‘Intriguing stuff’: Wallabies great reflects on Springboks’ season

Wallabies great Michael Hooper has applauded the Springboks for “doing what they do best” during another impressive international season, which comes to an end this weekend against Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions South Africa started their Test season with two big wins over Italy, before a 55-10 demolition of Georgia. The world’s top-ranked side was flying ahead of the 2025 Rugby Championship.

The Springboks started their TRC campaign off against the Wallabies at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park, and appeared to be flying. Kurt-Lee Arendse opened the scoring early on, as the home side ran out to a relentless 22-0 lead during the first half.

But the Wallabies famously fought their way back, piling on 38 unanswered points to win 38-22 – which was their first in Johannesburg in more than 60 years. South Africa bounced back with a hard-fought win over the same rival the following weekend before flying to New Zealand.

The Springboks lost at Eden Park before handing the All Blacks a record loss, winning 43-10 at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. They’ve since beaten Los Pumas twice, Japan 61-7, France by 15 in Paris, Italy 32-14, and defeated Ireland in Dublin for the first time in 13 years.

“Pretty impressive where they came from earlier on in the season,” Hooper said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“People were throwing a bit of shade at South Africa off the back of, [the Wallabies] had a great amazing comeback. New Zealand, they didn’t perform overly well in the first block of The Rugby Championship, and then have just absolutely stormed the back end of the year.

“It just shows the level and the quality of that team. It’s not all straight and linier, it’s not all up in the same direction. Sometimes you just go through a few things and a little bit of renewal. They absolutely kick it and they’re doing what they’re doing what they do best. Intriguing stuff.”

In one of the most highly anticipated Test matches of the year, the Springboks and Ireland renewed their rivalry on the turf at the Aviva Stadium. Damian Willemse opened the scoring in the third minute, which kickstarted a match full of drama.

James Ryan was sent from the field during the first half, and Sam Prendergast was shown a yellow card. Cobus Reinach helped the visitors race out to a 10-0 lead before British & Irish Lion Dan Sheehan helped bring Ireland into the contest deep into the first half.

A penalty try just before the break saw the Boks take a 12-point advantage into the sheds.

Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu crossed for the only try of the second term, fending off Jamison Gibson-Park en route to the try line. It was another moment of brilliance from the young playmaker, who has been among the standouts for the Boks this season.

“He’s thinking he wants to get inside that offload channel and make sure that he just blocks that off, but you’ve got to get the man down first and someone Mngomezulu has got all the tricks in the bag,” Hooper reflected about Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s try.

“Too good there.”