Last year’s World Cup final pitted the Springboks against the All Blacks in spectacular fashion. In a hypothetical exercise, we choose a merged squad.
The Springboks and All Blacks have had an epic rivalry that spans over 100 Test matches and extends back to their first meeting in 1921.
The most recent chapter in this rivalry was written during the grueling 2023 World Cup final, when the Springboks held on for a stunning one-point victory.
In an intriguing hypothetical exercise, we look at the players on both sides and estimate how many All Blacks stars may appear in a combined XV with the Springboks.
Here’s what we think a combined Springboks-All Blacks team may look like.
Hypothetical Combined Team: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Aaron Smith, and 8 Ardie Savea 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit; 6 Siya Kolisi (captain); 5 Franco Mostert; 4 Eben Etzebeth; 3 Frans Malherbe; 2 Malcolm Marx; 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Finally, we believe that a combined squad would still be dominated by Springboks, but there may be place in the backline for three All Blacks players.
We based this combined selection on players who were still eligible for the 2023 World Cup, therefore renowned scrumhalf Aaron Smith has a slot.
Beauden Barrett, a versatile utility player, replaces Damian Willemse at fullback, while Rieko Ioane has the potential to create more magic at outside center.
The remainder of the team is nearly completely made up of South Africans, with only 2023 World Player of the Year Ardie Savea managing to break into a world-class Springbok squad.
*Let us know in the comments who you would choose for a hypothetical joint squad.
The Arch Rivals will soon go head-to-head again.
There is no question that the All Blacks, now led by popular coach Scott Robertson, will go all out for World Cup redemption when the two sides meet again in August and September.
