Team of the Week: Rugby Championship Round 6 - Ruck
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Team of the Week: Rugby Championship Round 6

6 October 2025
Tom Sansom

The 2025 Rugby Championship is in the books, as South Africa claim back-to-back titles following a dramatic final round of action. It was the Springboks’ championship to lose as Rassie Erasmus’ men entered Round 6 in poll position and clashed with Argentina at the Allianz Stadium.

The Boks edged past a stubborn Pumas outfit, who pushed South Africa right to the wire at the home of English Rugby. The back-and-forth battle ended 29-27 in favour of the Springboks, with Siya Kolisi then lifting the Rugby Championship trophy to cement South Africa as the Southern Hemisphere’s superior side. On the other side of the world, Australia hosted New Zealand in Perth, with the All Blacks bagging a solid 28-14 win on the road.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: 2025 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6

15. Max Jorgensen (Australia)

Max Jorgensen continues to make the Wallabies’ No.15 jersey his own with another performance full of spark and intent. The 21-year-old looked right at home patrolling the backfield, constantly threatening when he joined the line.

Australia’s best moments came down his edge, where Jorgensen’s sharp footwork and timing opened gaps for his teammates to exploit. His 78 running metres from nine carries tell the story of his influence, but the real mark of maturity came in his decision-making — knowing when to counter, when to hold, and when to strike. There’s a quiet authority building in his game, and you sense the Wallabies have unearthed something special at fullback.

14. Bautista Delguy (Argentina)

Bautista Delguy wrapped up his Rugby Championship with the assured touch of a man in form. His brace of tries blended instinct with execution, the first a classy team finish capped by neat footwork, the second pure anticipation and hunger.

He was tidy under the high ball and a constant menace chasing kicks, giving Argentina real stability on the flank. Delguy has rediscovered the sharpness that made him such a threat early in his Test career, and this outing underlined his importance to Los Pumas’ balance out wide.

13. Quinn Tupaea (New Zealand)

Quinn Tupaea has had to bide his time for a big All Blacks moment — and this was it. The centre brought punch and purpose to everything he did, setting the tone early with a thunderous carry that paved the way for Leroy Carter’s try.

From there, Tupaea was relentless: strong in contact, sharp in support and devastating in defence. His chase-down tackle on Max Jorgensen was pure commitment, while his two tries, one from a clever Barrett kick, another via brute strength and a savage fend, showcased both sides of his game. This was Tupaea at his combative best, and it’ll be tough for head coach Scott Robertson to leave him out after this.

12. Damian de Allende (South Africa)

It’s easy to call Damian de Allende a battering ram, but this was a reminder he’s far more than that. The Springbok centre blended raw power with deft touch, punching holes one minute and dropping a perfectly weighted chip the next. His link play with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jesse Kriel was seamless, and his second-half assist for Kriel was straight from the playmaker’s handbook.

When South Africa needed gain-line dominance, dee Allende delivered. When they needed composure, he provided it. It was a complete midfield display from a man who’s mastered the art of balance.

11. Filipo Daugunu (Australia)

Back in the starting side and back to his best, Filipo Daugunu was all fire and footwork in a busy first-half performance. The Wallabies found plenty of joy down the left edge, and Daugunu was central to it — carrying hard, linking beautifully with Max Jorgensen and Harry Wilson, and making metres every time he saw daylight.

Daugunu even reminded everyone of his aerial ability with a confident two-handed take under pressure. Defensively, he threw himself into contact and never let up. After a stop-start year, this was a timely reminder of just how dangerous Daugunu can be when he’s switched on.

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)

Following up a world-class performance is never easy, but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu once again showed his class and composure. He played right on the line, challenging defenders with slick footwork and quick hands, while keeping the Boks ticking with smart distribution.

A couple of kicks missed their mark, but his overall control and creativity stood out. There’s an ease to the way he runs a game that belies his age, and even when not producing fireworks, he dictates the rhythm. Another step forward for South Africa’s newest star in the No.10 shirt.

9. Cobus Reinach (South Africa)

This was vintage Cobus Reinach — sharp, instinctive, and lethal when it mattered most. Feeding off his dominant pack, the scrum-half set the tempo from the outset and never allowed Argentina to settle. His two tries came from intelligent support lines and pure awareness, while his box kicking and distribution kept the Boks firmly in control.

Reinach’s speed around the fringes gave South Africa their cutting edge, and he was rightly named man of the match. Few No.9s in the world can shift gears quite like him when the game opens up.

1. Ox Nché (South Africa)

Ox Nché reminded everyone why he’s one of the most destructive looseheads in world rugby. His scrummaging was ruthless, dismantling Argentina’s debutant tighthead Coria Marchetti and setting the tone up front. Even when the Boks went down to seven men, Nché kept the squeeze on.

Around the park he was typically industrious — chopping low in defence, clearing out rucks, and offering his trademark bursts in tight channels. A brutal, brilliant performance that reaffirmed his status as the anchor of this Springbok pack.

2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

Back to his destructive best, Malcolm Marx delivered a hooker’s clinic at Twickenham. He crossed for two well-taken tries, climbing higher up South Africa’s all-time scoring charts, and was a menace at the breakdown, winning key turnovers to snuff out Argentine momentum.

Marx’s set-piece work was impeccable, and his reaction to a shaky moment before half-time showed his trademark steel. When Marx is this tuned in, the Springboks are simply a different beast. A statement outing from the powerhouse No.2.

3. Fletcher Newell (New Zealand)

Fletcher Newell produced the kind of all-round performance every coach dreams of from a tighthead. He bossed the scrum exchanges, drawing penalties and giving the All Blacks a vital platform to play from. Defensively, he was immense — 19 tackles, none missed — setting the tone for the forwards with his work rate and precision. At just 24, Newell is starting to look like a long-term cornerstone for New Zealand’s pack. This was a performance full of substance, not flash — and all the better for it.

4. Ruan Nortje (South Africa)

Ruan Nortje doesn’t do quiet shifts — he just gets through mountains of work. The Bulls lock was everywhere, hitting rucks, claiming restarts, and making tackle after tackle in a display of pure effort. His lineout presence was reliable as ever, and his defensive graft helped stifle Argentina’s forward momentum. Nortje’s consistency is remarkable; he may not make the highlight reel often, but he’s one of the first names Tony Brown will pencil in every week. Tireless and unselfish — the perfect second-row partner.

5. Fabian Holland (New Zealand)

A late call-up but you’d never have known it, Fabian Holland played with composure and physicality beyond his years. He racked up 14 tackles in 50 minutes, steadied a shaky lineout, and made some crucial recoveries under pressure. What stood out most was his calmness — never rushed, never flustered, just quietly effective in every collision. For a young lock still learning the ropes, this was an encouraging step that hinted at serious long-term potential.

6. Kwagga Smith (South Africa)

Kwagga Smith came off the bench like a man possessed. His energy was infectious, snapping into tackles and turning over ball when South Africa needed fresh bite. Replacing captain Siya Kolisi late on, Smith made an immediate impact, lifting the tempo and ensuring the Boks stayed in control. He’s made a career out of changing games in 20-minute bursts, and this was another perfect example. Explosive, committed, and relentless — Smith was everywhere.

7. Marcos Kremer (Argentina)

Marcos Kremer simply doesn’t do half measures. The Argentine flanker was at his destructive best, throwing himself into collisions with trademark ferocity and refusing to take a backward step. He made 17 tackles and carried 13 times in a typically all-action display before a head knock cut his night short. Even in defeat, Kremer embodied everything that’s good about Los Pumas — grit, aggression, and total commitment. An ironman effort from one of rugby’s great enforcers.

8. Harry Wilson (Australia)

Harry Wilson led from the front once again, dragging the Wallabies into the fight through sheer willpower. His carrying was relentless, his link play sharp, and his work rate relentless from start to finish. Wilson’s combination with Jorgensen and Daugunu down the left edge caused the All Blacks constant problems, and his determination in the build-up to Len Ikitau’s try summed up his captaincy — all heart and hustle. A performance full of leadership, lungs and grit from Australia’s standout forward of the campaign.

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