable asset to the Springboks, covering a lot of ground with hard lines, and his impeccable work defensively makes the Toyota Verblitz player an obvious choice at number one.
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