Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | 3rd Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026

South Africa player ratings: The Springboks built a 2-1 lead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series on Saturday, defeating the All Blacks 29-24 at FNB Stadium.

Just like the first Test in Johannesburg, there was nothing to separate the two sides at the break, with a 12-12 scoreline meaning everything was to play for.

But similarly to the first Test, the Boks appeared to spurn a few chances. However, on this occasion it did not come back to haunt them.

Rassie Erasmus’ side did not take their foot off in the second half, with the scrum continuing to dominate and the replacements adding real value.

The Boks now know they cannot lose the series as they head to the United States for the fourth Test. Here’s how the players rated:

15 Cheslin Kolbe – N/A
Cleaned up the backfield nicely, particularly a chip and chase by Will Jordan, and cleared the ball well from deep, but was forced from the field after only 10 minutes and failed his HIA.

14 Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7
Went over in the corner for the Boks’ first try, which was fairly rudimentary for a player of his class. But he frequently threatened with his carries.

13 Jesse Kriel – 8
Struggled to make a defining mark on the match – with his highlight maybe being a basic knock-on in the first half – but came alive after the break by wrestling free of Leroy Carter and running it in from 40 metres to give the Boks the lead on the hour mark. Linked nicely with Damian de Allende for a break in the closing minutes.

12 Damian de Allende – 8.5
Produced the footwork and fend to put Arendse in for the Boks’ opening try. Withstood everything that was thrown down his channel defensively, putting in 11 tackles. Put Kriel in for a break late on, then pulled off a turnover on the ground minutes later as the Boks were just playing with the visitors.

11 Ethan Hooker – 8.5
Produced a vital turnover when the All Blacks were fizzing after 25 minutes – his work at the breakdown proved surprisingly effective. Thrived in the unglamorous parts of the game – chased kicks and was strong in the air. That perhaps cost him, though, as he was sucked in trying to compete on the floor when Leroy Carter broke through, rather than covering the pop from the floor, which gave Jordan a try – maybe that’s being harsh.

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 7
Can have no complaints about his yellow card in the opening 10 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, and on another day it could have easily been a penalty try too (the All Blacks did score soon after anyway). Upon coming on, he inadvertently tapped the ball back in a ruck, allowing Ardie Savea to pounce for his second try. Managed the game well, not necessarily turning to his bag of tricks but pulling the strings with his boot. Pulled off some smart defensive reads as well. Played the majority of the match at full-back, where he was able to get his hands on the ball in space. Sharing the playmaking responsibilities with Manie Libbok seemed quite liberating for the 24-year-old, meaning he wasn’t guilty of forcing too much.

9 Cobus Reinach – 6
Penalised for an off-ball skirmish with Cam Roigard during the Boks’ penalty try, but, to his relief, the try still stood. That was fortunate, as the entire Bok attack came from his turnover on halfway, when he rushed out the line to meet hooker Asafo Aumua, and ripped the ball out of his clutches – one of the most important moments of the match. That was a moment of real quality, but he was ponderous on the ball at times. Only lasted a couple of minutes in the second half before being replaced.

1 Ox Nche – 8
Showed the movement and handling of an outside back when he supported Jasper Wiese to make a break late in the first half and send Manie Libbok towards the try-line. The try didn’t come from that attack, but the Boks opted for a scrum after an All Blacks penalty and Nche showed the other side to his game (the one he is renowned for), driving his way for a penalty try. Clearly on top in the scrum.

2 Malcolm Marx – 9
Hit a long throw to Jasper Wiese in the Boks’ first attack, but they couldn’t profit from the momentum. It was over an hour before Marx got over the ball to win his first penalty, but it was a huge one in his own half which really shifted momentum. At the back of an insatiable driving maul which powered over with 15 minutes remaining. Lineout functioned perfectly as well. The World Rugby player of the year stood up.

3 Wilco Louw – 8.5
Got a good shove in on the first scrum after seven minutes, but the All Blacks were able to get the ball out quickly. Second scrum was even, but he came up with the penalty with his third on 16 minutes. Part of the monster scrummaging effort moments before half time as the Boks drove over for a penalty try. Racked up another penalty on the 50-minute mark in another dominant display, but that was his last action. Got through some work defensively, but not many people are interested in that, in truth.

4 Eben Etzebeth – 6
Knocked the ball on from the base of a ruck when the Boks had the All Blacks under pressure in the first half, as things started to look eerily similar to the first Test. Only managed 56 minutes this week, which contain a solitary carry and five tackles. Unable to trouble the All Blacks’ lineout like he did last week.

5 Ruan Nortje – 7.5
Powered towards the line in the Boks’ first promising attack, but actually isolated himself slightly, allowing Peter Lakai to get over the ball. Tireless in the engine room yet again, putting in the most tackles, 12, for the Boks.

6 Siya Kolisi – 7
Brought some real grunt to his carrying and most promising Bok phases of play usually had a strong Kolisi carry in there. Led the match for tackles, 11, when he was substituted before the hour mark.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 7.5
Just grew and grew in influence as the match developed, and by the time the match reached the final quarter, he seemed to have as much energy as the replacements coming on. Nailed carriers behind the gain line with some trademark brutal hits, but maybe didn’t hit the defensive numbers Bok fans have become accustomed to.

8 Jasper Wiese – 8
Was experiencing a muted first half with ball in hand by his standards, but produced a key moment of brute power after 35 minutes to bust through a tackle and put Ox Nche away. Led the Boks for carries, 9, when he left the field on 61 minutes, and also had the joint-most tackles with Kolisi, and even a turnover. Great stats, sprinkled with a moment of class – game-changing class.

Replacements

16 Deon Fourie – 6
Came on as a flanker before shifting to hooker. Settled in nicely but didn’t do too much.

17 Gerhard Steenekamp – 7
Chipped in with a scrum penalty of his own in the 65th minute. At the heart of a driving maul in the final quarter, which the Boks scored from and built a nine-point lead.

18 Thomas du Toit – 6
Pinged for walking around moments after coming on – Dave Rennie would have had a wry smile. But the scrum was solid thereafter.

19 Lood de Jager – 6
Fairly quiet, but didn’t put a foot wrong.

20 Andre Esterhuizen – 6
Came on in the pack late on and saw very little action.

21 Cameron Hanekom – 6.5
Put in a hit-and-drive which resulted in a penalty in the Boks’ half in the final 10 minutes as everything seemed to be going the way of the world champions.

22 Morne van den Berg – 7.5
Injected real energy in the second half, got through a mountain of tackles, and kicked well in a tricky wind that wasn’t in the Boks’ favour.

23 Manie Libbok – 7.5
Called into action after only 10 minutes, as he was initially manning a six-man backline. Almost stepped and pirouetted his way to the line before the break, which would have been a superb solo effort. Shouldered the playmaking responsibilities alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu, which worked well and manned the backfield adroitly.