After the shortlist of four was announced, there were only two genuine possibilities for the title - Ireland's Caelan Doris or South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit. Sense ultimately prevailed, and Du Toit was crowned for the second time. However, there were some notable players who also put in strong performances throughout the year.

Evaluating Eben Etzebeth's Nomination

At the tail end of his international career, Eben Etzebeth is not the best player on the planet. In the 27-20 win over Ireland to start the year, he made less than half the tackles as Du Toit and had four carries for four metres. In the second Test loss to Ireland, he made half the amount of tackles as Du Toit and again had four carries for four metres. He conceded one turnover and won none. His work around the lineout and in rucks is important, but it's not enough to be crowned the world's best player. He was outplayed by Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa'i when the Springboks beat the All Blacks twice. In Johannesburg, he was on the bench for 32 minutes and had seven carries for 10 metres. In Cape Town, he topped the missed tackle count with four, with zero turnovers won and a penalty conceded. His nominations were farcical as he didn't dictate Tests or make the plays that win them.

Assessing Cheslin Kolbe's Chances

Cheslin Kolbe is a human highlight reel and one of the game's most valuable players. His big plays become iconic, but for him to be a genuine World Player of the Year winner, he would need to produce these in every Test, which he hasn't done. Kurt-Lee Arendse has perhaps produced as much this year on the opposite wing. In Brisbane against the Wallabies, Arendse had three line breaks and two tries. Against England at Twickenham, his two-try performance arguably decided the game. His other big moment was an opportunist try against Ireland. He also had a game-winning play in Cape Town by milking a penalty. However, in most other Tests, his long line breaks often resulted in turnovers and lost possession. His nominations were more of a "career service award" to recognize his popularity and fame.

Pieter-Steph du Toit's Dominance

The 32-year-old Pieter-Steph du Toit routinely produces the most during Springbok wins. His pressure on defence often chokes out opposition. He tops the tackle count and makes the last-ditch saves that matter. He competes at more rucks, slows down opposition ball, and his motor doesn't stop. He played multiple positions and had the most minutes. He was the best on ground in multiple Tests this year, such as in Brisbane against the Wallabies, against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, and in Pretoria against Ireland. He is truly deserving of the award in 2024.