British & Irish Lions great suggests current South African side lacks the overwhelming superiority of past championship teams
A Different Perspective on South African Rugby Success
Jeremy Guscott, the former England and British & Irish Lions centre, has offered a contrasting view on South Africa's recent run of success in international rugby. While acknowledging their current standing, he questions whether the Springboks truly dominate the sport in the way previous championship sides have done.
South Africa ended 2025 at the summit of World Rugby's rankings for the third year running. They successfully defended their Rugby Championship crown and completed their northern hemisphere tour without a single defeat. Despite these accomplishments, Guscott maintains that Rassie Erasmus' squad can be beaten.
The World XV Debate
Writing in his column for The Rugby Paper, Guscott examined England's path toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He raised an interesting point about selection for a hypothetical World XV, suggesting that South African players wouldn't necessarily fill the majority of positions, even though six Springboks featured in World Rugby's Dream XV for 2025.
The former England centre used this framework to assess where Steve Borthwick's current England team stands. England closed out 2025 with an impressive 11-match winning sequence, though this run didn't include a meeting with South Africa.
The two nations are scheduled to meet at Ellis Park in Johannesburg for the opening fixture of next year's Nations Championship, setting up a significant early test for both sides.
Comparisons with Championship Teams of the Past
Guscott drew parallels with England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, noting an important distinction. That England team entered the tournament ranked number one globally and had systematically defeated all their principal competitors in the lead-up.
"England 2003 also had six or seven players who, without argument, would get into a World XV – and England do not have that right now," Guscott observed.
He went further, suggesting that debate would surround whether any current England players, with the possible exception of Maro Itoje, would be automatic selections for a World XV.
The Path Forward for England
For Borthwick's England to reach the standard set by the 2003 champions, Guscott believes they need to establish themselves at the top of world rugby's leading nations over the next two years. He considers this achievable, partly because he sees vulnerabilities in the current international landscape.
"Although South Africa are playing very well at the moment, I don't think they would dominate a current World XV – and the only people likely to say they would are South African fans," he stated.
Historical Context of Dominance
Guscott's assessment extends beyond the current moment. He argues that the Springboks team which won in Japan in 2019 demonstrated greater dominance than the 2023 champions. He also places the 2015 All Blacks above the current South African outfit in terms of outright superiority.
"My sense is that South Africa in 2023 were not as dominant as world champions as they were in 2019, or as dominant as New Zealand in 2015, or England in 2003," he explained.
His reasoning centres on the competitive balance at the top level. Since 2019, the leading teams have traded victories among themselves. While South Africa currently holds the strongest position, they have suffered several defeats along the way, which Guscott sees as evidence that true dominance remains elusive.
The upcoming clash at Ellis Park will provide an early indication of whether Guscott's assessment holds weight, or whether South Africa can demonstrate the kind of superiority he believes they currently lack.
A Different Perspective on South African Rugby Success
Jeremy Guscott, the former England and British & Irish Lions centre, has offered a contrasting view on South Africa's recent run of success in international rugby. While acknowledging their current standing, he questions whether the Springboks truly dominate the sport in the way previous championship sides have done.
South Africa ended 2025 at the summit of World Rugby's rankings for the third year running. They successfully defended their Rugby Championship crown and completed their northern hemisphere tour without a single defeat. Despite these accomplishments, Guscott maintains that Rassie Erasmus' squad can be beaten.
The World XV Debate
Writing in his column for The Rugby Paper, Guscott examined England's path toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He raised an interesting point about selection for a hypothetical World XV, suggesting that South African players wouldn't necessarily fill the majority of positions, even though six Springboks featured in World Rugby's Dream XV for 2025.
The former England centre used this framework to assess where Steve Borthwick's current England team stands. England closed out 2025 with an impressive 11-match winning sequence, though this run didn't include a meeting with South Africa.
The two nations are scheduled to meet at Ellis Park in Johannesburg for the opening fixture of next year's Nations Championship, setting up a significant early test for both sides.
Comparisons with Championship Teams of the Past
Guscott drew parallels with England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, noting an important distinction. That England team entered the tournament ranked number one globally and had systematically defeated all their principal competitors in the lead-up.
"England 2003 also had six or seven players who, without argument, would get into a World XV – and England do not have that right now," Guscott observed.
He went further, suggesting that debate would surround whether any current England players, with the possible exception of Maro Itoje, would be automatic selections for a World XV.
The Path Forward for England
For Borthwick's England to reach the standard set by the 2003 champions, Guscott believes they need to establish themselves at the top of world rugby's leading nations over the next two years. He considers this achievable, partly because he sees vulnerabilities in the current international landscape.
"Although South Africa are playing very well at the moment, I don't think they would dominate a current World XV – and the only people likely to say they would are South African fans," he stated.
Historical Context of Dominance
Guscott's assessment extends beyond the current moment. He argues that the Springboks team which won in Japan in 2019 demonstrated greater dominance than the 2023 champions. He also places the 2015 All Blacks above the current South African outfit in terms of outright superiority.
"My sense is that South Africa in 2023 were not as dominant as world champions as they were in 2019, or as dominant as New Zealand in 2015, or England in 2003," he explained.
His reasoning centres on the competitive balance at the top level. Since 2019, the leading teams have traded victories among themselves. While South Africa currently holds the strongest position, they have suffered several defeats along the way, which Guscott sees as evidence that true dominance remains elusive.
The upcoming clash at Ellis Park will provide an early indication of whether Guscott's assessment holds weight, or whether South Africa can demonstrate the kind of superiority he believes they currently lack.
