RUGBY: Mighty Springboks continue to set the standards

CAPE TOWN — South Africa began and ended 2025 as the world’s top-ranked rugby side, and their remarkable depth and dominant scrum have marked them as the team to beat at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The Springboks retained the Rugby Championship title, handed archrivals New Zealand their heaviest-ever Test defeat, completed emphatic victories in France and Ireland, and piled on a record score against a struggling Wales side in Cardiff.

It was not a flawless year, however. South Africa suffered a second-half collapse at Ellis Park to lose to Australia, which secured a rare victory in Johannesburg, and later delivered a below-par performance in defeat to New Zealand as they failed to end an 88-year drought in Auckland.

Despite those setbacks, South Africa won 12 of their 14 Tests in 2025, often convincingly, while using more than 50 players throughout the year. The team also successfully introduced a more expansive attacking approach under attack coach Tony Brown, highlighted by a historic 43–10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington.

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu emerged as a breakout star, scoring a record nine tries between September and November — the most ever by a Springbok in the position — surpassing Morne Steyn and Handre Pollard.

More than individual brilliance, it was the continued evolution of South Africa’s scrum that set them apart. Regardless of personnel, the set-piece consistently delivered when penalties were needed, sending a clear warning to their rivals.

Hooker Malcolm Marx was named World Rugby Player of the Year, although loosehead prop Ox Nche was arguably the most destructive scrummager in the squad and could have been a strong contender for the award had injury not curtailed his season.

Ireland Scrum Dismantled

South Africa’s demolition of the Irish scrum in Dublin stood out as one of the most dominant forward performances in modern Test rugby.

With head coach Rassie Erasmus now secured on a new contract through 2031, international opponents are already grappling with how to counter the Springboks’ power as the next two World Cups approach.

France claimed the 2025 Six Nations title but endured an inconsistent year, including a three-Test tour of New Zealand with a weakened squad that ended in a 3–0 series loss.

Ireland also stumbled, opening the door for England to gain momentum under coach Steve Borthwick. England narrowly missed out on the Six Nations crown by a single point before embarking on an 11-match winning streak that lifted them from seventh to third in the world rankings.

England now appear the most credible challengers to South Africa heading into the 2027 World Cup.

Meanwhile, coach Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions secured a 2–1 series victory over Australia, though the contests were closer than expected as the Wallabies struggled for consistency throughout the year.

Australia will enter a new phase under incoming coach Les Kiss midway through 2026, facing significant challenges as they prepare to host the global showpiece.

In women’s rugby, England lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy with a commanding 33–13 win over Canada in front of a sold-out Twickenham crowd. The tournament set attendance records and generated more than one billion social media impressions, signaling major growth for the women’s game.

Plans for a new independent competition, Rugby360, were floated during the year but faced criticism from the sport’s governing bodies, leading organizers to delay its proposed launch to 2028. -Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters