Springboks player ratings vs Wales | Quilter Nations Series 2025

Springboks player ratings: This was only ever going to end one way. In truth, the Springboks hardly got out of second gear and possibly should have blown Wales away by an even greater margin than the 73-0 shellacking they dished out.

This will go down as an official Test match but it hardly deserves that recognition. This was a glorified training session and effectively a jolly for some senior Boks to add one more cap and bag a few more points before they break for the year.

Given the mismatch this proved a tricky game to score, as some players stood up while others gave the impression that they had other things on their mind. Everyone could have received a rating of 8 and above, but given the weakness of the opposition, some have had their numbers reduced.

15. Damian Willemse – 8
Played the final pass out the back for Ethan Hooker’s try. Once again composed in the back field. One of those rare players at the highest level who seems to have more time than most. His double involvement in Andre Esterhuisen’s try, where he won the ball back in the air and then played a fantastic pass under pressure to create the space down the left, was a showcase of the man’s class.

14. Ethan Hooker – 7.5
Aggressive and assured under the high ball. Scored a slick first-phase try down the blind with a strong step back infield off his right boot.

13. Damian de Allende – 7.5
Defended well in the less familiar position at outside centre, though he was hardly tested. With ball in hand he provided some stiff carries among the 10 he stacked up. A decent, if unspectacular game.

12. Andre Esterhuizen – 9.5
Robust in the carry and a constant threat from first phase strike plays, his rampage at the stroke of half-time off a scrum helped get the ball to within touching distance of Wales’ line before Morne van den Berg completed the score. Similarly got things rolling before Wilco Louw scored after the break. Officially made 84 metres but it felt like a thousand.

11. Canan Moodie – 8
Scored a worldie – which is worth 0.5 points on its own – on the counter where he showed great football skills, quick wheels and strength in contact to dot down having eaten up more than 50 metres of Cardiff turf in the process. His ceiling is very high and could be one of the game’s superstars if he can supplement his flashes of excellence with more consistency. A third minute involvement was a microcosm of his Test career so far. Did brilliantly to exploit an overlap down the left as his pace and step saw him cantering upfield. With teammates in support back inside he tried to chip the ball towards them but completely missed as his swinging boot found nothing but air.

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 8
He’d have had training sessions that were more testing than this. Loose at times, once making a mess of what should have been a simple pass to set up a try 10 minutes from the first half. Cut holes at first receiver making over 50 metres with ball in hand. Scored two tries, including one wonderful solo effort when he tapped and went quickly from a penalty 20 metres out. But he was also guilty of overplaying at times. Pretty good from the hottest 10 on the planet was more than good enough today as he racked up 28 points.

9. Morne van den Berg – 8
Didn’t need to be flash at the base of a comprehensively dominant pack. Stuck to the basics and got the job done. Was rewarded for his metronomic display with a burrowing score just before half-time. One of eight players replaced in one go at the 51st minute for Cobus Reinach.

1. Gerhard Steenekamp – 8.5
Scored a muscular try eight minutes into his first Test as a starter. Was an ever-present option to carry into heavy traffic in the early exchanges. Replaced by the Bomb Squad on 51 minutes.

2. Johan Grabbelaar – 7
Accurate when throwing to the line-out. His added heft played a role in the scrum too. Hooked for Bongi Mbonambi as part of the Bomb Squad switch.

3. Wilco Louw – 8.5
Immense in the scrum, winning a penalty the first time he packed down. Scored a try from close range to cap off a near perfect performance for a meaty front-rower. His race was run on 51 minutes.

4. Jean Kleyn – 6
Went largely under the radar. Dutifully stuck to his task. Carried into contact, claimed line-outs, ticked enough boxes before he was substituted on 51 minutes for Eben Etzebeth.

5. Ruan Nortje – 9
Totemic at the line-out. If not South Africa’s best player of the year he’s certainly the most improved. In a campaign that tested the Boks’ depths in the second row, Nortje proved invaluable. If anyone questions his growing status in the side, consider he was the only forward who played all 80 minutes. Showed leadership at the death when both sides started to lose their cool.

6. Siya Kolisi – 7
Has spent most of this season stitching moves together in the trams or doing the donkey work of cleaning rucks or playing close to the ruck. But today he was given licence to roam. At times it felt like we were watching the freewheeling Kolisi of old. Switched for Marco van Staden

7. Franco Mostert – 6
Largely anonymous. Didn’t put a foot wrong. Got through his work with energy. Replaced by Ben-Jason Dixon.

8. Jasper Wiese – 8
Belligerent as always. Scored the easiest try of his life when he dotted down at the back of a scrum that shoved Wales over their own line. Left with a match high of 13 carries when he departed on 51 minutes, making way for Kwagga Smith.

16. Bongi Mbonambi – 6
Played his first Test since his cameo in the shock defeat to the Wallabies in August. Found his jumper at his first line-out throw and was solid elsewhere.

17. Zachary Porthen – 7
Didn’t look out of place though it must be said that there is surely no softer landing for a young prop than joining the scene along with seven other forwards with the score reading 49-0.

18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye – 7.5
Made sure South Africa maintained scrum dominance through to the final whistle while also making three dominant tackles, more than any other player in the game.

19. Eben Etzebeth – 4
Secure at the line-out when he entered the scene. Conspicuous, as he always is, close to the ball. His titanic strength saw him power over for a try late in the piece. Lost his head though when he stupidly lashed out at Alex Mann and jutted his thumb the Welshman’s in the eye. Was an ugly way to end what has been a remarkable European tour and has his score halved as a consequence.

20. Marco van Staden – 6
Didn’t need to be anything close to his best. Would be part of most nations’ match-day 23. Just a handy squad player in what is the world’s leading outfit.

21. Ben-Jason Dixon – 6
Added heft as the game fractured.

22. Kwagga Smith – 8
Stole a ball on the deck, busy as always. Made eight carries in less than half an hour on the pitch for 34 metres.

23. Cobus Reinach – 7
Led the team out on the occasion of his 50th, and unquestionably, the most pedestrian Test of his career.