The first awarded collected by the Springboks was the accolade for the Team of Year.

The team finished the year at No 1 in the world rankings, for the first time since 2009.

The Springboks won 10 out of 12 tests, scoring 424 points and 52 tries and conceding only 138 points and 10 tries – only four of them in seven matches at the Rugby World Cup.

According to the statistics, this is the most successful Springbok team since 1998 when Nick Mallett guide the men in green-and-gold to a 17-match unbeaten run.

The second accolade won by South Africa at the gala event belonged to the coach, Rassie Erasmus. Erasmus was named as the Coach of the Year for 2019 and in the process edged the likes of Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen, Warren Gatland and Jamie Joseph.

The third accolade belonged to the Springbok flanker, Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was named as the World Rugby Player of the Year for 2019. Du Toit becomes the first South African to win the award since Bryan Habana in 2007.

Du Toit’s Springbok teammate, Cheslin Kolbe, was also in the running for the award, as well as, England’s Tom Curry, the Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones, the New Zealand flank Ardie Savea and the USA hooker/prop Joe Taufete’e.

Herschel Jantjies was shortlisted for the Breakthrough Player of the Year Award, however, the accolade went to flyhalf Romain Ntamack of France. He is the son of the French great, Émile Ntamack, who played in the 1995 World Cup semi-final against the Springboks.

Cobus Reinach’s hat-trick try against Canada during their Pool B fixture at the World Cup was shortlisted for the Try of the Year, but the award belonged to the All Blacks scrumhalf, TJ Perenara, during the pool game against Namibia.

A humble Rassie Erasmus speaks after winning World Rugby Coach of the Year 2019 at the #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/ShQDCNPpwu

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 3, 2019

Pieter-Steph Du Toit accepts his World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year award, in association with @Mastercard
#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/SiW4R0qQgz

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 3, 2019

Siya Kolisi accepts the World Rugby Team of the Year award on behalf of the @Springboks #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/IMWKMenRdY

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 3, 2019

@MorganPiek OFM Sport