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All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | 3rd Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026
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The Springboks will head to Baltimore leading Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2-1 after overcoming the All Blacks, 29-24, in Soweto.
Rennie’s side held on in the first half to head into the oranges level after a blistering start in Soweto. All Blacks captain Ardie Savea dotted down twice, while Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks hit back with two tries of their own, including a penalty try from scrum time.
The second half, though, was a completely different contest. The All Blacks were inaccurate, and the Springboks swarmed the visitors.
Here’s how the All Blacks rated in Soweto.
1. George Bower – 5
Tough night at scrum time, where he was overpowered on his side of the scrum in two of the first three shoves, although he came up clutch on the stroke of halftime, earning the All Blacks a free-kick. Added six tackles in the first half. Pinged for hinging in the first scrum of the second half, in his last contribution to the game.
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2. Asafo Aumua – 7
Strong outing. Aumua made three-for-three from the lineout to start, and his ball-carrying was explosive in the first quarter. Great spot tackle when the Springboks looked threatening in the 30th minute. Aumua hit seven of his eight lineouts in the first half, a massive improvement for the All Blacks from Cape Town. Off in the 60th minute, with nine carries. The only negative was the first-half scrum performance.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 5
The tighthead was sent backwards for the Springboks’ penalty try, but the scrum issues were largely on the other side for the majority of the first half. Not a standout performance, as Lomax didn’t overly influence the contest. Off early in the second half.
4. Tupou Vaa’i – 6.5
The All Blacks’ kick-off issues remained from Cape Town, with Vaa’i struggling to take several first-half kick-offs. Seems less effective than when he’s at blindside, where he’s given the freedom to roam on the edges. More effective in the second half, but only added six tackles and six carries.
5. Sam Darry – 6
Darry’s first 40 minutes were workmanlike. Strong actions around the field, and helped the All Blacks have a better start, compared to the first two Tests. Didn’t feature much, if at all, in the second half. Off in the 60th minute.
6. Peter Lakai – 7
Important breakdown turnover with the home side hot on attack, to get Rennie’s side out of trouble early. Dynamic with ball in hand, offering a different dimension for the All Blacks, often getting over the advantage line. Finished his 80-minute shift with nine carries.
7. Luke Jacobson – 7
Luke “concrete shoulders” Jacobson was a menace on defence. Powerful stop on Jasper Wiese in the 16th minute, and looked to have sorted his ill-disciplined breakdown decisions. Picked up the captaincy when Savea left the field, contributing three tackles in the first half. Had less impact in the second half, when the All Blacks couldn’t get their game going.
8. Ardie Savea – 7.5
Savea opened the scoring in the eleventh minute, diving over after the All Blacks started to threaten on attack. Savea was ill-disciplined in the ten minutes, giving away two breakdown penalties, the last of which resulted in a Springboks try. Savea crossed again, picking up the scraps from Carter’s break. Unfortunately for the All Blacks, the captain left the field after a Wiese cleanout. Led the carries stat at halftime with eight, despite only playing 30 minutes. Could feel the drop-off in the All Blacks’ performance after the inspirational captain left the field.
9. Cam Roigard – 8
Roigard’s ambition to play from their own end showed when the halfback took a quick tap from inside their 22, winning an offside penalty. Nice mini-break in the lead-up to Savea’s second, linking up with Barrett. Crucial in starting the All Blacks’ attack from a variety of positions on the field. An incredible box-kick from midfield, basically earning a 50/22, as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sliced his exit. Off at 65 minutes, after another impressive performance.
10. Ruben Love – 5
Not accurate enough. Love’s first action was a pass out of play to Leroy Carter, but he responded with a solid rest of the first half, without breaking the game open. His penalty kicks for touch struggled, slicing a couple off the side of his boot. Love was sent to the bin with a couple of minutes to play in the first half for being cynically offside. Missed two important kicks at goal, which would have extended the All Blacks’ lead to ten, before the Springboks stormed home.
11. Leroy Carter – 6
Exceptional in-play kick to force the Springboks to play from their own end, from a Jordie Barrett cross-kick. Carter couldn’t contain Damian De Allende for the Springboks’ first, being fended off in the lead-up. Game-high three missed tackles at halftime, but had a strong 40 minutes on attack. Costly missed tackle, again, on Kriel, resulting in the Springboks taking the lead. After Rennie said Carter was selected over Josh Moorby on his defence, it was a tough night for the Chiefs winger on the defensive side of the ball, even though his work on attack was strong.
12. Jordie Barrett – 7.5
Another brilliant showing defensively, despite not shining on attack. Strong first tackle on Jessie Kriel, rushing up to force the Springboks midfielder backwards. Barrett’s contribution around the field shouldn’t go unnoticed, with unseen efforts helping the All Blacks withstand the Springboks’ attack. Had eleven carries and a game-high 14 tackles.
13. Quinn Tupaea – 6
Pinged in the second minute for a high tackle, gifting the Springboks an entry into their 22. Rushed out of the line on Kriel, slowing down the centre. Some solid work defensively during the first 40 minutes. Didn’t last long in the second half, succumbing to a leg injury.
14. Will Jordan – 6.5
Exceptional with ball in hand, but too many costly errors. In what looked like a nothing play, Jordan made a line-break from his own end, stabbing a kick behind the defence. It was an electric break, when most players would have cleared their lines. Jordan’s contribution in the first half was impressive, highlighted by a breakdown turnover close to their own line. Threw one pass directly to Ethan Hooker, one of his four turnovers in Soweto. A smart grubber kick that led to his try, popping up in support for Carter. Poor execution on a clearing kick that resulted in the Springboks dotting down under the posts through a dominant driving maul. The Test match swung in the direction of South Africa after that moment.
15. Damian McKenzie – 6
McKenzie was solid during the first half in Soweto, often linking up well with his teammates out the back of sweeping backline moves on attack. But ultimately, McKenzie couldn’t find his running game in Soweto.
Replacements
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 5.5
On with 20 minutes to go, contributing a late consolation try.
17. Xavier Numia – 4.5
Pinged at scrum time by the touch judge, Christophe Ridley, at his first scrum. Lacked impact.
18. Fletcher Newell – 4
Scrum struggled when Newell was on the field, and the prop was sent backwards on a couple of occasions with ball in hand. Penalised by the referee for an incorrect pickup at the ruck, with the All Blacks hot on attack.
19. Fabian Holland – 5
Got his timing wrong at the breakdown, taking out a Springbok defender past the ruck.
20. Wallace Sititi – 7.5
Much improved after a tough start to the tour. Sititi entered the contest earlier than expected, with Savea leaving the field in the first half. Helped the All Blacks get on the attack in the second half, stripping a Springbok attacker in midfield, linking up with Vaa’i. Brilliant late line-break, breaking through the Springboks’ defence with no one in support.
21. Kyle Preston – 5
Provided quick ball, but misjudged an attacking opportunity by taking a quick tap instead of a lineout drive.
22. Anton Lienert-Brown – 5.5
On for Tupaea early in the second half and didn’t have an important impact on the game. Having appeared off the bench in all three Tests, it’s clear Rennie’s side needed more impact from their reserves. Missed a tackle on Manie Libbok, but made up for it with a breakdown turnover.
23. Josh Moorby – 5
A couple of strong touches, but also knocked the ball on.
