A change in attacking philosophy saw the Springboks dazzle and dot down some stunning tries, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld as he selects the 10 best five-pointers the men in green and gold scored in 2024.
Former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown joined the back-to-back world champions this year and it didn’t take long for his vision and impact to be felt.
While the jury is still out on whether “Tonyball” is the way to go for the Boks or whether they should focus on their traditional strengths of a more direct approach, it certainly shook things up and proved successful results-wise.
South Africa secured their first Rugby Championship title since 2019 and finished the year at the summit of the world rankings after winning 11 of their 13 Tests, doing so while building depth and using an unprecedented 51 players.
Without further ado, here are my top 10 Springbok tries of the season:
10: A Beauty In Bloem
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu created this cracking try for Makazole Mapimpi as he swerved and sliced through the Portuguese defence and sent the winger in for one of his three tries in their historic clash in Bloemfontein.
9: Opening Salvo
The Boks hit the ground running in their season-opener against Wales at Twickenham with Jesse Kriel dotting down their first try of the year after a basketball-like pass from a returning Aphelele Fassi and 1-2 with Makazole Mapimpi.
8: A Beautiful Mind
Only the mad genius that is Rassie Erasmus would be able to come up with this trick play that worked like a charm when Malcolm Marx made way for Cheslin Kolbe to throw into the lineout, from where Siya Kolisi scored a few phases later to leave the All Blacks stunned.
7: Ahead Of The Curve
Always seemingly a step ahead of the rest, veteran visionary Willie le Roux created this beautiful try for Makazole Mapimpi at Murrayfield, the symbiosis between the pair simply special as the winger got on his bike early to run onto his fullback’s perfect chip.
6: Best Of Both Worlds
The power and panache the Boks possess came together to produce this try against England as Damian de Allende smashed through and flung the ball to Man of the Match Cheslin Kolbe, who stepped Ollie Sleightholme and sped in for his second score of the game.
5: The Tony Brown Influence
Brown’s influence on the Boks’ attack was first revealed in the much-anticipated first Test against Ireland at Loftus and led to this flowing five-pointer. Pieter-Steph du Toit had broken down the right and sucked in defenders before offloading inside. The ball was quickly worked to the left where Man of the Match Jesse Kriel and Siya Kolisi played it perfectly and Kurt-Lee Arendse finished off with a stunning step.
4: Kriel Creates A Cracker
The Boks capped off their 33-7 Rugby Championship opening-round rout of the Wallabies with a nugget dished up by Jesse Kriel, who zigzagged through the line and fired a bullet pass to put Kurt-Lee Arendse in for his second try of the afternoon.
3: Thrilling Footy
The Boks turned defence into attack in a flash in the Perth rain, working the ball wide to Makazole Mapimpi, who executed a perfect left-footed grubber for a flying Aphelele Fassi to collect and score.
2: When Skill Meets Determination
Manie Libbok’s delayed flat ball to Aphelele Fassi was sublime, as was the Bok fullback’s long pass to Cheslin Kolbe, who melted Matias Moroni with his hot stepping and spun out of Tomas Albornoz’s attempted tackle to dot down in the Rugby Championship decider.
1: A Thing of Bok Beauty
Damian de Allende’s break created the opportunity but it’s Cheslin Kolbe’s unbelievable drive skill and will to put Aphelele Fassi in for his second try of the night that made this such a magical score against the Pumas in Nelspruit.
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