The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

The Springboks have made an emphatic start to 2025, rolling out a slew of new players and demolishing each of their opponents throughout the July Test window.

The season started with a 54-7 romp over the Barbarians and continued with a two-Test series against Italy that saw the Boks score 87 points and concede just 24; all of which came in the first Test, before the world champs held their visitors to a goose-egg in game two. Topping the four-game stretch off was a 55-10 thrashing of Georgia.

During the high-scoring run, seven new players were capped, and several headlines have been made by unorthodox and innovative plays.

Beyond the major talking points, there are some extraordinary statistics. Former All Black James Parsons pinpointed one in particular that has blown the Boks’ counterparts out of the water throughout July.

The former Blues captain began by answering a question on just how deep the South African talent pool is, especially in the halves, before highlighting their defensive prowess.

“I feel like every position’s got so many options, but yes, they’ve got a depth and confidence throughout their squad like no other at the moment. It doesn’t seem to matter who they throw out there; they can still deliver,” Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, before conceding, with a wry grin, that he and his fellow Kiwi co-hosts were turning into a “cheerleading squad for the Springboks”.

“I’ve tried to look for something new, something fresh. If you look at all the other international sides, their (the Springboks’) dominant tackle stats are much higher defensively than anyone else.

“They had 15 per cent dominant tackles, which is really, really high. If you look at the British and Irish Lions, the Wallabies, the All Blacks, and the French on the weekend, you’re looking at under three per cent.

“So 15 per cent, it’s five times as much. Five times the amount of dominant tackles. They’re not always 15 per cent, but over these three Tests, they’ve been between 10 and 15 per cent with these dominant tackles.

“It’s the basis of their game. The platform these game-drivers are getting to play off is just immaculate.

“If they don’t get a turnover, the opposition’s going back and they’re not going to be able to kick on their terms.

“Georgia had 14 per cent lightning-quick ball. That is brutal. You cannot win any game of rugby – you can’t even win club rugby at that rate.

“Their defensive effort on the weekend was more impressive for me. And just to change the scope, turnover ball, fatigue in the opposition just sets the game-drivers up on attack. They’re a street ahead already. The defensive pressure the Springboks put on teams… It is hard to find a fault in them at the moment. It really is.”

Parsons’ co-panellist, former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall, applied the “handbrake”, noting that the quality of opposition the Springboks have faced could undermine the weight of the stat sheet somewhat.

The sustainability of those impressive numbers will next be put to the test on August 16, when The Rugby Championship kicks off with the Springboks hosting a battle-hardened Wallabies outfit in Johannesburg.