After a victorious 2024 season that saw the Springboks reclaim the Rugby Championship, there were high expectations of the Bokke heading into the 2025 season. And the South African team did not disappoint, as the Bokke defended its Rugby Championship title and ended the season with a high winning percentage, despite a mid-season hiccup.
Check out our review below of the Springboks’ 2025 season:
Inbound Tour
Results:
June 28
South Africa (54) vs Barbarian F.C. (7), DHL Stadium, Cape Town (Won)
July 5
South Africa (42) vs Italy (24), Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (Won)
July 12
South Africa (45) vs Italy (0), Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha (Won)
July 19
South Africa (55) vs Georgia (10), Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (Won)
Summary:
The Springboks had a relatively easy start to the season, playing two test matches against Italy, a sole test against Georgia, and the first-ever fixture against the Barbarians on South African soil. The Bokke easily won all of these matches, with the closest test being the fixture against Italy at Loftus Versfeld, where Italy outscored the Springboks in the second half. The best performance was against Italy in Gqeberha, with the Bokke shutting out Italy on the scoreboard.
Despite these comfortable victories, the Bokke were not at their best in these matches as early-season rust was shaken off. Coach Rassie Erasmus utilised these tests as an opportunity to rotate squad players and build depth, particularly in the backline, which resulted in both the attack and defence being disjointed at times.
Rugby Championship
Results:
16 August
South Africa (22) v Australia (38), Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg (lost)
23 August
South Africa (30) v Australia (22), Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (won)
6 September
New Zealand (24) vs South Africa (17), Eden Park, Auckland (lost)
13 September
New Zealand (13) vs South Africa (43), Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (won)
27 September
South Africa (67) vs Argentina (30), Kings Park Stadium, Durban (won)
4 October
Argentina (27) vs South Africa (29), Twickenham Stadium, London, (won)
|
Pos |
Team |
Played |
W |
D |
L |
PF |
PA |
PD |
TF |
TA |
TB |
LB |
Pts |
|
1 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
208 |
151 |
+57 |
27 |
19 |
2 |
1 |
19 |
|
|
2 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
159 |
151 |
+8 |
21 |
17 |
2 |
1 |
19 |
|
|
3 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
152 |
165 |
−13 |
21 |
17 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
162 |
214 |
−52 |
14 |
30 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
Summary:
In the closest ever Rugby Championship, the Springboks managed to retain both the Rugby Championship title and the Freedom Cup for the first time, edging the All Blacks on points difference. The Springboks started the tournament in ignominious fashion, blowing a 22-0 lead against the Wallabies to eventually lose 38-22.
However, the men in green and gold managed to turn things around quickly, winning the following week's fixture against the Wallabies in Cape Town 30-22. After the South Africans lost the all-important fixture in Auckland, 24-17 to the All Blacks, it seemed as if they wouldn't be able to retain their Rugby Championship title. This pessimism was dispelled the following week in Wellington, as Rassie’s men put in one of their best performances ever to smash the All Blacks 43 – 10. This thrashing humiliated the All Blacks, as it was their biggest ever defeat in test history.
The Bokke were at their best again against Argentina in Durban, as they ran riot in the second half to thrash the Argentinians 67-30, with star flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoring a record 37 points. The Springboks simply needed to win the following week in London to wrap up the Rugby Championship, which they duly did beating Argentina 29-27. The final score flattered the Pumas as the Boks led 29-13 with about 15 minutes left.
End-of-Year Tour
Results:
1 November
Japan (7) vs South Africa (61), Wembley Stadium, London (won)
8 November
France (17) v South Africa (32), Stade de France, Paris (won)
15 November
Italy (14) v South Africa (32), Allianz Stadium, Turin (won)
22 November
Ireland (13) v South Africa (24), Aviva Stadium, Dublin (won)
29 November
Wales (0) v South Africa (73), Principality Stadium, Cardiff (won)
Summary:
The Springboks comprehensively confirmed that it is the best team in the world, as it easily won all of the test matches on its end-of-year tour by handy margins. The most heroic performances came in the tests against France and Italy, where the team was reduced to 14 men on both occasions. Against France, the team managed to overturn a 14-13 halftime deficit and win 32-17, despite a debatable permanent red card to Lood De Jager at the end of the first half, while against Italy the team had to overcome a permanent red card to lock Franco Mostert in the first 10 minutes.
The Springbok’s most physically dominating performance came against Ireland in Dublin, with the Boks decimating the Irish in the scrums and reducing them to 12 men at one stage due to yellow cards. The team also enjoyed two huge wins against Japan and Wales, with a 2nd-string Wales enduring the team’s heaviest ever defeat on home soil and unable to get on the scoreboard.
Conclusion
The Springboks advanced their game in a highly successful 2025, despite some mid-season hiccups and disappointments, especially the shock Ellis Park loss and the inability to finally defeat the All blacks in Auckland.
When the Bokke were on song they were near unbeatable and imposed massive defeats on New Zealand and Argentina. Assistant coach Tony Brown added new attack elements to the Springboks’ game, complementing the visionary strategy and leadership of head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Both the team and their fans will be eager to see the team evolve to even greater heights in 2026, when the All Blacks will arrive for their first test series on South African soil in 30 years.
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