The 2024 Rugby Championship signed off with an epic final round beginning with a thrilling Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington and ending with a record celebrating day in Mbombela where the Springboks were crowned champions.
As the dust settles we have put together our Team of the Week for the final round of what has been the most competitive edition of the Rugby Championship in history.
15 Will Jordan (New Zealand): Admittedly it is brutal to leave the incredible Aphelele Fassi out of the side but it was the All Black’s best performance at full-back on the Test scene. Jordan scored a lovely solo try – the kind he scores when he is at his best. More time in the saddle and the Crusaders man could become an outstanding Test full-back.
14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): It was a vintage performance from the great wing. The Springbok worked hard to get his hands on the ball as much as he could and unleashed his trademark sidestep to good effect in his try but was also good value in adding a try assist. One of the best in the game right now.
Springboks crowned 2024 Rugby Championship winners for the first time since 2019
13 Jesse Kriel (South Africa): The baseline level of performance for the outside centre is through the roof, it is hard to think of when he last had a bad game. Kriel offers heaps of athleticism on both sides of the ball, very rarely making errors, and once again he was blockbuster. The Springbok turned 30 this year but has made it clear that he is only tightening his grip on that 13 shirt.
12 Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand): Jordie Barrett out, no problem for the All Blacks as Lienert-Brown had a stormer complete with two try assists. An exceptional player no matter the number on his back. He keeps out arguably the world’s form 12, Damian de Allende, underlining just how well the All Black played.
11 Caleb Clarke (New Zealand): The bulky wing has grown into the tournament and was at his brutal best on Saturday. His pace and power in the wide channels make him a nightmare to defend and he seems to have added some security to the All Blacks back-three. Kurt-Lee Arendse was on song as he always is.
10 Manie Libbok (South Africa): It must be said that Rassie Erasmus’ decision to throw Libbok in the deep end was a masterclass. As features editor Jared Wright said in his Bok ratings, the fly-half looked liberated without the kicking responsibilities and offered probably the most comprehensive showing of what Tony Brown’s attacking system can look like. Hats off to Libbok for winning over some hearts after a tough week in the media. Elsewhere Beauden Barrett answered any questions about the All Blacks 10 shirt while Tomas Albornoz was a stand-out yet again in the blue and white.
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9 Jaden Hendrikse (South Africa): The Springboks have had the luxury of using several scrum-halves in the tournament and this one’s was one of the best outings yet. Hendrikse was always busy whether it was making himself a nuisance or running the attack expertly with Libbok or even kicking at goal. His trump card against his scrum-half colleagues in South Africa is his remarkable ability to read the game on attack specifically.
Power pack
8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand): While Jasper Wiese had another strong Test, it is always hard to look past the reigning World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year. Savea’s influence and work rate on both sides of the ball was unmatched in Wellington and he gets the nod from us as a result.
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7 Fraser McReight (Australia): Another good performance from the openside who has clearly started maturing into a world-class player. He scored a try and emptied the tank, getting one over centurion Sam Cane. Inspirational Springbok Siya Kolisi deserves mention for yet another shift of high quality.
6 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa): We are running out of superlatives for a man who just never stops. For so long the tireless Springbok was renowned for his defence and now, without compromising that, has added elevated attacking prowess into his game. He scored two tries while covering every blade of grass in Mbombela, easily in the conversation for world’s best. Los Pumas star Juan Martin Gonzalez stood out as he always does, as did the impressive Wallace Sititi for New Zealand.
*NB: In South Africa the blindside flank wears number seven whereas the vast majority of the rest of the world wears six. This is why Du Toit is named at six in our side.
5 Ruan Nortje (South Africa): Talk about taking your chance and running. Nortje is yet again in the Team of the Week after an improved lineout performance this time out. Always busy on both sides of the ball and he gets in ahead of All Black Tupou Vaa’i.
4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): Sport has a habit of being romantic and boy it was for the legendary second-row’s big day as he became the most capped Springbok ever. Etzebeth had a brilliant outing where he worked his socks off and imposed himself on the game wherever he could. An icon and a true great of rugby union. What a player.
3 Frans Malherbe (South Africa): As one would expect, normal service resumed with the tighthead this week as he demolished Thomas Gallo in the scrums and went about his work with very little fuss.
2 Codie Taylor (New Zealand): Dynamic, powerful and measured go a long way in describing another good Test from the hooker. He is easily the first choice for his country and his industry gets him selected ahead of Boks pair Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx who both had a strong shift.
1 Ox Nche (South Africa): Absolute bulldozer. We knew Nche was a world-class prop but his game is growing with every Test it seems. It is frightening to think that there is no clear ceiling for the superstar who is only starting to come into maturity in prop terms.
READ MORE: Springboks v Argentina: Five takeaways as Boks provide the ‘fireworks’ for ‘Eben Etzebeth’s party’ to clinch the Rugby Championship