There is one thing that has always been guaranteed when the Springboks play, and that is a fiercely physical battle for any opponent.
It’s another almost impossible task to try and rank the most physical Springbok players of all time, but here is who we think would have to be in the top three.
THREE MOST PHYSICAL SPRINGBOKS OF ALL TIME
1 Bakkies Botha
There can surely be no arguments here. Botha was regarded as one of the most physically intimidating rugby players of all time, with the powerful lock often proving to be a nightmare for any opponent.
Botha always declared his love for the rough stuff, although sometimes this did lead to blurred lines between serving as an effective enforcer and compromising the team cause through ill-discipline.
What can’t be questioned, though, is his unrelenting commitment to the Springbok cause as one of the most physical and fearsome locks in the history of the game.
2 Schalk Burger
A Springbok super hero. Burger was a physical weapon, and one of his best mates, Fourie du Preez, can attest to this after being on the receiving end of one of the most powerful tackles of all time.
Burger was just an absolute machine, with a remarkable work ethic, and what set him apart was his incredibly fearless approach to ever physical battle.
In the modern Springbok era, Rassie Erasmus loves to celebrate ‘warriors’, and none really come close to someone like Burger. Simple as that.
3 Eben Etzebeth
The successor to Bakkies in many ways, there is simply no way that Etzebeth could be omitted from this list.
A brutal and brilliant player, Etzebeth is one of the most physically intimidating players to have ever donned the green and gold, with the towering lock remaining revered and feared throughout world rugby.
Never one to shy away from any confrontation, Etzebeth is a man mountain who is renowned for his physicality, strength and tendency to make massive weights in the gym look like nothing more than feathers.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS RANKING?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
