Former England flyhalf Andy Goode has included seven Springboks in his Team of the Year for 2024 and another two on the bench.
Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe and Aphelele Fassi all start in Goode’s backline, with Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit in the pack.
Thomas du Toit and Damian de Allende are on the bench, with Rassie Erasmus the coach.
“South Africa are used to peaking for the sport’s big dance but they’ve kept their form going on this occasion and it’s hard to argue with as many as seven Springboks being included in the starting XV,” Goode wrote in his RugbyPass column.
“Half of my forward pack would be Boks and it’d be a brave man to leave out any of Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ox Nche or Malcolm Marx. The latter may only have started a couple of Tests but we all know about how South Africa utilise their bench and he’s been the standout hooker for me.
“Jesse Kriel’s consistency at outside centre has been a huge factor in their success, Aphelele Fassi has really burst onto the scene with five tries in his eight Tests this year and some would argue it hasn’t been Cheslin Kolbe best year but he’s still been beating people for fun and was outstanding against England.”
Andy Goode’s Team of 2024 – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Will Jordan, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Damian de Allende.
Coach: Rassie Erasmus.
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