FILE - The Springboks celebrate after winning the Rugby Championship.The South Africans can reclaim in the No 1 ranking in the world from Ireland this weekend. The Springboks celebrate after winning the Rugby Championship.The South Africans can reclaim in the No 1 ranking in the world from Ireland.
Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Springbok stars dominate a new list ranking the Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players in 2024, with five players in the top 10 and 18 overall - more than any other nation - following the publication of the highly anticipated list, compiled by the rugby news site, RugbyPass.
The list itself has been curated by a selection of RugbyPass’ journalists in locations all over the world - covering both the northern and southern hemispheres - and is also informed by the latest Opta data.
Despite the Springboks featuring heavily in the top ten, the top spot has been taken by French star, Antoine Dupont. The talismanic scrum half, with 55 international caps, has been at the heart of recent successes for France and his club team, Toulouse. Dupont also recently helped his nation win Gold in the Rugby Sevens at this year’s Paris Olympic Games.
Winger, Cheslin Kolbe narrowly missed out to Dupont, placing second. His World Cup-winning teammate, Pieter-Steph du Toit is ranked third with Eben Etzebeth in fourth place. Fellow lock, RG Snyman is in sixth place with prop, Ox Nche, in tenth.
South Africa's wing Cheslin Kolbe takes a selfie with supporters after South Africa won the Rugby Championship Test match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg Cheslin Kolbe takes a selfie with supporters after South Africa won the Rugby Championship Test match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Other Springboks making the list are: Kurt-Lee Arendse (19), Damien de Allende (22), Handre Pollard (27), Malcolm Marx (36), Siya Kolisi (39), Kwagga Smith (40), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (47), Frans Malherbe (51), Jesse Kriel (63), Damian Willemse (73), Manie Libbok (87), Jasper Wiese (91), Bongi Mbonambi (98).
The world champions also have the highest share of players (18), followed by New Zealand (17), and Ireland (14). France saw 11 players represented. Elsewhere, other nations represented include England (8), Argentina (7), Australia (7), Scotland (7), Italy (4), Fiji (4), Wales (3) and Georgia (1).
Former Springbok star, Jean De Villiers, has shared his views on the rankings and his nation dominating the list.
Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit with his second World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year prize during the 2024 World Rugby Awards ceremony.
Image: AFP
He said: “It’s so good to see so many South Africans in the top 10. But then again, we are quite a competitive nation. We love to see our players and our team at number one and we don’t like it if we’re not there.
“You’ve got Cheslin at two, Pieter-Steph at three, and Eben at four. So three South Africans in the top four but none at number one. Then having Pieter-Steph du Toit being ‘World Player of the Year’ this year, but only being third choice in terms of this list. It’s a tough one in that sense.
“Cheslin Kolbe has fulfilled the role of a hooker at times, of a nine at times, he’s done his job as a winger, and managed to win a Quarter-Final in the World Cup against France, all by doing something that is actually not part of his role as a winger. The ‘X Factor’ is certainly there and you could have easily put Cheslin at number one.
De Villiers believes that some stars deserve to be placed higher on the list. He said: “Thomas Ramos only came in at 74? He’s one of those consistent players for the French team whether he's at 15 or 10. Cam Roigard [72] will be a mainstay next year for the All Blacks and we’ll see him far higher up. Garry Ringrose [71], again has such consistency for Ireland.
“I think Mack Hansen at 97 seems harsh. He does have the ability to really create out of nothing. So, probably would've seen him higher up. Bongi Mbonambi at 98? I would also not like to see him so low down. Then Courtney Lawes [92] as a retired player making the list - that's quite impressive! Going through it all, it’s so difficult to say that anyone should not be there. To even move them around is almost an impossible task.
“The one name I might mention is Grant Williams from South Africa, not making the 100 at all. Even though South Africa’s got 17 players in the top 100, we didn't see a nine. We have been rotating our nines, but I think Grant Williams has had a massive impact this year and from an individual point of view he’s a quality player as well
Looking ahead, De Villiers picks out some players to watch who he believes will rise in the rankings over the next year. He said: “I think Louis Bielle-Biarrey [58] will certainly move up with more opportunities, I think he will become a superstar. You don’t see much of Damian Penaud [13] and we didn't see him at all in the Autumn Nation Series, but there he is and he's a fantastic player.
“From a South African point of view, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is getting his opportunity and is really staking a claim there but there's a guy called Handre Pollard who won't let that position go.
“Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i [68] has taken rugby union by storm. He seems like he has all the qualities to be a real superstar in a position that is extremely difficult at 13. I’m hoping that he can stay fit, go to the Lions next year and be the spark that Australia needs.”
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