Springboks end 2024 with almost 85% wins and top of rugby’s world rankings
The Springboks 2024 record saw them win 11 of their 13 tests, with the two losses being one-point nailbiters to Ireland and in Argentina.
South African Minister of sports, arts and culture Gayton Mckenzie gestures as flanker Siya Kolisi (C) lifts the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates after they won the Rugby Championship following their match between South Africa and Argentina at Mbombela Stadium on 28 September 2024. Picture: AFP
JOHANNESBURG - The Springboks illustrated to the world why they are the back-to-back World Cup Champions by ending 2024 with an 84.6% winning percentage and top of rugby’s world rankings.
The Springboks 2024 record saw them win 11 of their 13 tests, with the two losses being 1-point nailbiters to Ireland and Argentina.
The four-time world champs also picked up a first Rugby Championship title in 5 years, before heading to Europe and clean sweeping the year-end tour for the first time since 2013.
It was the start of a new World Cup cycle, with management introducing a new attacking style, blooding new players, and bringing back into the fold some in-form players and missing veterans, such as Faf de Klerk, Damian Willemse, Frans Malherbe, and Steven Kitshoff all struggled with injury.
In total, head Coach Rassie Erasmus used 51 Boks throughout the year, which he believes puts them in good standing.
“What is more important is how those players slot in, and how we didn’t lose momentum, which formerly would’ve been the case. With attack and defence...chopping and changing, I think we did lose rhythm at game at times... and all the other guys that were captains during this year, I think how they pulled the team and stayed together, I think was really important.”
Sascha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's impressive international debut campaign saw him nominated for Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards, while Pieter-Steph du Toit won the World Rugby Player of the Year, ahead of teammates Cheslin Kolbe and Eben Etzebeth.
Etzebeth had his milestone in 2024, as he became the most capped player for the national team in history, breaking the record held by Victor Matfield.