What if the next Springbok squad was not selected on a rugby field, but through a camera?
For thousands of South Africans, that became a reality of sorts.
Klipdrift’s ‘Same Same but Klippies’ campaign has revealed the Springbok look-alikes hiding in plain sight, after more than 38,500 scans were recorded through its Same-Same Scanner since June.
The campaign invited rugby supporters to upload a photo and discover which Springbok they looked most like, using facial similarity technology to identify their closest match.
Now, following the conclusion of the Springboks-All Blacks Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 tour, the results are in.
And South Africa has officially found its unofficial second Springbok squad.
Meet South Africa’s most recognisable Bok look-alikes
At the top of the nationwide look-alike rankings is Neethling Fouché.
A total of 1,885 fans were matched with the Springbok as their closest look-alike.
Not far behind was Lood de Jager, who recorded 1,577 matches.
Wilco Louw completed the top three, with 1,469 fans finding a resemblance.
The numbers reveal more than a list of popular matches. They show just how enthusiastically South Africans embraced the chance to see themselves through a Springbok lens.
The top three
- Neethling Fouché — 1,885 matches
- Lood de Jager — 1,577 matches
- Wilco Louw — 1,469 matches
And the look-alike phenomenon was not limited to South Africa.
The Bok spirit crossed borders
South Africa accounted for 95% of all scans, making it the overwhelming centre of the campaign.
The United Kingdom ranked second in participation.
Back home, Gauteng led the country, generating almost half of all scans. The Western Cape followed.
Together, the results paint a picture of a campaign that travelled beyond individual supporters and became a shared rugby conversation.
A second squad was hiding in plain sight
The results build on an earlier discovery from the campaign: South Africa appeared to have its own “second Springbok squad”, made up entirely of ordinary supporters.
Thousands of people put their faces to the test.
The scanner then delivered the verdict.
For some, the result may have been an uncanny resemblance. For others, it became an opportunity for friendly competition, comparisons and plenty of conversation.
Friends challenged each other to scan.
Families compared their results.
Social feeds filled with Bok look-alike moments.
The campaign turned a simple question — Which Springbok do I look like? — into a nationwide experience.
More than a rugby campaign
For Donné Wolk, Marketing Head of Spirits, the response demonstrated how strongly South Africans connect with the national team.
“What started as a fun and light-hearted way to celebrate rugby quickly became something much bigger.”
Wolk says the response showed how deeply people feel connected to the Springboks and how eager they are to find their own place in that story.
That connection is part of what makes the campaign stand out.
It was not only about facial resemblance.
It was about belonging.
Rugby brings the country together
Beyond the scan results, the campaign highlighted the unifying role rugby can play across generations, provinces and backgrounds.
Whether supporters matched with a prop, lock or winger, the excitement remained the same.
As Wolk explains, the campaign saw friends challenging each other, families comparing results and social media filling with Springbok comparisons.
The experience offered supporters another way to participate in the excitement surrounding the national team.
“Supporting the Springboks isn’t just about watching rugby. It’s about feeling part of something bigger,” says Wolk.
South Africa’s Bok Look-alike Squad is ready
After more than 38,500 scans, the campaign has now officially produced its own nationwide Bok Look-alike Squad.
Its members are supporters from around the country who came closest to matching members of the national team.
No rugby selection camp was required.
No jersey was needed.
Just a photograph — and a little curiosity about which Springbok face might be looking back.
As the final whistle sounds on the Same-Same Scanner campaign, one conclusion is hard to ignore:
South Africans don’t just support the Springboks. Some of them look remarkably like them too.
#BokSearch #MustBeKlippies
