Springboks player ratings vs England: Nations Championship

Saturday, 04 July 2026 at 18:40

byTom Sansom

Springboks player ratings vs England as Rassie Erasmus’ men eased to win their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park.

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Scroll down for Springboks player ratings vs England.

Springboks player ratings vs England:

15. DAMIAN WILLEMSE — 8.5

Led out his side alongside Cheslin Kolbe, as the two South African flyers marked their 50th Springbok caps. Immediately in control in the air, and delivered a wonderful chip and chase to make 30m downfield after five minutes. So good under the high ball and could not be budged in the air. Made a crucial tackle on Cadan Murley to deny a late first-half score. Produced a lovely assist for Jesse Kriel to bag himself a second-half try. Took a high shot from Tommy Freeman to end his afternoon on the deck.

14. CHESLIN KOLBE — 7

Looking to build momentum ahead of his incoming move back to South Africa after departing Japan, upon the milestone of his 50th Test cap. Handed the kicking tee, yet sliced his first crack at goal. Skipped over the line with a breathtaking stutter-step to add the Springboks' second. Very lucky not to be left red-faced, as Ollie Chessum's try was cancelled out by the narrowest margin. The hot-stepper was at his eye-catching best in glimpses, yet got caught out by the resurgent England at times.

13. JESSE KRIEL — 8

Arguably the most revered midfield pairing took centre stage for the Boks, as Kriel lined up alongside his long-time teammate Damian de Allende. Swept up well in defence and was able to run neck and neck with Harlequins speedster Cadan Murley to make a crucial first-half intervention. Razor-sharp to react to Fin Smith's offload attempt that was eventually knocked forward, with Seb Atkinson beckoning for the try-line. Kriel cleared the danger with aplomb early in the second half. Raced free for a neat finish midway through the second half, thanks to Damian Willemse's assist.

12. DAMIAN DE ALLENDE — 7

The crash-ball artist was chomping at the bit to get into the mix and let plenty of steam off against the England backline. Box-office carries and measured distribution asked countless questions of Borthwick's side, as it took multiple men to bring him down and nullify the offload option.

11. KURT-LEE ARENDSE — 7

No mistake upon his first trip to the 22m, as he forced his way beyond Marcus Smith to score the third try of the afternoon. The flying Bulls man bagged his score after just 13 minutes with raw power and aggression. Under some scrutiny for a deliberate knock-on after 27 minutes, and sent to the sin bin for his illegal actions, which England capitalised upon through Ellis Genge's try.

10. MANIE LIBBOK — 6.5

Plenty of expectation on his shoulders, given the opportunity opened up by the injury to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and being picked ahead of the legendary Handre Pollard. Confident to put boot to ball in the early going and lead the green and gold's decision-making. Led the line with a frantic tempo that kept the England defence on its heels. While it was not the headline-making performance akin to Sacha at the helm, it was a steady effort from the stand-in out-half.

9. GRANT WILLIAMS — 8

Despite the pre-match expectation of a Springbok call for the in-form Embrose Papier, it was Grant Williams who started in the nine jersey. The halfback brought real venom to the attacking line, with the ball shipped away to Libbok at a fierce rate of knots, before he skipped away for a try early in the second half to re-establish the 10-point lead. It looked like Williams was playing in slow motion at times, as he dodged and weaved past England defenders with an extra second to pick the right pass. Awesome performance, with a beauty of a box kick to boot.

1. OX NCHE — 5 (OFF 9')

A thrilling contest in the front row, as Ox Nche locked horns with the in-form England tight-head Joe Heyes. Made an incredible break in the build-up to the second try, as he bulldozed over Ollie Chessum. Replaced after just nine minutes despite his protests to muscle through his ankle injury. A bulldozing cameo all the same.

2. MALCOLM MARX — 8

The reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, there are plenty of superlatives to describe the best hooker in rugby today. A clever overthrown lineout from the first set-piece of the afternoon laid the foundations for the Springboks' first try after just two minutes. It was not the dominant scrum-time display that many neutrals anticipated, but Marx led the forward pack with his steely, calm confidence to force Borthwick's men to fold in the latter stages. Ended his game with his 27th Test try, the most of any South African forward.

3. THOMAS DU TOIT — 7 (OFF 45')

The former Bath man is back on South African soil, ahead of his incoming move to the Sharks for the new season. Du Toit wrestled against the Baby Rhino, Ellis Genge, and butted his way over the whitewash for the first try of the game after just two minutes. Bounced backwards by his former West Country rival Genge as the Bristol man scored a late first-half try, yet there is no denying the attritional intensity that du Toit brought to the clash.

4. PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT — 7.5

A late change to the script for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was promoted to the role of Springbok captain following the late withdrawal of Siya Kolisi. Du Toit also moved into the row following the pre-match withdrawal of Eben Etzebeth, such is the versatility of the loose forward. The rangy lock had his offloading skills on display, with his multi-tool contributions shining upon only his second time wearing the South African captain's armband.

5. RUAN NORTJE — 7

The steely experience of Nortje chipped mercilessly away at the England team, with no nonsense on either side of the ball. Adjusted to his second-row partnership, as the leaner Pieter-Steph du Toit made for a scrum-time adjustment with Etzebeth out of action. Nortje dug in for the hard yards time and again and was a constant thorn in the side of the men in white.

6. PAUL DE VILLIERS — 6.5 (OFF 45')

A late addition to the squad, as Kolisi was withdrawn from the matchday squad. This opened the door for the Stormer to make his Test debut, a massive moment for the young back-rower. Overeager to make his mark and penalised for offside as he flew off his line. Not the star-making first impression he would have hoped for, yet a steady first crack at Test level for the flanker.

7. CAMERON HANEKOM — 6.5 (OFF 45')

The back row was not too busy for the first 12 minutes, as South Africa flew out of the gates to a steady three-try lead. However, he was called into action for the defensive sets and was a tireless workhorse at the gain-line. Not the 100% tackle completion rate that he would have wished for, as Marcus Smith skipped beyond the flanker on a couple of occasions. Withdrawn early in the second half, with Rassie freshening up the back-row ranks.

8. JASPER WIESE — 6 (OFF 65')

Out of the gate with a bang, as the bulldozing number eight took the fight straight to the England gain-line. Thunderous carries flew in from the eight-man, yet he did little to deny Ellis Genge, who bagged a tap-and-go try at his very own Ellis Park. Wiese was then flattened by his Leicester Tigers teammate George Martin in the final play of the first half, as the England lock grabbed a try on the buzzer. Determined to make amends in the second half, he set the precedent with an immense carry and had a far stronger second half on both sides of the ball.

REPLACEMENTS

16. HAN-HENDRIK WESSELS — 6 (ON 65')

Into the match for the closing quarter, Wessels kept the ship tight for the remainder of the match, with the Springbok faithful rallying behind their revered set-piece to the very end.

17. GERHARD STEENEKAMP (ON 9')

Thrust into the fold after just nine minutes, as Sharks man Ox Nche suffered an ankle injury following a formidable downfield break. Frustrated to make a slight error as he knocked the ball on after 20 minutes to tee up the first scrum.

18. ZACHARY PORTHERN — 7 (ON 50')

Plenty of excitement around the young tight-head, who got his opportunity for a crack at the Test stage at Ellis Park. The Baby Boks graduate is only 22 years old, yet held his own at the scrum against the experienced and in-form Ellis Genge.

19. MARCO VAN STADEN — 6 (ON 45')

Flung into the fray alongside his Springbok teammate Ben-Jason Dixon, with a double substitution intended to lift the intensity and secure the win. The former Leicester Tigers man was a wrecking ball from the bench.

20. BEN-JASON DIXON — 6 (ON 45')

The in-form Stormers man got his opportunity early in the second half and was quick to lay into the England attacking line with some thunderous chop tackles.

21. COBUS REINACH — 5 (ON 67')

What a formidable weapon to bring off the bench. A 50-plus Test Springbok replaced Grant Williams, and the replacement nine was slow to get into the tempo of the match, as Alex Coles wrestled over the white line.

22. ANDRE ESTERHUIZEN — 5 (ON 65')

The former Harlequins centre was put into the back row, such is the new lease of life given to the giant upon his return to the land of the Springboks. It was not the crash-line frenzy that was once known around Twickenham, yet the big man did close out the show with a series of good defensive contributions.

23. CANAN MOODIE — 6 (ON 67')

On into the match to replace Kurt-Lee Arendse out wide, after the wing returned from his sin bin. Handed the last 13 minutes, Moodie did his job to see his side out.