The Springboks scored some memorable tries during a historic year in which they clinched the Rugby Championship and the World Cup.
Two of them came in the World Cup final, as Makazole Mapimpi rounded off a brilliant counter attack, while Cheslin Kolbe’s magical stepping later on put the result beyond any shadow of a doubt.
But there were also some other great tries throughout the year. Some were from long range. Some included moments of magic, while others were spectacular because of their importance.
JOHN GOLIATH picks his three Bok tries of the year.
Herschel Jantjies: All Blacks vs Springboks (Rugby Championship)
The dominated this encounter, but sloppy mistakes and a lack of finishing saw them going into the final minutes trailing the All Blacks by seven points. After a planned move, Kolbe found himself free on the outside. He then chipped a hopeful kick in field, which Jantjies juggled over Aaron Smith, before re-gathering to score. Handre Pollard then slotted the conversion to earn the Boks a draw.
Sbu Nkosi: Springboks vs Argentina (Test match)
Finished off spectacularly to score a try in the first half of this Test match. But it’s his second try, eight minutes into the second half, which cracks the nod for this piece. With the Boks trailing 10-8, outside centre Jesse Kriel found Nkosi in space about 40 metres from Argentina’s tryline out with a lovely floated pass. But the Nkosi still had a lot of work to do. The Sharks wing then beat four Los Pumas defenders with a swerve, a spin and step, before diving over the line to get the Boks back into the encounter.
Cobus Reinach: Springboks vs Canada (World Cup)
Reinach’s try came in the Boks’ 66-7 win over of Canada. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies’ cross-kick from his own 22 found wing Warrick Gelant, who snatched the inch-perfect kick out of the air, before beating Canada’s DTH van der Merwe. Gelant then found centre Damian de Allende who galloped into the Canada’s 22, before passing the ball to Reinach who showed a clean pair of heels to complete a hat trick of tries in the first 20 minutes of the match.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports via Hollywoodbets
