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Springboks player ratings vs Australia | 2025 Rugby Championship
By Ian Cameron
Springboks player ratings: South Africa claimed sweet revenge on the Wallabies in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, running out 30-22 winners at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
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It wasn’t the polished performance Rassie Erasmus would have wanted but the Boks did enough, bolstered by a strong bench impact that once again proved decisive.
Here’s how the players rated:
15. Aphelele Fassi – 6.5
Showed his class in attack with several sharp carries and some accurate distribution but was caught out of position more than once. Corey Toole’s try exposed his drifting defence and he was again caught square on James O’Connor’s kick through. His kicking radar was inconsistent – a few fine touch-finders but also some ropey efforts that invited pressure.
14. Canan Moodie – 5.5
Claimed a lovely cross-field kick from Pollard in the first half, showing his aerial strength, but he blotted the copybook by fumbling a difficult kick that handed Max Jorgensen a golden opportunity. Didn’t impose himself much beyond that. Withdrawn for Feinberg-Mngomezulu after an uneven display.
13. Jesse Kriel – 6
Under scrutiny after criticism a week earlier, he was steadier here without being spectacular. Carried hard and defended his channel with enough commitment, though he slipped off more tackles than he’ll be happy with. The midfield lacked cohesion and Kriel was part of that problem.
12. Damian de Allende – 4
This was not the authoritative showing fans had hoped for. A few decent gain-line surges aside, he made too many handling errors and the chemistry with Kriel never clicked. Looked flat in attack and was culpable defensively on a couple of Wallaby breaks.
11. Cheslin Kolbe – 7.5
A tale of two halves. He started poorly, missing tackles and looking shaky under the high ball, but gradually played himself into the contest. His kick chase effort was relentless, and he grew increasingly threatening with ball in hand, eventually becoming a menace for the Wallabies defence. Brave in the air and influential when it mattered.
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10. Handre Pollard – 7.5
Kicked the leather off it early, as expected, and kept the Wallabies pinned back. A spilled ball nearly cost him but he was saved by Kellaway’s knock-on. Organised proceedings with calm authority and proved once more why the Boks look more settled with him than with Libbok. Not flawless, but enough to put South Africa in the right areas.
9. Grant Williams – 8
Crisp service all afternoon and accurate with his box-kicking, which gave Kolbe and Moodie chances to contest. Sniped intelligently around the fringes and kept Tate McDermott guessing. Composed, sharp, and another performance that strengthens his grip on the jersey.
8. Kwagga Smith – 8.5
Brilliant under the high ball in the early exchanges and capped a huge shift with a trademark try in the 34th minute, battering through three Wallabies despite his modest frame. Tireless in the loose, busy in defence, and a constant source of momentum. A nuisance in the best possible sense.
7. Franco Mostert – 5.5
Struggled to make an impression in the first half, often anonymous in both attack and defence. Did plenty of unseen donkey work but little to get the crowd going. Subbed out as Erasmus looked for more dynamism.
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6. Marco van Staden – 6
Superb at the breakdown in the first half, pinching ball and slowing Wallaby possession, but spoiled his good work with three costly penalties. A classic curate’s egg of a performance: brilliant in patches, frustrating in others.
5. Ruan Nortje – 7
Worked himself into the ground, a relentless engine in the tight exchanges. His lineout wasn’t flawless against the excellent Nick Frost, but his graft around the park was immense.
4. RG Snyman – 5.5
So often a force off the bench, he looked off-colour as a starter. Spilled a lineout, fumbled another loose ball, and never really imposed himself. One of his quieter outings in green and gold, and the Boks missed his usual impact.
3. Thomas du Toit – 8
Oddly excellent at the breakdown, stealing a critical turnover in the 22nd minute that lifted the pressure on South Africa. Solid in the scrum and uncompromising in contact. One of the Boks’ standout forwards on the day.
2. Malcolm Marx – 6
Physical as always and threw himself into collisions, but the lineout misfired and he contributed with a couple of handling errors. Not at his sharpest, although he did enough to keep the set-piece functional.
1. Ox Nche – 7.5
Had an even battle with Taniela Tupou in the scrum and held his own admirably. Carried with real venom on occasion and was a consistent source of go-forward. Not perfect, but one of the better Bok carriers on the day.
REPLACMENTS:
16. Marnus van der Merwe – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
17. Boan Venter – 6
Carried decently when introduced and got bounced once or twice in contact.
18. Wilco Louw – 6
Didn’t make a major impact but the scrum held firm. A steady hand rather than a game-changer.
19. Eben Etzebeth – 8.5
Came on and immediately raised the standard. Charged down a Tate McDermott kick, sorted out the lineout, and then hammered over for the decisive try in the 75th minute. Classic Etzebeth – direct, abrasive, and match-winning.
20. Lood de Jager – 6
Brought energy but little influence.
21. Cobus Reinach – 6.5
Box-kicking was sound and provided reliable control to close things out.
22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 6
Replaced Moodie but appeared to pick up a shoulder problem. Limited chance to influence the contest.
23. Andre Esterhuizen – NA
Briefly used out of position as a flanker late on, but not enough time to warrant a grade.
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