The Top 10 of South African Rugby in 2008

Right. 2008...Wow. The year has been an interesting one for South Africa...We saw the introduction of a new Springbok coach, we saw the Blue Bulls slump from champions to 10th position in the super 14, we saw the crowning of new Currie Cup champions and we saw the Boks grabbing the wooden spoon yet again in the Tri Nations.

So...There have been many ups and downs...Here are 10 of the best moments

10. Sharks 47 Chiefs 25

The Sharks needed to win their last round robin match of the Super 14 with either a bonus point or a victory margin of 18 points. The Sharks had not scored a huge amount of bonus points in the lead up to the match and so it looked as though the writing was on the wall.

However, they played some extremely brave running rugby and put on a great display for the Durban faithful as they ran in seven tries from all areas of the field.

9. Adrian Jacobs

The comeback of all comebacks. After making his Springbok debut in what seems like a century ago, Jacobs was picked by De Villiers to start for the Springboks at outside centre, and what an impact he made.

He scored tries in most of the Springboks games this year and has made a statement that it should be him and not Jacque Fourie, who wears the No. 13 jersey in 2009.

8. Series win against Wales

6 Nations champions Wales arrived in South Africa feeling very confident that they could beat the World Champions on their home turf. How wrong they were. The series kicked off in Bloemfontein where the Springboks put on a thrilling display to cruise to a 43-17 victory.

In the second test at Loftus the Welsh put in a stronger performance but were still overpowered by a less than convincing Springbok outfit. The Boks were off to a good year.

7. Ruan Pienaar's move to flyhalf

When Pieter de Villiers named his Springbok squad for the end of year tour to the UK many were surprised to see that Ruan Pienaar had been selected not as scrumhalf...But as flyhalf. What a move it was.

Pienaar kicked accurately found many gaps with his clinical running and was instrumental in the 42-6 victory against England. Expect to see him in the same position for both the Sharks and Springboks next year.

6. The end of year tour

The Springboks went on the end of year tour expecting to win all three matches. They did..... But only just. The tour kicked off with a 20-15 victory against Wales which could have resulted in a loss had Jean de Villiers not grabbed a crucial intercept try.

On to Murrayfield, a venue where the Springboks have not really been tested that often. This match was a different case. The Springboks were down for most of the match until off the reserve bench came..... Jacque Fourie.

Fourie then proceeded to score one of the best and most important tries of the year for The Boks who ran out winners 14-10.

Off to Twickhenham...Not a happy hunting ground for the Springboks but recently they have had the better of the English. This game fully illustrated that fact as the Springboks played their best rugby of the year when they ran in tries from everywhere to record a perfect 42-6 victory.

This was also England's worst defeat at Twickenham.

5. South Africa 53 Australia 8

After coming off defeats to Australia and New Zealand at home South Africa were under huge pressure. There was talk that De Villiers needed to be fired and the Boks had been booed off in Durban the following week.

This match was different. The Springboks came out all guns blazing and absolutely dominated Australia from start to finish. Jongi Nokwe, in for Bryan Habana ran in four tries to ensure that the Boks recorded their largest victory against the Wallabies.

4. Percy Montgomery's 100th Test cap

Percival Colin Montgomery, better known as Percy, is a player who will always be remembered by Springbok fans. He is the first Bok to play 100 tests and also holds the record for the most points by a Springbok.

Montgomery's first cap for the Springboks came in 1997 against the British Lions playing as an outside centre. He ended his career where he started it, at Newlands, in the 19-0 loss to New Zealand. Monty, you beauty.

3. Back-to-back tournament victories for the Springbok sevens team

The Springbok sevens team have always been right up there with the best. They displayed that they might even be better than the best when they won both the Dubai Sevens tournament and George Sevens tournament.

At Dubai the team managed to beat Fiji in the semifinal thanks to a great drop goal from Mzwandile Stick. They then went on to beat England in the final to show that Paul Treu is definitely doing all the right things.

At George the Boks once again beat Fiji in the semi final shoeing their dominance over the islanders. They then beat the champions, New Zealand, in the final thanks to a try by Mzwandile Stick which carried them to victory. This was their first victory at George and marked their contention for Sevens glory.

2. The Sharks win the Currie Cup

After 12 long years the Currie Cup is back in Durban. Throughout the season, the Sharks, a team scattered with Springboks, were the best defensive unit, displayed the best attacking skills and had the best fan support.

All this showed in their semifinal victory against the Lions and in their epic 14-9 victory over the Blue Bulls, a repeat of the 2007 Super 14 final. The Sharks have an excellent squad of players and expect them to have a very successful 2009 year.

1. The Springboks claim victory at Dunedin

Dunedin. Cold, wet...Dunedin. It had been 10 long years since the Springboks last beat the All Blacks at the House of Pain and the wait was finally over. The Springboks toiled long and hard and were down with two minutes to go when Ricky Januarie pulled of one of the best tries ever in a Springbok jersey.

He broke away, chipped, chased, collected and dived to score a great try and give the Springboks a memorable victory.

2009 promises to be a very interesting year for the Springboks...And it should be a good one.