Is this the most improved Springbok of all time?

The Springbok coaching staff should already be around 90% certain of the squad they are likely to take to the 2027 World Cup, fitness and form permitting.

When considering the high quality players at the disposal of Rassie Erasmus and his management team, there is one backline star who has suddenly become simply indispensable.

Last year, Andre Esterhuizen truly took the rugby world by storm with a role change that saw him become the first fully fledged ‘hybrid player’, capable of slotting in at centre or at flank.

Springbok star has redefined his game

What is quite remarkable about Esterhuizen is the fact that he only really became a Springbok regular around the age of 28.

The big man first made his Springbok debut in 2018, but between that debut season and 2019, Esterhuizen would only feature in seven more Tests.

It was not long after that when Esterhuizen made the move away from the Sharks and ultimately settled in at English club Harlequins, where his career truly took off.

Esterhuizen suddenly added more all-round qualities to his overall play, becoming far more than just a bruising ball-carrying centre.

Meteoric rise

With experience on his side, Esterhuizen has truly taken his career to the next level over the last couple of years.

He can now quite rightly be regarded as one of the most effective and ‘complete’ inside centres in world rugby, but it is the incredible innovation of the Springbok coaches that has ensured he is now a true ‘unicorn’.

With size and power on his side, Esterhuizen can add massive impact in the backline, or fill in on the flank, where the Springboks have often deployed the 31-year-old as the ultimate impact player.

A strong passing game, physicality, imposing defence and a vastly improved kicking game has suddenly seen Esterhuizen become a remarkable weapon in the Springbok ‘bomb squad’.

Considering how far he has come in the last few years, it is now most worthy of a conversation to revolve around whether Esterhuizen could in fact be regarded as the most improved Springbok of all time?

It is difficult to think of anyone else who has added so much versatility, value and impact to what they can offer, and Esterhuizen will undoubtedly be one of the first names written down when the Springbok coaches draw up their World Cup squad list.

His meteoric rise is undoubtedly as good as it gets, and Esterhuizen deserves all the praise and plaudits for how he has hit this potent peak in his career.

Do you think Esterhuizen is the move improved Bok of all time?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article.

just watch the clips of Andre Esterhuizen v Stormers. it is quite something…

it start with perfect floated bridge pass , then we see carries, tackles , contestables , line kicks and finally playing at flank to score a maul try 😮

I don't think we seen a player like this in… pic.twitter.com/rWIVs3VbvL

— Oom Rugby (@Oom_Rugby) January 30, 2026