Cheslin Kolbe

Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe was carted off the pitch on Saturday with an injury during Toulon’s French Top 14 game at Lyon. Image by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP

YEAR IN REVIEW: Three most memorable Bok moments

As the year draws to a close, we pick out the three most unforgettable moments from the Springboks’ 2021 season.

Cheslin Kolbe

Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe was carted off the pitch on Saturday with an injury during Toulon’s French Top 14 game at Lyon. Image by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP

READ | BOKS FINISH THE YEAR AS THE NO 1-RANKED TEAM

Cheslin Kolbe magic

Heading into the third and final Springbok Test against the British & Irish Lions in August, the series remained deadlocked at 1-1, with very little to choose between the teams.

Both sides had adopted a low-risk approach throughout the first two Tests, while officiating and off-field controversies had largely overshadowed the series up to that point.

Midway through the second half in the third Test, it was the Lions who led 10-6, but then came a moment of Cheslin Kolbe magic that completely changed the course of proceedings.

After a breakout from within the Boks’ own half, the ball went from Lukhanyo Am to Willie le Roux, who drew a defender before feeding the ball to Kolbe out wide.

The speedster wrong-footed Liam Williams and then spun away from another would-be defender to score a simply unforgettable try.

Morne Steyn heroics

Although Kolbe’s try stole plenty of headlines in the Lions series, there was no denying that the third Test really belonged to Morne Steyn.

The veteran had slotted the series-winning penalty in the 2009 tour between the British & Irish Lions and Boks, and 12 years later he found himself repeating the feat in quite stunning fashion.

Such a storyline could never have been scripted, with Steyn coming off the bench to slot two penalties, the final one in the 79th minute as South Africa claimed a famous 19-16 victory.

A few weeks later, the experienced flyhalf announced his Test retirement, with his heroics against the Lions serving to cement his status as one of the all-time great Springboks.

Famous win over the All Blacks sparked by skills of Am

After suffering three successive defeats in the Rugby Championship, the Springboks headed into a final game against the All Blacks under plenty of pressure.

As it turned out, the Springboks would save one of their best performances for last, producing a superbly balanced display of high-intensity rugby characterised by innovation and ambition.

The highlight of the match was undoubtedly the stunning behind-the-back no-look pass from Lukhanyo Am that created an unforgettable try for Damian de Allende.

Yet, as the match headed into the final minute, it appeared that the All Blacks were set to secure a narrow 29-28 victory.

In the closing moments, though, Duane Vermeulen won a crucial turnover, and as the Boks took play into the All Blacks’ 22 after kicking to the corner, the South African team earned a penalty right in front of the posts.

Elton Jantjies popped over the simple kick, sending the Springboks into jubilant celebrations as they claimed a standout win from 2021.

Bok highlights below: