The Chosen: Ranking the 50 Greatest Springboks of All Time
The third edition of The Chosen ranks the 50 greatest Springboks since South Africa played their first Test in 1891. The book, written by journalist-turned-SA Rugby administrator Andy Colquhoun and the late Paul Dobson, acknowledges the difficulty of comparing players across different eras.
How do the rankings compare across editions?
The latest rankings differ substantially from the 2011 second edition, which reflected the achievements of the John Smit era. That edition included Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith and Percy Montgomery.
Making room for those players meant dropping names such as Gary Teichmann, Mark Andrews, Ruben Kruger and Francois Pienaar. The 2026 edition brings the rankings up to date with the current generation, including Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Handré Pollard and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
How do the authors compare players from different eras?
The authors explain in the introduction that they adopted the view that a great player of any era transplanted to another would have been as great in his new era if exposed to the same advantages and disadvantages of the time. They also drew on extensive reading of first-hand accounts of performances to assess the greatness of players whose careers unfolded long before the modern game.
How does the book address South Africa's rugby history?
The authors do not shy away from the reality that for much of the country's rugby history, access to Springbok selection was denied to the majority of its population. The book dedicates a chapter to outstanding black players of the pre-unity era, acknowledging a history that any honest account of Springbok rugby must confront.
Who is ranked as the greatest Springbok of all time?
Danie Gerber has been consistently ranked as the greatest Springbok of all time across all three editions. The dashing centre scored 24 tries in 19 Tests during the 1980s.
Readers will have their own views, and the rankings are certain to provoke arguments. The real pleasure of The Chosen lies in the stories behind the names. With 50 chapters devoted to 50 remarkable players, the book offers a wealth of fascinating anecdotes and insights into the characters who shaped Springbok rugby.
One of the memorable stories is that of Barry Heatlie, the imposing lock who captained South Africa to their first Test victory over Britain in 1896. Heatlie had worn the green jersey of his Cape Town rugby club, Old Diocesans, and the colour would go on to become synonymous with the Springboks.
The rankings will inevitably be disputed. The stories, however, are the real treasure.
The Chosen is published by Don Nelson and is available at leading bookstores.