Springbok duo Pollard and Du Toit crack top five among UK's rugby elite

The list compiled by the Telegraph ranks the best 30 players who are currently attached to a domestic team in Britain with several South African players cracking the nod.

Pollard and Du Toit only miss out on the top spot to Scotland star Sione Tuipulotu, with the Bok flyhalf taking third place behind prop Du Toit, who is second on the list.

"The man is a serial winner with an ice-cool mentality on the biggest occasions," Telegraph writer Charlie Morgan wrote of Pollard.

"His distribution, in the shape of cross-kicks and slung passes, should not be underestimated either."

Du Toit, meanwhile, has been a revelation since joining Bath and enjoyed a stunning try-scoring run for Johann van Graan's side crossing for 12 tries in his debut season.

The Springbok front rower's impact garnered glowing praise from the publication.

"Du Toit is shaping up to be one of the best Premiership signings in recent years and was immense despite Bath's loss to Northampton at Twickenham in last season's domestic final," Morgan wrote.

"South Africa's front-row depth means he must make do with a bit-part role for the Springboks. At Bath, he is very much a main man."

There are several other South Africans who made the top 30. Bristol Bears midfielder Benhard Janse van Rensburg also cracks the top five having impressed at the Premiership club since making the move from London Irish. 

South African-born Scotland internationals Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman rank 15th and 14th respectively, while Ulster-bound Northampton Saints star Juarno Augustus is ranked 26th overall. 

Telegraph's 10 best players 'in the UK right now'

10 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)

9 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh)

8 Maro Itoje (Saracens)

7 Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens)

6 Marcus Smith (Harlequins)

5 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears)

4 Finn Russell (Bath)

3 Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

2 Thomas du Toit (Bath)

1 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors)

READ MORE: Springbok forward set to return home after stellar Montpellier career