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The South African
an hour ago
- Sport
- The South African
Rankings: Where Springboks stand before Rugby Championship
After the July internationals, the All Blacks have made up plenty of ground on the Springboks in the world rugby rankings, with just 0.72 points separating the arch-rivals. As the Springboks now head towards their Rugby Championship title, there will be a number of goals they will want to achieve, but the importance of maintaining prime position in the rankings should not be underestimated. Scheduled for December, the 2027 World Cup draw will be based on the World Rugby Men's Rankings at the end of the November international window, and so the Springboks will be desperately hoping to still be at the top by that stage. You can see exactly how the rankings are calculated by clicking here. As at 24 July 2025 Rank Country Points 1 South Africa 92.78 2 New Zealand 92.06 3 Ireland 89.83 4 France 87.82 5 England 87.64 6 Australia 82.08 7 Argentina 82.05 8 Scotland 81.57 9 Fiji 80.50 10 Italy 77.77 11 Georgia 74.69 12 Wales 74.05 13 Samoa 72.48 14 Japan 72.29 15 Spain 69.12 16 USA 68.45 17 Uruguay 67.52 18 Portugal 66.44 19 Tonga 65.46 20 Chile 63.83 Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lood de Jager is back and it's scary . . . but not for Rassie Erasmus' Springboks
FILE - Springboks lock Lood de Jager rises high to take a lineout ball in their match against the Barbarians in Cape Town. It was clear from the very first kickoff in the Springboks' match against the Barbarians that Lood de Jager was keen to make up for lost time in the green and gold jersey. Saturday saw De Jager run out for the Springboks for the first time in almost two years after missing out on the Rugby World Cup squad due to a heart condition. He got back on the rugby field with Japan side Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan in 2024, playing some good rugby, but suffered a serious rotator-cuff shoulder injury towards the end of the season which required surgery. Ahead of the match against the Barbarians, coach Rassie Erasmus said he didn't want to put any extra pressure on De Jager following such a long absence from international rugby. 'It is kind of like a car that's been parked in the garage. You don't pick up mileage, but you will be a bit rusty. I am very excited for Lood. He thought it was all over (for his Bok career), and he won't play again. But here he is and hopefully, he gets a good run.'
The Herald
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Kolbe shines through storm to power Boks to dominant win
Barbarians coach Robbie Deans is an admirer of Kolbe's work. 'I always enjoy watching Cheslin. Even when you're playing against him. He's just so positive. You can see his positivity into contact and in the air. He is just a freakish footballer.' Kolbe, 31, showed that his desire to make an impression in the Bok jersey remains undiminished. To be fair, that attitude permeated the Boks ranks with several players putting shoulder to the wheel in the kind of match often dismissed for its frivolity. After a two-year absence lock Lood de Jager made an impressive return to the Bok fold. He tirelessly toiled for 70 minutes before being withdrawn from the action. Jean-Luc du Preez, another Bok absentee in the last few seasons, also showed his worth in the No.8 jersey. He however left the field injured just before the break. Flank Vincent Tshituka went through a huge workload and would have been well satisfied with his effort. Like Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse also sparked when opportunity presented. It was the need to impress before the two-Test series against Italy that drove the Boks. In the second half in particular they played with greater hunger and urgency, displaying also the willingness to go the extra mile. Centre Andre Esterhuizen certainly fell into that category when he was deployed as a loose forward when he came on as a second-half substitute.
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springbok player ratings in win against Barbarians
Cheslin Kolbe and Lood de Jager were the standout performers on the day. The Springboks opened their 2025 season with an emphatic 54-7 win against the Barbarians in a one-off match in a wet Cape Town on Saturday. The Boks scored eight tries to the one by the Baabaas in a dominant performance against the invitational side. The World Cup holders are next in action against Italy in Pretoria next Saturday. This is how The Citizen rated the performance of the Bok players on Saturday. Aphelele Fassi 8: He was solid in all departments. Made two kicks into space which led to tries by team-mates. Kicked well out of hand and strong under the high ball. Cheslin Kolbe 10: Just brilliant. He scored a try, made tackles, ran hard at the opposition, jumped high for balls, made try assists, chased kicks … man of the match! Jesse Kriel 7: He had a quiet first half but burst into life in the second half. Made some good tackles and looked dangerous with ball in hand in space. Damian de Allende 7: Made some tackles and carried well at times. Made good kick into space for Kurt-Lee Arendse's second try. He also scored a try at the death. Kurt-Lee Arendse 9: Another energetic performance by the winger. He made some great runs in space, won a breakdown penalty and scored a try. Excellent performance. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 6: He had some good moments, but some bad moments as well; perhaps tried too hard to impress. Won a breakdown penalty. Off in the 46th minute. Morne van den Berg 7: His service was quick and swift and looked to keep things ticking along nicely. Made some decent kicks, but also some poor ones. Tackled well. Off in 46th. Jean-Luc du Preez 6: He didn't get too many chances to show what he is capable of. Made some tackles and the odd carry, left the action early in second half. Vincent Tshituka 7: He was excellent at the back of the lineout, taking a few throws that came his way. He also scored two tries from close range. Tackled and cleaned the rucks. Marco van Staden 5: Like Du Preez he didn't really get a chance to show off his skills. It was a quiet outing by the flanker, though he made a few tackles and cleaned rucks. Lood de Jager 9: Welcome back! He was dominant in the lineouts, winning ball and stealing ball, carried strongly and tackled superbly. He also scored a try … excellent outing. Lood de Jager, right, is congratulated by Neethling Fouche, during the Springboks' match against the Barbarians. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images Jean Kleyn 6: Like a few of his team-mates, he didn't do anything memorable. He made the odd tackle and clean and carry, but it was a quiet performance from the big man. Asenathi Ntlabakanye 7: A solid first outing for the Boks. He scrummed well and won a few penalties. Didn't get much chance to carry the ball. Made some tackles. Malcolm Marx 8: Didn't do anything flashy, but his lineout throwing was excellent, finding his man every time, while he scored a try and was busy in the loose play. Ox Nche 7: Also an unusually quiet outing for the normally busy loosehead prop. He did what he had to in the scrums, but didn't get a chance in the loose. Bench: Marnus van der Merwe 6: The new hooker will be pleased with his contribution, though he got few chances with ball in hand. Found his jumpers and made his tackles. Jan-Hendrik Wessels 6: Scrummed well in the second half and was busy in the loose, though he, too, had few chances in space. He scored a try. Neethling Fouche 6: Like so many of his team-mates, didn't stand out for anything in particular, but scrummed well, and was active in the loose. Franco Mostert 6: He came on in the second half and made his tackles and carries. Didn't really do much at lineout time. Kwagga Smith 7: He came on for Du Preez's HIA and then permanently later on. Was busy in the tight-loose and made a number of tackles. Cobus Reinach 7: Continued where Van den Berg left off, with an energetic showing, that included a few good darting runs. Showed he has plenty to still offer. Manie Libbok 7: Delivered a measured performance, with some good distribution and attacking play. Made the run that led to Arendse's second try. Goal-kicking was spot on. Andre Esterhuizen 7: He came on and packed down at flank, in another surprise play by Rassie Erasmus. Made some strong runs over the gain line and also popped up in the backs.
The South African
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springbok Player Ratings: Big Lood puts on a big show, Tshituka shines
The Springbok team showed up and showed out in Cape Town on Saturday as they outscored the Barbarians eight tries to one in their exhibition match to retain the Qatar Cup. There's no stopping the Springbok juggernaut, at least not for Barbarians, who plunged to a hefty defeat against the world champions. Here we dish out some key player ratings: Lood de Jager 9/10 Three super touches and carries leading up to the opening try scored by Malcolm Marx. Two crucial lineout steals close to the half-hour mark when the Barbarians were looking for a way into the contest. He capped off his fine return to international rugby after a two-year hiatus with a try in the second half. Vincent Tshituka 9/10 Used at the lineout as both a jumper and lifter in this clash, the debutant did his primary job to perfection. But his work in the loose and in openplay were superb too. Tshituka rounded of his first (of many) Bok game with two well-deserved tries. Kurt-Lee Arendse 8/10 In his first game back on South African soil, the speedster reminded the everyone just why he is coach Rassie Erasmus' first-choice winger. The dynamic runner breached the BaaBaas' defence at will, and while some of his Aphelele Fassi 8/10 With this performance, he confirmed that he is not conceding the Springbok No 15 jersey anytime soon. Fassi was rock solid at the back in defence and served as one of South Africa's greatest creative sources on attack. Morne van den Berg 7/10 As the race for a spot in the Springbok match-day squads for the upcoming Test series heats up, Van den Berg just edged ahead of the chasing pack at scrumhalf. He marshalled the game excellently and played a pivotal role in cover defence. Honourable mentions: Cheslin Kolbe and Asenathi Ntlabakanye Kolbe was named the official Man of the Match for his hot-stepping display in front of a crowd that went ballistic every time he touched the ball. Meanwhile, Ntlabakanye not only held his own against the well-accomplished Cian Healy, he completely outplayed the Irish legend. WHO DO YOU THINK WAS THE BEST SPRINGBOK ON THE FIELD TODAY? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
