Player ratings - Ratings of the Springboks

I am really worried about posting this on t his site - since screams of hysteria may result some members may become candidates for accommodation in an asylum.

15 Damian Willemse

There were some nervy moments, but his confidence grew as the game went on, especially with ball in hand. It was there for all to see with an excellent weaving run in the 22nd minute, where he beat a number of defenders. The Boks just felt secure with him at fullback.

7/10

14 Cheslin Kolbe

He is just missing way too many tackles lately, and if the Pumas were more ruthless on attack, the Boks could have been punished. The speedster also threw a crazy pass that handed Argentina’s Bautista Delguy a try in the 65th minute.

5/10

13 Canan Moodie

He was more in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. He received a yellow card in the second minute for a high tackle. It could’ve been very ugly in the 30th minute after the referee deemed his intercept attempt was not a deliberate knock-on. He had a couple of runs, and he produced some strong tackles as well.

5.5/10

12 Damian de Allende

South Africa’s midfield rock did what was expected of him. He carried the ball powerfully, and he made some great metres. Overall, it was a solid performance.

7/10

11 Ethan Hooker

Argentina attacked his channel quite a bit in the opening quarter, and they found a lot of space. Whether that was his fault or his inside teammates’ fault will be for Rassie to decide. He had more of the ball in the second half with some more glimpses of his potential.

6/10

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Probably the most exciting player in the world right now, and he had fans on their feet again with some unpredictable plays with ball in his hand. He sliced through the Pumas’ defence on several occasions, but sometimes the execution has let him down.

7.5/10

9 Cobus Reinach

Almost nailed a brilliant interception in the 20th minute near the Pumas’ tryline. He did score his team’s opening try after taking advantage of a powerful scrum, and he scored another in the 52nd minute when he sniped over after his forwards laid the platform with some strong carries. Sometimes his service can be a bit slow for Bok fans, but he was one of their best players again.

9/10

8 Jasper Wiese

He put his body on the line with some brutal ball carries, and his combination with Cobus Reinach worked well, especially at scrum time. It seems the No.8 jersey will be his for the end-of-year tour.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit

The Argentinians had eyes on him, and his overall impact wasn’t as influential. But there were some big plays where his physicality and power came through.

7/10

6 Siya Kolisi (captain)

He seemed a bit quiet in the first half when it came to his involvement, but he came to life as the game went on. He delivered some strong carries. He always delivers when it comes to defence, and it was no different on Saturday

7/10

5 Ruan Nortje

He gave Argentina some headaches by disrupting their line-out players. The Bulls captain also put his body on the line when he had the ball, and Rassie Erasmus will also be proud of his defensive performance.

8/10

4 Eben Etzebeth

The big man would not be happy that he got bullied on several occasions out there. He just couldn’t impose himself physically as he had in previous matches.

5.5/10

3 Thomas du Toit

A force in the scrums and an immovable presence on defence. He did his primary job well in a 50-minute performance.

8/10

2 Malcolm Marx

His brilliant play at the breakdowns saved the Boks on a few occasions. Under pressure, he produced a brilliant turnover in the 11th minute and again in the 48th minute. He also scored a try off the back of a driving maul in the 44th minute and showed his sheer power to crash over for a second in the 59th minute.

9/10

1 Ox Nche

Another colossal performance in the scrums. He dominated his opponent while he was on the field and deserved the pats on the back after a heel against the head in the ninth minute. The scrumming power also laid the platform for Cobus Reinach’s first try.

8.5/10

16 Bongi Mbonambi (On for Malcolm Marx, 61st minute)

He was under pressure to deliver a strong performance off the bench, and the best word to describe his 20-minute cameo is “solid”.

6.5/10

17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (On for Ox Nche, 50th minute)

It was a mixed bag. But there was more good than bad for Rassie to work with going forward.

6.5/10

18 Wilco Louw (On for Thomas du Toit, 50th minute)

He wouldn’t be happy with the scrum penalty he gave away in the 76th minute, but the rest of the scrums were solid.

6.5/10

19 RG Snyman (On for Eben Etzebeth, 48th minute)

His defence was not the best, but his physicality on attack is something to behold.

6/10

20 Kwagga Smith (On for Siya Kolisi, 62nd minute)

He was just everywhere on the field during his final-quarter spell. He was aggressive with ball in hand, which gave the Pumas a few problems.

7.510

21 Grant Williams (On for Cobus Reinach, 68th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

22 Manie Libbok (On for Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu, 68th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

23 Jesse Kriel (On for Canan Moodie, 50th minute)

His defensive organisation helped the Boks a lot in the second half.

6.5/10

Argentina won the aerial contest, which was always going to be decisive given the gale-force winds.

They controlled both possession and territory for most of the match, applying sustained pressure. However, the Springboks produced a purposeful spell between the 35th and 60th minutes, which proved enough to tilt the result their way despite Argentina’s late surge.

The Bok scrum was dominant and laid a strong platform, though their kicking game fell short of the precision and consistency shown by Argentina.

I have corrected the ratings below.

15 Damian Willemse

Good, but would be better at inside centre. When Sasha made breaks, Delande was not keeping up with the attacking moves. We need a centre that can run off the shoulder of Sasha

7/10

14 Cheslin Kolbe

Not a good game, but got limited opportunities on attack with Delande suffocating the backline. Was beaten in the high ball by the Argies. Another catastrophic mistake that led to the late Argentine try that brought them back into the game

4.5/10

13 Canan Moodie

Average Joe. He is not setting the world alight. Lucky not to get a red card. Limited opportunity on attack, given Delande was on his inside.

4.5/10

12 Damian de Allende

A decent performance in the 2nd half as a loose forward. He can carry it up in the traffic, not much more

5/10

11 Ethan Hooker

Looked average, but not given much opportunity to attack. Was beaten in the high ball by the Argies.

6/10

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

He was very good as a runner, but Delande is never his wingman on these attacking movements. His up and unders and kick-offs were not very good, but he probably does not have much experience playing in gale-force winds.

8/10

9 Cobus Reinach

Took his tries well and was overall solid. Up and unders were not very good in the windy conditions.

8.5/10

8 Jasper Wiese

Solid performance, but was not very good at the breakdown. More of a ball carrier.

7/10

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit

Struggled to get over the gainline or to find space to run into.

5.5/10

6 Siya Kolisi (captain)

Plays better when the Boks secure good possession through multiple phases at the rucks. Kwagga was easily better as a replacement

5/10

5 Ruan Nortje

Lineouts improved immensely, the best lineouts of the season, despite the conditions.

Has a solid work rate. The new Mostert, who was a clone of Matfield.

7/10

4 Eben Etzebeth

Got bullied in the tackle, getting pushed backwards multiple times.

5.5/10

3 Thomas du Toit

Good overall, could have done a bit more in the loose.

710

2 Malcolm Marx

Lineout throws were excellent, and he was the Boks' sole weapon at the breakdown until Kwagga got on.

9/10

1 Ox Nche

Best scrummager in world rugby today, perhaps ever.. Totally destroyed Argie scrum.

9/10

16 Bongi Mbonambi (On for Malcolm Marx, 61st minute)

Way past his best, it would have been better to have brought on Van Staden and let JHW do the throws

4.5/10

17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (On for Ox Nche, 50th minute)

He is visible in the loose, but needs to understand the Bok pattern more to be part of a unit. The late tackle was pointless.

6.5/10

18 Wilco Louw (On for Thomas du Toit, 50th minute)

Barely noticeable on the pitch. Lacks mobility. Got buckled in one scrum badly.

5/10

19 RG Snyman (On for Eben Etzebeth, 48th minute)

He was very good and should have gotten more game time. Perhaps he should start in Eztebeth's place.

8/10

20 Kwagga Smith (On for Siya Kolisi, 62nd minute)

High work rate, 2 good turnovers.

8.5/10

21 Grant Williams (On for Cobus Reinach, 68th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

22 Manie Libbok (On for Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu, 68th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

23 Jesse Kriel (On for Canan Moodie, 50th minute)

His defensive organisation helped the Boks a lot in the second half.

6.5/10

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/04/argentina-south-africa-rugby-championship-match-report

I fell asleep at about midnite ... halftime ABs game, woke up with ten minutes left Bokke game. Vok.

You missed 90% of what De Allende did. He never moved to Loosie so one must be mad to believe that BS. The loosie replacement for Kolisi was Kwagga. On a number of occasions De Allende was invovled in ball protection and recovery at breakdowns - something St Esterhuizen never does - so that may seem to look like he was a loosie in your twisted mind.

I as disappointedby Hooker - he looked like a sar in the test in Durban - he did near to zero and you were deluded by giving him a 6 for that.