2. Steven Kitshoff – South Africa and Stormers (Loosehead Prop)
Honourable Mention: Vincent Koch – South Africa and Stade Francais (Tighthead Prop)
The sole member of South Africa’s formidable front row that makes onto our top five, Steven Kitshoff has been a stalwart of the ultra-competitive Springboks pack since his debut back in 2016. Kitshoff’s first run out in the famous green and gold came against Argentina in the first match of the 2016 Rugby Championship. The loosehead prop came off the bench in his first appearance, for the legendary ‘Boks prop Tendai Mtawarira.
Kitshoff had to bide his time before ‘The Beast’ would pass him the torch, along with his long possessed number one jersey. The new era began to dawn in South Africa’s front row in the 2019 Rugby Championship, with Kitshoff making his first competitive start for the Springboks against the All Blacks. This pre-luded the Springboks’ triumphant 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, with Kitshoff the understudy to Mtawarira, in his final run of test match rugby.
Kitshoff had already accrued 40 test caps ahead of the trip to Japan, and came off the bench just three minutes into the second half of the Rugby World Cup Final. His explosivity duly suited Rassie Erasamus’ bomb squad, with Kitshoff’s patience rewarded with promotion into the Springbok’s starting XV once Mtawarira hung up his boots as World Champion. Kitshoff entered a power struggle for the vacant jersey against Ox Nche, with favour swayed to the Stormers man after outstanding performances against the 2021 British and Irish Lions.
Kitshoff was an integral pillar in the series winning Springboks side, and would have loved the opportunity to bask in the adulation of a roaring crowd of green and gold. However, the infamous tour of 2021 was played behind closed doors during the Covid-19 pandemic, with every Kitshoff collision, shunt and carry heard and felt back home, by the fans watching on TV. Kitshoff was not put-off by the empty stadiums, as he also helped his Stormers reach the 2021 Super Rugby Unlocked Final.
The Springbok’s talents then transferred up to the Northern Hemisphere, when the South African clubs were omitted into the new expanded United Rugby Championship competition. With Kitshoff battling valiantly at prop, the Stormers won the inaugural URC season in 2022, and reached the final again the following year. Unfortunately for Kitshoff, Munster got the better of the Stormers in last season’s finale, with retribution on his mind when South Africa clash with Ireland in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup.
3. Ellis Genge – England and Bristol Bears (Loosehead Prop)
When Ellis Genge broke onto the scene in 2014, the hard-hitting Bristolian was destined for greatness. Few could have pinned the Baby Rhino to be England’s next great loosehead, yet the signs were there as he charged around on churned-up turf, when out on loan at Plymouth Albion. When Bristol clawed their way into the Premiership with their new ‘Bears’ branding, Genge began to come into his own, and soon caught the eye of Leicester Tigers, as well as England Head Coach Eddie Jones.
Genge was fast-tracked for an England debut after just one cap for Leicester, with Jones believing in his proven eye for talent. The man who introduced Owen Farrell to Saracens, Jones awarded Genge his first England cap in a 2016 Summer test against Wales at Twickenham. The potential was there for Genge to excel, yet he had to shake his short fuse if he wanted to follow the blueprint on being a match-winning prop. The ‘Baby Rhino’ grew up in front of the Twickenham faithful, as he earned his first test start on the 2017 Summer Tour to Argentina, with Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola away on British Lions duty.
Jones believed in Genge, and the Bristol boy was included in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The experienced old guard of Vunipola and Marler was preferred in the competition’s latter stages, yet Genge did get run-outs in the pool stage wins over the United States and Tonga. Left out of the squad that took home silver medals from Yokohama, Genge pressed on to ensure that he would be first choice loosehead for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Genge’s upwards trajectory followed the desired suit, as he went from strength to strength under Steve Borthwick at Leicester. Under the tutelage of England teammate Dan Cole, Genge learned the intricacies of the scrum, and mastered his art to become the Premiership’s best loosehead prop. Genge surpassed Mako Vunipola to the mantle in the 2021/22 season, as Genge’s Leicester saw off Saracens to win the Premiership title at Twickenham. The 2022/23 season was filled with change at Welford Road, with Borthwick taking the Head Coach role for England, and Genge re-uniting with Kyle Sinckler on his return to Bristol Bears.
Borthwick has bridged the gap into a new era for England’s props, with Genge more than a key man in his squad. The 28-year-old captained his country twice in the 2023 Six Nations, with Borthwick overlapping the experience of Dan Cole and Joe Marler, with new-coming props Will Stuart and Bevan Rodd. Regardless of running out in the number one jersey, Genge has become the first name on Borthwick’s team-sheet. Big things are expected of the Bristol Bears man, who has grown into one of the world’s best scrummagers, and is arguably the best ball-carrying prop in world rugby today.