‘Sorry Pieter-Steph du Toit’ – Springboks greats pick their World Rugby Player of the Year in ‘bloody hard’ decision

Springboks legend Schalk Burger is backing Cheslin Kolbe for the honour of being named men’s XVs World Rugby Player of the Year.

The speedster is one of three Boks who have been nominated for the award, alongside Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

South Africa make up 75 per cent of the nominees, with Ireland captain Caelan Doris the only non-Springbok in the group.

Rassie Erasmus’ men have been rewarded for their excellent year, which has followed on from their Rugby World Cup triumph in 2023.

Superb season

They claimed the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019 and have lost just two matches in 2024 – to Argentina and Ireland – with a struggling Wales to come.

A number of their players could have been shortlisted, with prop Ox Nche perhaps the most unfortunate, but Burger believes that Kolbe has been the standout this year.

“They’re all so exceptional but I’m almost leaning towards Cheslin. It’s bloody hard, you don’t want to pick between them and it’s almost better if there’s only one South African,” he said on the Boks Office podcast.

“We’ve been the exceptional side in the world this year. We’ve still got to play Wales but I’m comfortable we’re going to pitch up and finish the year strong.

“Cheslin’s probably going to be the one, although any one of the three [could] get it.”

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Fellow Springboks great Jean de Villiers hopes that it will be between Kolbe and Etzebeth given that the other South African nominee, Du Toit, won it back in 2019.

“I’m almost saying I want it to be a race between Cheslin and Eben, purely because Pieter-Steph has won it before, so I want another South African on there, so sorry Pieter-Steph, even though he’s been phenomenal,” the former centre said.

“He’s a phenomenal rugby player and this year he’s been amazing.

“Cheslin, with his ability to score tries and be the player that he is, and Eben reaching that milestone of most capped player for South Africa [have been standouts].”

Breakthrough player

There could well be double delight for the Boks when the men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year is announced with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu among the nominees.

He will compete for the award with Wallace Sititi, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Jamie Osborne when the ceremony takes place on November 24.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a fine start to the Rugby Championship, helping Erasmus’ side to victories over the Wallabies and All Blacks, but Burger feels that the playmaker has been usurped by Sititi.

“I’ve loved everything Sacha has done this year, but Wallace Sititi has been immense. Coming to South Africa, getting your first start, so he’s been incredible,” he added.