Ken Borland

In the wake of a triumphant 2024 following on from their 2023 World Cup victory, Ken Borland spoke to some of the finest men to have ever pulled on the Springbok jersey and asked them one question: Is the current class of Springboks (2019-2024) the greatest Springbok team ever?

They were all at Sun City playing golf and giving back in support of the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation and the fundraising effort for the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School, which was the late Vivienne’s passion since its establishment in 1990 for the children of farmworkers on their Lanseria estate.

All these former Springbok stars pointed to the achievement of winning back-to-back World Cups and the incredible strength in depth that coach Rassie Erasmus has cultivated for himself as being key factors in determining that this team is the greatest to represent South Africa.

Naas Botha

“By repeating in 2023 what they did in 2019 and winning the World Cup again, they did something that nobody can ever take away from them. No matter how you analyse it, they are the first South African team to do that. So who do you compare them to?

“You can’t really compare different eras and the 1980s were totally different to 2024. I played in some really good Springbok teams like the 1981 one that went to New Zealand was fantastic and the 1986 side that played the New Zealand Cavaliers. Then we have the Jake White and Francois Pienaar teams that won World Cups.

“But it’s absolutely amazing what Rassie Erasmus and his squad have achieved and you have to give them that credit. We now know who has progressed after the 2023 World Cup, it’s clear where New Zealand, England, Ireland and France are. You can’t compare this Springbok team to any of their rivals because we know the pool of players they have is frightening.

“One win does not make a great team, a magic moment does not make a great team. But magic season after season after season makes a great team.”

Pat Lambie

“I would argue that Springbok rugby is in the best shape it has ever been. It’s not just their achievements – winning back-to-back World Cups and the Rugby Championship and beating the British and Irish Lions – but the depth they have created in so many positions. That’s going to stand us in good stead going into the next World Cup.

“There is healthy competition for all 23 places and it’s a mix of experience, youth and x-factor that can have a massive impact off the bench. Rassie has done an excellent job leading the young players into international rugby and everywhere you turn, there’s a player who looks like a matchwinner.”

Robbie Kempson

“It’s the most successful Springbok team ever, but for me it’s the depth that is the greatest factor in rating them as the best. The quality of individuals in key positions at Rassie’s disposal is amazing and he’s brought a lot of them through. He’s a wily old man who has managed big players for 8-12 years, it’s the same group and yet he’s getting a much higher level out of them.

“They are way better than the All Blacks teams we played against 25 years ago. They were a phenomenal side, but these Springboks now have consistency, they’re definitely a better outfit, winning two back-to-back World Cups and everything else they’ve played for. And now they’ve evolved to really stretching teams with a running game. For me, they are definitely the number one side to have played this game.”

Butch James

“I believe it’s the greatest Springbok team we’ve ever had, definitely in terms of squad depth, which is unbelievable. We didn’t even pick our best team for the matches in the United Kingdom, but they were still great teams, which shows our depth.

“I think they’ve proved it already that they are the best Springbok team ever, they don’t have to do more. It was a tough tour of the UK because of that expectation that they would win all the games, which they did, even though England had us worried.

“I’ve liked the All Blacks over the last couple of decades, but the consistency of this Springbok team stands out, especially since Rassie keeps chopping and changing the selections.”

Steven Kitshoff

“I’ve read a lot about whether this is our best team ever and there’s no doubt that Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus have really been getting things right. To win back-to-back World Cups is special, we’re performing year in, year out and the depth is feeding into the machine nicely.

“I think there’s still a long road ahead before we can call ourselves the best team ever, but we’ve definitely put our hands up as one of the best. Although there have been some amazing teams in the last couple of decades, so I think we still have a long way to go.”

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – A gentle breeze blew across the valleys and mountains of the Steenkampsberge on Thursday, the day before the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series kicks off for 2024 with the opening event at Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate, a far cry from the gales that lashed the course on the first day of the pro-am.

The Vodacom Origins of Golf Series is held every year at some of South Africa’s finest golf clubs, grouping amateurs, leading business figures and customers with some of the top players on the Sunshine Tour. Once the pro-am finishes on Thursday, the professional tournament will be held over three rounds from Friday, and the leading contenders are united in their belief that Highland Gate will pose a stern challenge, especially if the wind gets up.

“It’s a great course and hopefully the weather stays good because it is really tough here in the wind,” Neil Schietekat said on Thursday. “The greens are slopey and quick, and if you add strong winds to them then it becomes really tricky.

“There are no giveaway birdies here, which is what I like on a course. You have to map your way around here, you can’t just hit-and-hope and then make an easy birdie. But I feel good about my game, I’ve found a bit of form and you know what they say, ‘be careful of the sleeping dog’,” Schietekat, who is coming off top-10 finishes in his last two Sunshine Tour events, said.

The Vodacom Origins of Golf Series also marks the return to action of one of the great gentlemen of the Sunshine Tour in George Coetzee, who last played competitively in May 2023 at the Italian Open on the DP World Tour.

Coetzee underwent wrist surgery and, on a happier note, became a first-time father in the interim. He was his usual smiling self on the putting green on Thursday, although he acknowledged some daunting golf was ahead of him.

“It’s good to be back and the wrist is rustig [calm]. I’m just going to go out and try and enjoy myself, but if the wind is up again like Wednesday then I could be in for some torture,” Coetzee said.

It is not just the men that will be tackling the Ernie Els designed course that is 6717 metres long and perched 2000m above sea level. Nine Sunshine Ladies Tour golfers are competing for the same prizemoney as part of Vodacom’s push to ensure the country’s leading women golfers enjoy more exposure and opportunity.

Cara Gorlei, the winner of the Jabra Ladies Classic at Glendower in April, and Gabrielle Venter, who claimed the Standard Bank Ladies Open title at Royal Cape Golf Club in March, will lead the women’s charge.

Vodacom have also introduced more incentives for those women who opt to play in the Origins Series, the winner of their own mini-leaderboard qualifying for the Joburg Open and three Access Tour events on the Ladies European Tour.

Danie van Tonder, the winner of the previous event on the Sunshine Tour, the FNB Eswatini Challenge at Nkonyeni Golf Estate, says the Highland Gate layout suits him as well.

“It’s a great course in excellent condition, the greens are very quick and tricky. But I haven’t yet found a course where if I take driver and hit it long, far and straight, I will not do well,” Van Tonder said.

HARARE – Jaco Ahlers has admitted to some frustration over how his 2024 has gone so far, but the 41-year-old put all that aside on Thursday as he roared around the Royal Harare Golf Club in seven-under-par to seize the lead after the first round of the FBC Zim Open.

Ahlers began the year with three missed cuts in his first four events spread between the Sunshine and Asian tours, but a runners-up finish in March in the Stella Artois Championship, finishing just a stroke behind winner Heinrich Bruiners at Dainfern, marked a change in fortunes. Since then he finished tied-10^th at the Saudi Open and was tied-13^th in the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq last weekend at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s East Course.

On Thursday, Ahlers was in sublime form as he started his 2024/25 Sunshine Tour campaign in rampant fashion on the 10^th hole and reeled off three straight birdies to get his brilliant round of 65 going. He picked up another shot on the par-four 17^th and then eagled the par-five third hole. Although the world number 354 then bogeyed the fourth, he sealed a one-stroke lead with birdies on the seventh and eighth holes.

“It’s always nice to start that way, especially on the back nine here at Royal Harare, which is tougher, especially the greens, which are all raised,” Ahlers said.

“It’s difficult playing in this mid-year period because I play on the Asian Tour as well and that runs from January to December. This year has not been as good as I would have liked, but you just need to go on from there and today was a step in the right direction.

“Royal Harare suits me, it’s an old colonial course with big trees and dog-legs. The only way to play it is to be patient and not too aggressive,” Ahlers, who was tied-second in last year’s FBC Zim Open and fourth in 2022, said.

The highlight of Ahlers’ round was when he capitalised on a good drive on the 475m third hole and sent a searing six-iron to within six feet of the hole and sank the putt for eagle.

Michael Hollick is alone in second place on six-under-par after a 66 on Thursday. The Mount Edgecombe golfer reached the turn in one-under, but scorched through the back nine in just 31 strokes, with three successive birdies from the 11^th hole, and further gains on the 16^th and 18^th holes.

There is a strong chasing pack of five golfers on five-under-par, comprising seasoned winners Jacques Blaauw and Darren Fichardt, Zimbabwe’s own Scott Vincent, the experienced Anthony Michael and former University of North Texas college golfer Jason Roets.