How a season of dominance and composure reinforced the Springboks’ World Cup standing
THE LAST WORD ON RUGBY
The Springboks delivered another succesful 2025 international season and will be eager to hit the ground running in the new year with some exciting Test matches lined up ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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In the final episode of the year, The Last Word on Rugby Podcast reflected on what was a significant 2025 season for the Springboks.
Under head coach Rassie Erasmus, the world champions delivered consistent, composed performances and continued to build on the foundations that have made them one of the sport’s most dominant teams.
With the season wrapped up, the panel looked back on standout players, defining matches, and the direction the team is heading.
Choosing the Springbok Player of the Year turned out to be a difficult task.
Each panelist selected a different candidate, highlighting the depth and quality within the squad. Hooker Malcolm Marx was praised for his reliability and physical impact, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu received recognition for his versatility and maturity despite his age, and loosehead prop Ox Nché was acknowledged for his strong scrummaging and overall influence on the field.
The different selections show how many players delivered consistently strong performances this year.
One area where the panel had no disagreement was their Young Player of the Year award. Utility back Ethan Hooker was unanimously selected after an impressive debut season in which he adapted quickly to Test rugby and showed a calm, confident approach in multiple backline roles.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu could also have been considered for this category, but the panel agreed he had already established himself among the more senior contributors.
The podcast also highlighted a couple of matches that stood out, but ultimately, it was between three. The replay of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France — where the Boks played mostly with 14 men following a controversial red card — was noted for its resilience.
The dominant win over Ireland in Dublin was another key moment, particularly the commanding performance at scrum time. Then, the drubbing of the All Blacks in Wellington after a record victory also stood out.
Looking ahead to 2026, the panel expressed hopes for improved officiating, more opportunities for emerging players ahead of the 2027 World Cup, a strong showing against England, and a competitive four-match series against the All Blacks.