All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks: Rugby Championship Round Four

Saturday, 13 September 2025 at 10:05

byCharlie Elliott

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks as New Zealand were dismantled by South Africa in Round Four of the Rugby Championship.

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A patched-up, injury-hit Springboks outfit dished out a brutal rugby masterclass to the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday, storming to a record-breaking 43-10 victory.

Down 10-7 at the break, the Boks flipped the script with a six-try blitz, bagging maximum log points to keep their Rugby Championship defence alive and kicking.

The win not only sealed the Freedom Cup but also launched South Africa back to World No.1 — a serious statement to the rest of world rugby.

Scroll down for All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks.

All Blacks: 10

Springboks: 43

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks:

15. Damian McKenzie – 6

McKenzie kicked well from the tee and added control from the back. He sparked the first try with his tempo and quick thinking. A calm presence under the high ball and a key figure in managing territory for New Zealand.

14. Will Jordan – 6.5

Jordan brought urgency on defence with a key tackle on Kolbe, slowing South Africa’s momentum. He made a searing break through the Boks’ line but let it slip with a poor pass and an overhit kick. A mixed bag, but always threatening.

13. Billy Proctor – 5

A strong physical presence when carrying, but his risky pass handed Kolbe a gift-wrapped intercept try. Solid otherwise, though that moment proved costly. Still combined well with Jordie Barrett in midfield despite the error.

12. Jordie Barrett – 6

Pulled off a massive aerial take under pressure and produced a stunning try-saving tackle on Kolbe. Showed quick hands in build-up play and offered consistency in defence and distribution. A decent performance in both attack and cover defence.

11. Leroy Carter – 7

On Test debut, Carter made an immediate impact with elusive running and confident stepping. Scored the opening try in the corner and looked composed throughout. A former sevens star who looked right at home on the Test stage.

10. Beauden Barrett – 5.5

Didn’t grab the headlines but played a smart game, often making clever decisions that went unnoticed. Kept the backline ticking and provided plenty of experience in a backline with newer combinations.

9. Noah Hotham – N/A

A frustrating night for Hotham, who left the field after just nine minutes. Little chance to make an impression after returning from injury to start the match.

8. Wallace Sititi – 6

Delivered a crunching tackle on Siya Kolisi and stayed busy around the breakdown. Didn’t see much ball in attack but made his presence felt physically. Continues to grow in confidence with every Test appearance, however today wasn't his best.

7. Ardie Savea – 6

Quiet with ball in hand but worked tirelessly on defence. Put in plenty of unseen effort at the breakdown and in support play. A hard-working performance with not much end product from the All Blacks’ ever-reliable loose forward.

6. Simon Parker – 6.5

Aggressive and direct with ball in hand, regularly smashing through defenders. Produced a slick offload to Savea in a moment of real quality. Brought energy and punch from the blindside.

5. Tupou Vaa’i – 6

Unselfishly delivered the assist for the opening try with a simple but important pass. Did his job in the tight and helped set a platform up front. A dependable effort from the lock.

4. Scott Barrett (c) – 5.5

Led from the front with consistent defensive work. Not flashy, but effective in the engine room. Helped steer the side through tricky patches with calm decision-making and effort around the contact area. In terms of captain's work though, he did not lead massively by example.

3. Tyrel Lomax – 5.5

Had a tough time at scrum time before being subbed early in the second half. Not much chance to influence elsewhere and lacked opportunities to showcase his usual power game.

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 6.5

Showed up regularly around the park with strong counter-rucking and punchy carries. Lost one key lineout but overall played with good intensity. Another solid shift before being replaced just after the 50-minute mark.

1. Ethan de Groot – 5.5

Quick hands helped shift the ball for the first try and contributed well in general play. Scrummaging wasn’t his strongest suit on the night, leading to an early substitution.