RUGBY C'SHIP SPURS BOKS' 'GREATEST' BID

In this new series, The Straits Times highlights the standout players or teams to watch in the world of sport. Today, we focus on the South Africa national rugby team and their run of success.

- Dilenjit Singh

South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi raising the Rugby Championship trophy as the squad celebrate after beating Argentina to retain the title on Oct 4.

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

The All Blacks are to rugby lore what Brazil's Selecao are to football, but the Springboks are increasingly building the resume to put forth their case as the sport's greatest team.

After usurping New Zealand's mantle as the Rugby World Cup's most successful team with their fourth title and second in succession in 2023, the current iteration of the Springboks are entering the conversation of the sport's greatest team after winning their consecutive Rugby Championship on Oct 4.

That honour is largely bestowed on the earlyto mid-2010s edition of the All Blacks, who won back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and won five of the seven Rugby Championships from 2010 to 2016.

From 2010 to 2016, New Zealand lost just seven of 94 Tests, setting a joint-world record of 18 straight Tier I Test match wins from 2015 to 2016. They also went on a 22-match unbeaten run from 2013 to 2014. Only once from 2010 to 2016 was the accolade of the world's best player not won by an All Black, with the gong alternating between Richie McCaw, Dan Carter (twice), Kieran Read, Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett.

But they appear to have a challenger in the Springboks circa 2019 to present.