Top of the Boks: South Africa's three best players in 2021
It’s that time of the year again when we start to reflect on the past year. After not playing a single Test in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Springboks were back in full force this year and they had to hit the ground running – with British and Irish Lions being a monstrous challenge first up.
After a warm-up against Georgia, the Springboks recorded a 2-1 series victory. It can be viewed as 3-1 if you consider the SA ‘A’ team’s win over the B&I Lions – a game many billed as an unofficial fourth Test.
In the Rugby Championship, the Boks only won three of their six Tests.
However, they played most of the tournament in Australia and Bok fans will tell you their dramatic 31-29 win over the All Blacks in the final game proves they were the best team all along.
Jacques Nienaber’s side was an almost unstoppable force with a massive pack during the end-of-year series.
They recorded wins against Wales and Scotland, before they were edged in the closing minutes against England in that final game.
But we are not here to discuss overall performances.
We are going to look at a few standout individuals in 2021.
Below are three players who were a cut above the rest with their performances this year:
EBEN ETZEBETH
The Springboks have become unaccustomed to injustices and one of the biggest of them all was Etzebeth not being nominated for World Rugby’s Player of the Year.
He was an enforcer who delivered aggression and physicality. He was someone the Boks relied on to instil fear into their opponents.
Etzebeth’s work rate in Tests this year almost went unrivalled and it was in all facets of the game where he made his presence felt.
He terrorized opponents in the line-outs with his competing and stealing and he was a menace at the rucks as well.
More often than not he was the one pressurising the opponents’ scrumhalves around the rucks with his big frame.
The 30-year-old was the go-to man when it came to getting over the gainline. His performance in the win over Scotland is a testament to this as he had more carries than anyone on the field.
He followed that up with another strong performance against England a week later.
His aggression on defence was another feature of his game that stood out. It seemed there were a few players on the opposing team left dazed and confused when he bashed into them.
He was certainly a key player in many of South Africa’s wins this year.
SIYA KOLISI
It’s probably a bit of a cliche, but he led by example this year.
In previous years, Kolisi was often criticised for disappearing in games or not getting into the thick of things when it mattered.
However, the same could not be said about his performances this year.
It was his play with the ball in hand that caught the eye.
Tears of joy from Siya Kolisi at full time as Springboks pull off thrilling late win over All Blacks ? #RSAvNZR pic.twitter.com/1Lt1eFMvYu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2021
He was dynamic. Like Etzebeth, he was a hard man to bring down when he ran into opponents, but he also used his vision to probe gaps, which was devastating for opponents due to his size and speed.
His passing and offloading abilities in the tackle was also on full display this season.
Like many of the players in the Bok squad, Kolisi was highly physical in the rucks and on a few occasions, he used his sheer power to wrestle possession back for his team.
Dominance in the tackle was another key feature of his performances. Sometimes on his own or with the help of others, he drove opponents back and was he was often back on his feet quickly to make a contribution in the next phase.
It’s all about commitment and consistency on the international stage and Kolisi showed plenty of it.
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE
It’s probably safe to say he is the best No.12 in the world.
The Springboks love a big bruiser in the midfield and De Allende fits that mould.
If it’s not one of the heavies in the pack getting over the gainline, then it’s the former Stormers centre fulfilling that role and he does it well.
He has phenomenal leg strength, which helps help drive through a tackle and that is complemented by his raw upper body strength.
Now that's what you call a test match ? #AllBlacks #Springboks pic.twitter.com/CJYRRnc1bX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2021
One advantage of having such a strong presence in the backline is the ability to draw defenders, which leaves some space for wings on the wider channels.
An example of this was De Allende’s neat pass to Makazole Mapimpi for a try in the win over Scotland.
That raw power also allows De Allende to be an asset at ruck time, where he has won many turnovers for his team.
He is an important cog in a Springbok machine that relies on physical dominance to subdue opponents.
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments