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Springboks player ratings vs Argentina | International Rugby 2026
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South Africa hung on for a gritty 17-10 win over Argentina in Beunos Aires despite losing inspirational captain Siya Kolisi to injury early.
A big performance from No.8 Cameron Hanekom lifted the Springboks while the kick heavy game plan pressured Argentina and kept territory in South Africa’s favour.
Here’s how the Springboks rated:
1. Boan Venter – 5.5
A mixed bag at set-piece time for South Africa, but Venter won a scrum penalty popping tighthead Francisco Moreno early in the first half for a key release. Argentina found him in the defensive line a couple of times for a line break. Off at 49.
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The Bok maul was ineffective early with Argentina handling it.
2. Johan Grobbelaar – 6
A big work rate in attack with 16 carries. Poor pass to Esterhuizen with a backdoor pass led to an error and turnover. Key lineout overthrown and lost from the five metres with Boks on attack midway through the first half. Settled as half went on. Off at 62.
3. Thomas du Toit – 5.5
Du Toit was penalised early at scrum time for a collapse. Exposed moments later falling asleep for Benjamin Grondona’s try which came from an offload in the tackle. Eight tackles for the big man. Off at 49.
4. Eben Etzebeth – 5
A mixed showing from Etzebeth. Safe ball off the top of the lineout. Charged a box kick. Knocked on from a pick and go just metres from the try line with the Boks pressing, but TMO intervened. Had some big dominant tackles defensively. Got isolated and turned after jumping into a tackle in the second half.
5. Lood de Jager – 6
A middling performance from De Jager. Safe as always at the lineout but a sloppy start with a cold drop from the restart. Was intercepted by Argentina’s prop trying to feed an inside ball to Etzebeth. Off at 49.
6. Siya Kolisi – N/A
Limped off in the 25th minute with could be an aggravation of the calf.
7. Elrigh Louw – 5
Plenty of off the ball work for Louw in the trenches. Five carries and 10 tackles. Off at 49.
8. Cameron Hanekom – 9
The best Bok on the day. Strong carries and defence early. Strong over the ball winning a breakdown penalty in the 29th minute. Scored in the 62nd minute from close range after a dominant scrum on the Pumas line. 13 carries for 82 metres a huge return for a loose forward. Best on field.
9. Cobus Reinach – 5
Probed the defence more as the first half went on with a couple of dangerous runs. Pinged for playing the ball from an offside position inside Argentina’s 22. Took control of the kicking game in the second half with more box kicks. Off at 59.
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 4.5
Was a hard day for the flyhalf returning from injury. Targetted on defence by Argentina with plenty of traffic down his channel. Strong running early taking on the Pumas line. Disconnection with Esterhuizen multiple times in first 15 minutes. Kicked frequently long and uncontested. After one long phase of attack dropped back for a drop goal attempt which hit the bar.
Kicking got worse as the game went on with poor high balls that failed to make any distance that put his side under pressure.
11. Ethan Hooker – 6.5
Put pressure on Isgro all afternoon but didn’t have much else in the first half. Had one half chance down the left side in the second half. Was very good defensively.
12. Andre Esterhuizen – 7
Slow start with regulation handling errors a couple times. Produced the key offload to draw two and find Moodie to create the Boks first try. Got better as the game went on, coming up with classy touches at key times and strong carries. One key ball recovery from an overthrown lineout gave the Boks a chance inside the 22. Off in 65th for an HIA after a low tackle on Carreras.
13. Canan Moodie – 5
Quiet first half other than one involvement late down the right edge. Boks kick heavy game plan meant a quiet day for the outside backs.
14. Edwill van der Merwe – 6
Finished with 70 run meters after one big break scored South Africa’s first try of the afternoon with some pace down the right edge. Other than that was quiet in the aerial game with Argentina covering high balls well. Had one poor kick to touch late in the second half.
15. Aphelele Fassi – 7
Managed the backfield well and cleared the lines in the first half. Had one line break in the second half from a turnover that created a big swing in momentum. Off a 59 for Pollard but back on for Esterhuizen. Looked powerful late in the game with some strong runs. Had one smart piece of play saving a 50-22.
Reserves
16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – Reserve front row made a big impact, coming on and lifting the set-piece which had been nullified by Argentina. Better throwing by Wessels lifted the lineout.
17. Gerhard Steenekamp – Dominant carries from the reserve props helped power the gain line, while scrum lifted in final half hour.
18. Zachary Porthen – Strong gain line carries when had the ball.
19. Ben-Jason Dixon – On at 49. Gave away penalty late after challenging for the ball at the ruck.
20. Cobus Wiese – On at 49. Strong first carry.
21. Marco van Staden – 7 – On at 25th. Really made a difference for the Boks. Srong first involvement with a turnover from a tackle & counter ruck. Power with the ball in hand and good gain line all afternoon.
22. Morne van den Berg – On at 59. Lots of kicking from the base.
23. Handre Pollard – On at 59. Had one key kick in behind which led to the go-ahead try from a collapsed maul turnover. Threw a long ball out to Dixon but the backrower was forced into touch.
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