the only other appearance he would make for the Springboks despite his strong form with the Sharks over the years. At the end of the 2023/24 season, he signed a deal to join French Pro D2 club Brive after making well over 100 appearances for the Sharks.

14 Travis Ismaiel

A talented winger with blistering pace, Travis Ismaiel was one of the try scorers against Wales in what proved to be his only cap for the Springboks. The speedster enjoyed a stint with the Bulls between 2012 and 2019 before signing for Premiership club Harlequins. However, his time in London came to a swift end when he was forced into retirement due to a shoulder injury. He did return to the rugby pitch representing the South African Sevens teams in 2023.

13 Jesse Kriel

Jesse Kriel was the second most capped player to feature against Wales in Erasmus’ first Test match in charge as he earned his 30th cap. Since then, he has continued to be a key player for the Springboks surpassing 70 appearances in Green and Gold that has included winning two Rugby World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series. He and Damian de Allende also broke the record for the most starts as a centre combination for the Springboks. While he was playing for the Bulls at the time of Erasmus’ first game, he left the Pretoria-based side to sign with Japanese club Canon Eagles in 2020 and still represents them now.

12 Andre Esterhuizen

Andre Esterhuizen made his Test debut against Wales in Washington and would earn a further five caps in 2018, quickly becoming a regular in the squad. However, in 2019 he narrowly missed out on the Rugby World Cup squad and left the Sharks in 2020 to sign with Harlequins. He would help Quins win the Premiership for just the second time in their history in his debut season at the club and would be recalled to the Springboks squad in 2022. Esterhuizen cemented his place back in the team from that point onwards and this time cracked the 2023 World Cup squad. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Esterhuizen signed a deal to return to the Sharks after a successful stint with Harlequins.

11 Makazole Mapimpi

Another try-scoring debutant against Wales, Makazole Mapimpi became a crucial cog in Erasmus’ squad particularly in 2019 when he became the first Springboks player to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final. He finished the tournament with an impressive six tries. Mapimpi has become a fan favourite in South Africa after the 2019 tournament in Japan and also scored a try in the crucial second Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2021, starting all three games in the series victory. He did earn a place in the squad for the 2023 World Cup but his tournament was cut short through a facial injury he sustained in the pool stage match against Tonga. He is now nearing on 50 Test caps and continues to represent the Sharks who he joined from the Cheetahs before making his Test debut.

10 Elton Jantjies

One of just six matchday 23 players who had double-digit Test caps, Elton Jantjies became a key player for the Springboks under Erasmus mostly acting as Handre Pollard’s replacement but still started several Test matches. That was until 2022 when he was sent home from the Bok camp after allegations that he was having an affair with the team’s dietician. This came shortly after he was arrested for damaging airline property earlier that year. While he was recalled to the squad when Pollard sustained an injury in 2023, he did not make an appearance or go to the World Cup and in 2024, he was slapped with a four-year doping ban after testing positive for Clenbuterol. He continues to profess his innocence but is still serving his ban.

Powerhouse number eight Dan du Preez earned his fourth Test cap against Wales in Erasmus’ first game in charge with his brother Rob coming off the bench at fly-half. The back-rower and his twin brother Jean-Luc both left the Durban-based Sharks in 2019 to join Premiership club Sale. While always pressing for a recall, at the time of writing Dan has played just six times for the Springboks – the last cap coming in 2021. He does, however, continue to be one of the best number eights in the Premiership and a key cog in the Sale pack.

7 Oupa Mohoje

Oupa Mohoje earned his 19th and final Test cap for the Springboks against Wales with injuries significantly impacting the flanker’s career. In 2023, he earned his 100th cap for the Cheetahs after returning to the side and also had a loan spell at the Griffons. Despite his horrendous injury record throughout his career, he continues to turn out for the Cheetahs.

6 Kwagga Smith

Another debutant in Washington DC, Kwagga Smith had to wait until 2019 to earn his second cap but has now become an integral part of the Springboks squad. He earned a spot in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup where he featured in two pool stage matches. Following the tournament, he has become a more regular part of the matchday 23 and started the first Test against the British and Irish Lions, coming off the bench in the second and third Tests. By the time the 2023 World Cup came around, he was a crucial member of the ‘Bomb Squad’ and produced stellar performances off the bench and made more turnovers in 2023 than any other player. The versatile back-rower continues to be selected for the Boks and currently plies his trade with Japanese club Shizuoka Blue Revs.

5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)

Captain on the day against Wales, Pieter-Steph du Toit would have to wait another six years to skipper his country again with Siya Kolisi becoming the regular captain in the very next Test match. However, Du Toit would return to the Springboks back-row in the second Test against England and would nail down the number seven jersey in the years that followed despite the odd cap at lock. In 2019, his heroics in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup success saw him being named the World Rugby Player of the Year. Despite some horrific injury setbacks in his career, he has played well over 70 times for his country winning a British and Irish Lions series and two World Cups. The highly regarded flanker is seen as one of the great Springboks already and arguably the best in his position in the world. Du Toit left the Stormers in 2021, signing with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz who he continues to represent.

Springboks: The only tackle Pieter-Steph du Toit remembered from the Rugby World Cup final

4 Jason Jenkins

Another debutant against Wales, Jason Jenkins has yet to add to his single Test cap since 2018. The powerful lock has enjoyed stints with the Bulls, Toyota Verblitz, Munster and Leinster. In 2022, he was recalled to the Springboks squad but did not earn a cap but may well soon after completing a move back to South Africa, joining the Sharks ahead of the 2024/25 season.

3 Wilco Louw

Earning his sixth Test cap against Wales, Wilco Louw hasn’t been able to lock down a permanent place in the Springboks squad. The powerhouse tighthead prop left the Stormers in 2019 for a brief spell at Toulon before linking up with Harlequins where he had immense success, winning the Premiership with the side. He did take his Test cap tally to 14 by the end of 2021. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, he returned to South Africa joining the Bulls in an attempt to get back into the Springboks squad.

2 Chiliboy Ralepelle

Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle earned his 24th Test cap against Wales and added another that June against England which ultimately proved to be his last appearance in the Springbok jersey. However, in January 2019, his career came to a swift end when he failed an out-of-competition doping test on 17 January 2019 as he tested positive for Zeranol and was slapped with an eight-year ban. This came after a two-year doping ban in 2015 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone. Ralepelle now works as a Sales and Marketing Specialist for Vivre Foods in Durban.

1 Ox Nche

Ox Nche made his Test debut for the Springboks at the age of 22 against Wales and would have to wait three years for his next cap in 2021. However, from that point onwards he became a key member of the Springboks squad winning the British and Irish Lions series and the 2023 Rugby World Cup – becoming a fan favourite and one of the best looseheads in the game while doing so. At the time of his debut, Nche was playing for the Cheetahs but in 2020, he made the switch to Durban joining the Sharks.

date has been his only appearance for the Springboks. Du Preez left the Sharks in 2019 to join his brothers at the Premiership club Sale Sharks where he has become a crucial player for the Manchester-based side, playing over 100 times for the side featuring at fly-half and centre.

23 Warrick Gelant

Despite playing on a handful of games for the Springboks, Warrick Gelant was selected in Erasmus’ 2019 Rugby World Cup squad where he would go on to score two tries for the side during the pool stages. The full-back left the Bulls to join the Stormers after the tournament and in 2022 made the switch to French club Racing 92. However, he lasted just one season in Paris before returning to Cape Town.