All Blacks, Springboks Double World Cup Winning Best XV

The most dominant rugby dynasty in history was achieved by the All Blacks from their 33-6 victory over Australia on September 19, 2009, to their 29-40 defeat against Ireland in Chicago on November 9, 2016. In that span, the All Blacks won the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups undefeated and won 88 of 97 Test matches.

Since 2019, the Springboks have won the Rugby World Cup twice and an impressive 59 of 72 Tests. In the same span, the All Blacks have won 64 of 91.

South Africa revolutionised the sport with their powerful front-row substitutions, a strategy known as the “Bomb Squad.” In their last 12 Rugby World Cup games, the Springboks outscored opponents 143-24 in the last 20 minutes. In their three single-point victories in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, South Africa didn’t concede a point in the last twenty minutes.

The Springboks mirrored that dominance in the last quarter, maintaining their world number one ranking in 2024 and 2025. In the last twenty minutes of 27 Tests during this period, South Africa outscored opponents 355-119. That dominance has been less obvious in 2026, but the Springboks continue to win important matches.

But who would make a combined All Blacks-Springboks double Rugby World Cup-winning team?

15. Israel Dagg (All Blacks)

Though he missed selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Dagg’s prodigious boot, supreme aerial skills, and unpredictable counterattack made him one of the great All Blacks fullbacks, losing just four times in 66 Tests.

He scored a freakish try beating multiple defenders with little space against the Springboks in Wellington in 2010. Who could forget his winner to ruin John Smith’s 100th Test in Soweto later that year?

His form at the 2011 Rugby World Cup was imperious. His semi-final display in the 20-6 win against the formidable Wallabies at Eden Park was as good as any by an All Black in a World Cup match.

In 2013, when the All Blacks won all 14 Tests—the first team in the professional era to win every Test in a calendar year—Dagg started 13 times.

Record against Springboks: 10-2, 6 tries

14. Ben Smith (All Blacks)

Nicknamed “Ben from Accounts” for his unassuming, enduring reliability, Smith was as comfortable on the wing as at fullback.

A six-time winner of the Rugby Championship, Smith missed Rugby World Cup selection in 2011 but returned strongly in 2012, appearing in 10 Tests.

In 2013, he was the only player to appear in all 14 wins and was nominated for the World Rugby and New Zealand Player of the Year. He scored a record eight tries in the Rugby Championship, including three in a man-of-the-match display against Australia in Sydney, two in the return fixture in Wellington, and a key try in a 38-27 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park.

Smith started six of seven matches in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup win in 2015 and scored 40 tries in 84 Tests.

Record against Springboks: 9-2-1, 5 tries

13. Conrad Smith (All Blacks)

Astute, nimble, durable, Conrad Smith formed one half of rugby’s greatest midfield combination with powerhouse Ma’a Nonu. Together, the pair started a record 62 Tests and enjoyed 54 wins, including the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup finals. Smith was 15-0 in Rugby World Cup matches.

When Smith retired in 2015, he had started a record 90 of 94 Test matches at centre. With a qualification of 70 Tests, only Sean Fitzpatrick was a more frequent starter with 91 starts in 92 Test matches.

A winner of 84 Tests, the New Zealand Rugby Almanack named Smith in their annual XV of the year for ten consecutive seasons from 2006 to 2015, with Smith acknowledged as one of five Players of the Year by the official record in 2009 and 2011.

Record against Springboks: 14-4, 4 tries

12. Ma’a Nonu (All Blacks)

Still playing at age 44, no second five-eighth has been more consistently damaging than Nonu. He took a while to find his feet in international rugby but once established was one of the most feared talents in the game.

His break in Soweto in 2010 against the Springboks set up the famous Israel Dagg try. Nonu was part of nine wins in a row against the Springboks.

Nonu was 16-0 at the Rugby World Cup. His 40m solo try against Australia in the 2015 final, won 34-17 by the All Blacks at Twickenham, was the most exhilarating scored by an individual in any decider.

In 2010 and 2015, Nonu was named one of five Players of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Almanack. In his last eight seasons as an All Black, Nonu appeared in 84 of a possible 109 Tests.

Record against Springboks: 13-4, 3 tries

11. Cheslin Kolbe (Springboks) 

A freakish talent who can affect a game in multiple ways: unpredictable, blistering counterattack, goal-kicking, or pressure on defence as a superb kick-chase exponent.

Kolbe scored a vital try for the Springboks in their 36-34 win against the All Blacks in Wellington in 2018, which represented a turning point for South Africa. His try in the dismantling of England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final (32-12) was pure joy.

He scored two tries in the Springboks’ biggest-ever win against the All Blacks, 43-10 in Wellington in 2025, and booted 18 points in the series-tying second Test of the Greatest Rivalry Series in Cape Town.

Has won 40 of his 53 Tests and scored 22 tries.

Though Julian Savea scored 46 tries in 54 All Blacks Tests, winning 48 of them, he scored only once in seven Tests (six won) against South Africa. A devastating runner, he wasn’t as complete a winger as Kolbe or Smith.

Record against the All Blacks: 7-5-1, 56 points

10. Daniel Carter (All Blacks) 

The most complete back to play the game, he won 99 of 112 Tests and scored a world record 1598 points. A dashing running ten in his early years, he overcame injury to become a masterful tactician and facilitator. At one stage, he won seven Tests in a row against the Springboks.

Record against Springboks: 14-5, 255 points (record)

9. Aaron Smith (All Blacks)

Burst 9. Aaron Smith (All Blacks) – Burst onto the scene with a spectacular try to help win a tight Test 21-11 against the Springboks in Dunedin in 2012. Alongside Daniel Carter, who retired after the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, he won 19 and drew one of 21 Tests played with DC.

Smith had the best pass of any All Black halfback, was lethal with his probing runs and could play more defensively. He had a try in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final ruled out. He won 100 of 125 Tests.

An honorable mention to Faf De Klerk, who started two Rugby World Cup finals in 2019 and 2023 and mastered the box kick. A fine competitor, he was not as complete as Smith.

Record against Springboks: 13-6-1, 5 tries

8. Kieran Read (All Blacks)

Only Richie McCaw led the All Blacks more often than Kieran Read, who won 43 of his 52 Tests as captain. His run of 19 consecutive victories as All Blacks captain from 2012 to 2016 is a record.

Produced an absolute masterclass in the All Blacks’ famous 38-27 victory against the Springboks at Ellis Park in 2013, a season in which he won the World Rugby Player of the Year award along with his second New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year award. He started two Rugby World Cup finals in 2011 and 2015.

Record against Springboks: 16-5-1, 4 tries

7. Richie McCaw (All Blacks) 

Indisputably the most successful player and captain of the professional era, with a world record 131 wins in 148 Tests, 97 in 110 as captain. McCaw opposed 47 different individual Test captains and beat them all at least once. At retirement, McCaw was involved in 27 per cent of All Blacks Test victories and boosted their overall winning percentage by five per cent, from 71 to 76.

On three occasions (2006, 2009, 2010) McCaw was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year. He was nominated for the accolade in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2012, twice as many times as the next best player, Dan Carter. Siya Kolisi, with 56 wins in 75 Tests as captain, has never been nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award.

Record against Springboks: 20-6, 6 tries

6. Pieter Steph du Toit (Springboks)

Rassie Erasmus was initially lukewarm about du Toit, suggesting he ran too upright as a ball carrier, slipped out of too many tackles, and mistook his quiet, nonchalant demeanour for a lack of caring.

Two World Rugby Player of the Year awards later, du Toit is one of 11 Springboks to have played 100 Tests and was involved in all eight of the Springboks’ wins in the last ten Tests against the All Blacks, a best-ever run. With 28 tackles, du Toit was also named man of the match in the Springboks’ 12-11 win against the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

Du Toit covers lock and the entire back row and edges Jerome Kaino for a place in the team based on his versatility. Kaino was man of the match when the All Blacks blanked the Springboks 19-0 in 2008. He was man of the match in the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final against Australia but criticised his own performance in the final. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa, he scored a 25m try in a 20-18 win. With McCaw and Read, Kaino was part of a loose forward trio that won 35 of their 42 Tests starting together.

Record against All Blacks: 10-10-1, 2 tries

5. Sam Whitelock (All Blacks) 

The most-capped All Black of all time with 153 Tests, winning 125 times and playing four Rugby World Cups. His locking combination with Brodie Retallick finished with a world-record 64 Test starts together and a record of 54 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws.

Whitelock’s lineout steal to deny the Springboks a late attacking chance in the 20-18 Rugby World Cup semi-final victory in 2015 is the stuff of legend.

Whitelock is the youngest and fastest rugby international to achieve 100 Tests. He was the 2017 New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year.

Record against Springboks: 17-6-1, 2 tries

4. Brodie Retallick (All Blacks)

Won his first ten Tests in a row against South Africa. Who could forget his 2013 try at Eden Park, sprinting 25 metres after surging through the initial line. In 2014, aged 23, he won the World Rugby Player of the Year award, becoming the youngest player to receive it.  Nicknamed Guzzler for his relentless appetite for work.

Record against Springboks: 12-2-1, 2 tries

3. Frans Malherbe (Springboks)

In an era of the revolutionary Bomb squad, where the Springboks developed a front row just as powerful as starters on the bench and frequently mixed their minutes for maximum impact, the first name on the team sheet was still Frans Malherbe. The redoubtable Western Stormers tighthead started 63 of a possible 76 Tests, achieving 54 wins including the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals.

Having more than held his own in the narrow 20-18 Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat in 2015, Malherbe was present from the outset of Rassie Erasmus’ reign as Springboks coach in 2017, a vital cog in what became the world’s most fearsome scrum. Has won his last four consecutive Tests against the All Blacks, including the 35-7 dismantling at Twickenham in 2023.

A tough omission for All Black Owen Franks, who survived three consecutive beatings by the Springboks in 2009 to anchor Rugby World Cup-winning scrums in 2011 and 2015. Franks won 91 of his 108 Tests.

Record v All Blacks: 6-6-1

2. Malcolm Marx (Springboks)

A force of nature as either a starter or off the bench, his performance in the recent 29-24 win against the All Blacks in Soweto was a masterclass of hooker play. Have the All Blacks ever conceded a rolling maul try from 30 meters out?

A dead-eye thrower, an ultimate tackle jackler, and a scorer of a world-record 28 tries for a hooker, seven of those against the All Blacks, Marx is getting better with age. He was named World Rugby Player of the Year last year and is a strong candidate for 2026.

Marx’s impact off the bench in the 2019 Rugby World Cup was a vital part of South Africa’s groundbreaking route to success. He is arguably South Africa’s most important player at present.

A tough omission for Dane Coles, who started the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and won 74 of his 90 Tests. Coles revolutionised the hooker role with a high-skilled running game on the flank, but for sheer intimidation factor, Marx gets the nod.

Record v All Blacks: 10-10-1, 8 tries

1. Ox Nche (Springboks)

“Salads don’t win scrums,” the monster Sharks prop once famously quipped, but they do win Test matches. Nche saved South Africa’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign with a powerhouse display from the bench against England when down 15-6 in the semi-final. He has terrorised the All Blacks in his 52 Test career, including an unheard-of scrum penalty try in Soweto. His 9 wins in 12 matches is the highest percentage by any player against New Zealand with more than five Tests.

A tough non-selection for Tony Woodcock, the first All Blacks prop to play 100 Tests and scorer of the All Blacks’ solitary try in their 2011 Rugby World Cup final win against France (8-7) at Eden Park.

Record v All Blacks: 9-3