The Springboks successfully defended their Rugby Championship crown with several stars stepping up during their 2025 campaign.
A number of players have put up their hands up for future selection under coach Rassie Erasmus following stand-out Rugby Championship performances.
Meanwhile, some Springboks underdelivered, despite the returning to the top of the latest World Rugby rankings.
Let’s take a look at who fired – and flopped – for the Springboks during this year’s tournament.
SUPERB SPRINGBOKS
Ox Nche – 8.5
Ox was hands down the best front rower in the 2025 Rugby Championship. He took no prisoners – bulldozing the Wallabies, All Blacks and Los Pumas’ scrums time and time again. He hardly put a foot wrong and was one of the most consistent players for the Springboks.
Malcolm Marx – 8
Marx had a shaky start during the campaign. He missed his jumpers on a couple of occasions during the Springboks’ shock 38-22 loss to the Wallabies at home. Thereafter, he put in one huge shift after the other, growing with each game. He put his lineout woes behind him and finished as the tournament’s joint top try-scorer with four tries.
Cobus Reinach – 8
Both Reinach and Grant Williams flourished at No 9 for the Springboks. Unfortunately, Williams had to sit out the first Test against Argentina due to injury. In his absence, Reinach stepped up with aplomb. His service delivery and decision-making has been top-notch. He delivers quick ball and knows when to use his forward pods, when to pass and when to snipe himself. Additionally, he scored three tries in a very impressive campaign for the team.
Sacha Feinberg-MngomeZulu – 8.5
Feinberg-MngomeZulu’s scintillating display during the Springboks 67-30 victory over Argentina will go down as one of the best individual performances of all time in a green and gold jersey. He racked up 37 points, scoring a hat-trick of tries. Additionally, he provided a try assist for Cheslin Kolbe with a brilliantly placed and timed cross-kick. He followed this up with a solid performance in the second Test in London.
Furthermore, Feinberg-MngomeZulu beat more defenders (20) than anyone in the Rugby Championship. He was brilliant off the kicking tee as well and left fans intrigued with his game-breaking ability, scintillating runs and X-factor brilliance at flyhalf.
UNDERWHELMING VETERANS NOT AT THEIR BEST
Eben Etzebeth – 6
The most-capped Springbok of all-time did not have a bad campaign. However, he has been far from his best. Etzebeth struggled to regularly get over the gainline and was average against New Zealand in Auckland and in both Test matches against Australia. He was dropped to the bench when the Springboks beat Australia in the return fixture in Cape Town. Meanwhile, the lanky lock was also rested for the Test match in Wellington following an underwhelming outing in Auckland.
Cheslin Kolbe – 7
In most cases, a 7/10 is more than good enough, but this is Kolbe. The 2024 SA Rugby Player of The Year made a few uncharacteristic errors and was a well-marked man this season. His ‘brain fart’ moment behind the tryline against Argentina in Durban was followed by another soft try a week later. However, he still made more line breaks than any other player in the Rugby Championship.
Willie le Roux – 6
The Springbok veteran lacked spark against Australia in Cape Town and had an underwhelming outing against the All Blacks at Eden Park before he was dropped for the return Test in Wellington. Thereafter, he was sent back to the Bulls with Damian Willemse stepping up at fullback for both Tests against Argentina. He will no doubt go down as a Springboks legend after he became just the eighth Test centurion earlier in the year.
NOTE: All scores out of 10
