SANZAAR team of the week: Springboks lead combined XV

Test rugby at its finest. That is what rugby fans were treated to on Saturday’s bumper back-to-back set of contrasting Southern Hemisphere series.

In Cape Town, Rassie Erasmus’s world champions held the All Blacks at arm’s length without ever looking entirely home and dry to level Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series at one a piece. To their credit, Dave Rennie’s side all but nullified the Springbok set-piece, despite ultimately falling short of landing what would have been a near-knockout blow in the series.

The legality of the Springbok scrum dominated the post-match exchanges between the two coaches, with Rennie’s pre-match messaging appearing to filter through to the officials.

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

33 - 26

Full-time

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

Across the South Atlantic, the post-match fireworks were nowhere to be seen, but the action on the field was equally compelling.

Much like the Springboks, Les Kiss’s Wallabies led throughout without ever pulling completely clear of their hosts. Australia held an eight-point advantage at half-time, only to see that lead reduced to a single point 10 minutes into the second half.

Two minutes later, Tom Hooper scored what proved to be the final points of the match. The teams traded blows for the remaining 25 minutes but neither managed to cross the whitewash.

With several notable performers in almost every position, here are the players who stood above the rest.

1. Ox Nche – Springboks
Is there still any debate over the identity of the world’s best loosehead?

Before Nche’s introduction, the Springboks had found little joy at scrum time. It was no coincidence that his arrival in the 35th minute was immediately followed by a South African scrum penalty, laying the platform for Siya Kolisi’s try.

Nche’s influence was immediate and emphatic, changing the complexion of a scrum contest in which the All Blacks had to that point all but neutralised the Boks’ key point of difference.

Fixture

Internationals

Argentina

21 - 27

Full-time

Australia

All Stats and Data

2. Malcolm Marx – Springboks
Like his fellow front-row replacement, the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year was immense after entering the fray in Cape Town.

Marx won three turnovers, completed a monstrous 17 tackles and produced the defensive intervention that ended the first half when the Springboks looked vulnerable with Damian Willemse stranded in the backfield. He was everywhere and a true difference maker in a tight contest. Special mention must go to Asafo Aumua, who was a genuine game-changer for the All Blacks from the bench.

3. Thomas du Toit – Springboks
It says everything about Du Toit’s performance that, when Erasmus deployed his now-routine Bomb Squad tactic of replacing almost an entire pack in one hit, the tighthead was the only starting front-row forward retained.

Playing until the 56th minute, the former Bath star completed 12 tackles, carried 4 times and more than held up his end of the bargain at scrum time.

Du Toit’s ability to combine set-piece stability with a considerable defensive workload ensured South Africa lost little when the rest of the pack was reshuffled around him.

4. Eben Etzebeth – Springboks
An all-time performance from an all-time player.

For all the depth available to South African rugby, there will not be another Eben Etzebeth for quite some time. 20 tackles, including 2 dominant hits, 10 carries and five line-out takes represented an elite return. Add in his ability to steal two All Blacks line-outs on the Springbok five-metre line and this was about as close to a complete performance as the lock could have hoped to deliver.

When the pressure reached its highest point, Etzebeth repeatedly produced the interventions that kept New Zealand at bay in what was another fascinating head-to-head with Fabian Holland.

5. Jeremy Williams – Wallabies
Williams’ offload for Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s opening try was almost enough to earn his place in this side by itself. After combining neatly with his second-row partner Josh Canham, Williams occupied several Argentine defenders before breaking into space. His 25-metre surge removed three Pumas from the defensive line, and he then found his hooker with an excellent offload from the ground.

Beyond that moment, Williams contributed 10 carries, won six line-outs and secured a crucial turnover in a polished performance.

6. Tom Hooper – Wallabies
The Wallabies versatile enforcer dominated a physical Los Pumas backrow on both sides of the ball.

Scoring what proved to be the decisive try was fitting reward for a performance featuring 14 carries, 11 tackles and two turnovers. His abrasive work around the contact area gave the Wallabies the physical presence required to withstand Argentina’s second-half pressure.

Special mention goes to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who was immense on his return from injury. Hooper’s influence across the full 80 minutes, however, narrowly earns him the place.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit – Springboks
As with Etzebeth, South Africa will be hard-pressed to replace Du Toit when the Springbok centurion eventually hangs up his boots.

He once again completed a huge defensive workload, making 18 tackles, but it was his understated leadership that proved particularly important in the decisive moments.

Du Toit took over the captaincy from Kolisi for most of the second half and chose his moments to engage with the officials intelligently. His interventions were especially important when New Zealand began finding parity at scrum time and making inroads with ball in hand.

It was another performance built on a relentless work rate, elite physicality and a deep understanding of what his team required from him as both a player and leader.

8. Rob Valetini – Wallabies
Valetini takes the No.8 shirt narrowly ahead of Los Pumas’ try-scoring standout Joaquín Moro.

The Brumbies stalwart has become one of the first names on Kiss’s team sheet and remains central to the Wallabies’ ability to straighten their attack and consistently break the gain line.

Valetini topped his team’s charts for tackles, carries and defenders beaten, underlining the breadth of his influence. Even when Australia’s attack lost momentum, his ability to generate front-foot possession gave the Wallabies a reliable route back into the contest.

9. Cam Roigard – All Blacks
Roigard’s superb support line off Will Jordan for the opening try provided another example of what makes him such a dangerous weapon in Mike Blair’s attacking system.

Constantly working his way into threatening positions, Roigard combined his running threat with a sharp and accurate passing game. His 81 passes illustrated both his workload and his importance to New Zealand’s attacking shape. The Hurricanes scrum-half also did exceptionally well to clear possession from a breakdown that became increasingly chaotic as the contest progressed.

Roigard has once again reinforced his place in the conversation among the best scrum-halves in the world alongside Antoine Dupont and Jamison Gibson-Park.

10. Santiago Carreras – Los Pumas
Carreras was head and shoulders above the other fly-halves in action this weekend and remained the clearest threat in the Argentina backline.

His pace and vision were central to Los Pumas’ opening try. Carreras first found Rodrigo Isgró on his inside before delivering the final pass to Gerónimo Prisciantelli one phase later. Throughout the contest, the Bath playmaker kept Argentina within striking distance despite a series of head-scratching errors around him.

On the opposite side, Carter Gordon produced a solid performance, scored a well-taken try and appears increasingly comfortable as the Wallabies’ first-choice fly-half.

11. Ethan Hooker – Springboks
Has Ethan Hooker ever missed a tackle? Because we sure can’t remember any.

Facing arguably the most clinical finisher in Test rugby in Will Jordan, the young Sharks utility back delivered an outstanding performance in Cape Town. Hooker dominated the aerial contest and repeatedly stopped All Blacks carriers with forceful defensive interventions. His awareness and physicality saved the Springboks on more than one occasion.

Although he received few attacking opportunities, Hooker still made 36 metres from three carries and beat a team-high four defenders. It was a mature, composed showing from a player who appears entirely at home at Test level.

Leroy Carter was a close second for a spot in this team.

12. Hunter Paisami – Wallabies
Tasked with filling the void left by Len Ikitau, Paisami has clearly benefited from a sustained run in the Wallabies’ starting line-up.

The Reds veteran topped his side’s carry-metre tally and looked increasingly settled within Kiss’s attacking structure. Acting as a safety net for Gordon in particular, Paisami consistently generated front-foot possession against Argentina’s aggressive blitz defence.

His willingness to carry directly also prevented Los Pumas from drifting onto Australia’s wider threats, making him a key pivot in the Wallabies’ attacking.

13. Quinn Tupaea – All Blacks
Jesse Kriel completed an enormous defensive workload, making 18 tackles and beating three defenders, but several costly defensive lapses counted against him. One of those errors contributed to Roigard’s opening try where Kriel missed his one-on-one with Will Jordan.

Tupaea, by contrast, was exceptionally tidy. The All Blacks centre produced two try assists and carried 14 times, leading his side in both categories. His direct running routinely challenged the Springbok defensive line, while his decision-making ensured New Zealand made the most of the limited opportunities that came their way.

14. Cheslin Kolbe – Springboks
At this stage, what more can be written about the Springbok winger?

There is a compelling argument that Kolbe is currently the best player in the world and that he may have held that status for much of the past three years.

He has now added Test-level goal-kicking to an already formidable arsenal, maintaining a 100% return from the tee across the opening two Tests. That metronomic accuracy kept South Africa at least a score clear for much of the match. Away from the tee, Kolbe’s work rate was once again off the charts. One kick chase in particular forced the impressive Leroy Carter back towards his own line, producing the type of momentum shifting moment that repeatedly kept the All Blacks under pressure.

15. Gerónimo Prisciantelli – Los Pumas
Prisciantelli dovetailed beautifully with Carreras in Argentina’s now-familiar 10-15 playmaking axis. The Racing 92 utility back helped offset the absence of Tomás Albornoz and provided Felipe Contepomi’s side with a second composed distributor.

His intelligent running line off Carreras produced Argentina’s opening try, while his 82 metres carried led the match for both sides. Prisciantelli also stepped forward as Los Pumas’ primary tactical-kicking option, giving his side control and variety from the backfield.

It was a polished all-court performance from the 27-year-old in a narrow defeat.