Springboks all-time points scorers: Handre Pollard climbs into second behind Percy Montgomery
Split with Springboks Percy Montgomery and Handre Pollard.
The Springboks have had some incredible points scorers over the years but none greater than pioneering full-back Percy Montgomery.
Not only was Montgomery the first Springbok to break the 100 cap barrier he is also still the leading points scorer in South Africa’s history with 893.
Having started his Bok career at centre the superstar moved to full-back where his goal-kicking really came into its own. Montgomery’s short two-step run-up would become iconic as his career developed with his accuracy at goal proving crucial for the Springboks on a number of occasions, notably the 2007 Rugby World Cup where the former Sharks man kicked his country to glory.
While the vast majority of his points came from the kicking tee, Montgomery was no slouch on attack, bagging 25 tries in his career to leave him in seventh on the all-time try scorers list for the Springboks.
Here comes the iceman
Behind the legendary full-back was Morne Steyn (742) who defined the term sharpshooter with his outrageous accuracy from the tee. When the former Bull was in the Springboks 10 shirt, opposition teams knew that any penalty conceded within 40 metres of their line was almost a guaranteed three points. South Africa leveraged Steyn’s skill set on several occasions notably in the 2009 and 2021 British & Irish Lions Series where both times he came off the bench to decide the series with a penalty.
However, Steyn’s reign as second in the all-time has come to an end with Handre Pollard on 749 points. Often called ‘The Iceman’, Pollard is a master of the big moment as his record for most points scored in Rugby World Cup finals suggests.
Throughout his career, the Leicester Tiger has evolved several times from an exuberant running threat in his younger days to a more balanced and growing pivot to a complete game manager with sky-high rugby IQ as he is now.
Pollard’s importance in both of his World Cup wins cannot be overstated with his game management so crucial in 2019 and his goal-kicking being the actual difference in 2023. The fly-half is already a Springboks legend and depending on his longevity in the back end of his career he could well even challenge the top spot and no one would be more deserving.
Special mentions
The battle for the top points scorers is generally between goal-kickers with most of the list being just that but we feel the try scorers that make it high up deserve special mention.
The great Bryan Habana is fourth on the Boks’ all-time points scorers list with EVERY point coming from his 67 tries. It is remarkable to think how many outstanding points scorers he gets in on tries alone, such was the magnificence of the winger. In the same boat is the iconic scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen, Jaque Fourie and Makazole Mapimpi to name a few others.
Another player who deserves mention further down is Malcolm Marx, who recently became the first forward to reach 100 points in a remarkable feat.
Springboks leading all-time points scorers
Percy Montgomery: 893 points, 102 tests
Handré Pollard: 749 points, 76 tests
Morné Steyn: 742 points, 68 tests
Bryan Habana: 335 points, 124 tests
Elton Jantjies: 331 points, 46 tests
Naas Botha: 312 points, 28 tests
Joel Stransky: 240 points, 22 tests
Braam van Straaten: 221 points, 21 tests
Joost van der Westhuizen: 190 points, 89 tests
Jannie de Beer: 181 points, 13 tests
André Pretorius: 171 points, 31 tests
Francois Steyn: 165 points, 78 tests
Jaque Fourie: 160 points, 72 tests
Henry Honiball: 156 points, 35 tests
Butch James: 154 points, 42 tests
Pat Lambie: 153 points, 56 tests
Makazole Mapimpi: 150 points, 45 tests
Louis Koen: 145 points, 15 tests
Ruan Pienaar: 135 points, 88 tests
Jean de Villiers: 135 points, 109 tests
Piet Visagie: 130 points, 25 tests
Breyton Paulse: 130 points, 64 tests
JP Pietersen: 120 points, 70 tests
André Joubert: 115 points, 34 tests
Gaffie du Toit: 108 points, 14 tests
Pieter Rossouw: 105 points, 43 tests
James Small: 100 points, 47 tests
Malcolm Marx: 100 points, 72 tests
READ MORE: Springboks: Crucial Malcolm Marx try pushes him up South Africa’s all-time try scorers list
