The Rugby Championship 2025 Team Of The Tournament: Springboks Dominate
The Rugby Championship 2025 Team Of The Tournament: Springboks Dominate
Here's The Rugby Championship 2025 Team Of The Tournament following South Africa's second consecutive title after beating Argentina at Twickenham.
The 2025 Rugby Championship was everything the Southern Hemisphere game should be: brutal, fast and fiercely intelligent.
South Africa stood tall as the key top dog once again, with the Springboks reasserting themselves as the benchmark of world rugby.
Their forward pack mauled opposition into submission, while a new generation of playmakers brought creativity to their clinical framework.
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New Zealand, despite flashes of brilliance, lacked consistency, while Australia showed the kind of renewal that hints at better days ahead.
Argentina fought with its usual defiance, taking another step toward true parity through defensive resilience and composure under pressure.
Across six rounds, the margins were fine, yet the Springboks’ balance of experience and form proved unshakeable. They topped the charts for tackle success and points scored, while their kicking and breakdown efficiency suffocated opponents.
The All Blacks remained the most dangerous counterattacking outfit in the competition, while Australia’s young core showed the raw pace and flair that will define the team's next cycle.
Argentina’s discipline and tactical growth kept them competitive every week.
This was a Championship defined by contrasts: the brute force of South Africa’s forwards, the relentless tempo of New Zealand’s back row and the Australian backline’s daring edge.
Below, is the definitive Team of the Tournament, a blend of heavy artillery, youthful flair and ice-cold execution.
1. Ox Nche – South Africa
No prop imposed himself more completely across the competition.
Nche’s scrummaging was immaculate, anchoring South Africa’s set-piece that operated at above 90% success.
His mobility in open play stood out in multiple fixtures as he consistently won the gain line and provided quick ball in the carry, especially in the decisive rounds against Argentina and New Zealand.
His defensive engine remained elite, often hitting double figures in tackles without missing one.
2. Julian Montoya – Argentina
Argentina’s heartbeat once again.
Montoya’s reliability at line-out time and leadership under pressure steadied Los Pumas throughout the tournament.
He topped the Argentinian tackle count in four of the six rounds and averaged double-digit carries per game.
His discipline and accuracy made him a pillar in tight exchanges, while his work at the breakdown offered crucial turnovers in transition.
3. Thomas du Toit – South Africa
The cornerstone of the world’s best scrum this season.
Du Toit was ruthless in contact, bullying opposing tightheads and offering real punch in the carry.
His breakdown work often went unnoticed but was vital in maintaining front-foot possession.
He added over 30 tackles across the tournament with an efficiency near ninety percent, proving he is more than just a scrummager.
4. Eben Etzebeth – South Africa
The figurehead of South Africa’s forward dominance.
Etzebeth’s aerial command and leadership at line-out time gave his side a constant edge.
He led all locks for dominant tackles and was the emotional spark behind the Boks’ surge in the closing rounds.
His all-round presence, defensive intensity and ability to galvanize those around him separated him from the field.
5. Nick Frost – Australia
A breakout year that confirmed his world-class potential.
Frost’s athleticism and line-out skill were at the heart of Australia’s resurgence, particularly in their win over Argentina.
He averaged more than 10 carries per game and played more minutes than any other Australian forward. His calm under pressure and precision on restarts were vital in an otherwise inconsistent pack.
6. Pieter Steph du Toit – South Africa
As relentless as ever. Du Toit’s physicality and work rate across six rounds bordered on superhuman.
He ranked among the top 3 for tackles completed and line-out wins, and his performance against Argentina with 18 tackles and a try epitomized his two-way impact.
His defensive coverage out wide shut down countless attacking patterns.
7. Ardie Savea – New Zealand
The competition’s heartbeat.
Savea remains New Zealand’s most complete player, combining poise and ferocity in equal measure.
He carried more than any other All Black forward and topped their tackle count with an 89% success rate.
Beyond the numbers, it was his leadership under duress, particularly against Australia, that stood out.
8. Harry Wilson – Australia
Wilson delivered on years of promise with a consistent campaign of power and precision.
He led all No. 8s in meters carried, routinely crossing the gain line and producing several try involvements.
His presence at the base of the scrum gave the Wallabies structure, and his link play offered a rare balance of subtlety and strength.
9. Cam Roigard – New Zealand
The tournament’s breakout halfback.
Roigard injected pace and control into New Zealand’s attack, dictating tempo while maintaining accuracy in the pass.
His double against Australia showcased his instincts around the fringes, while his kicking remained a consistent weapon.
The most dynamic No. 9 in the competition by distance.
10. Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu – South Africa
A generational breakthrough.
Feinberg Mngomezulu’s composure under pressure and tactical control were staggering for a player of his age.
His boot accounted for over 50 points across the tournament, but it was his game management, varying tempo and positional awareness that impressed most.
The Boks’ 70-point demolition of Argentina was his masterpiece.
11. Max Jorgensen – Australia
Fearless and inventive, Jorgensen was electric throughout.
His try against South Africa in Cape Town turned the match on its head, and his kick return meters were among the highest of any back-three player.
He brought urgency every time he touched the ball and never shied from defensive work.
12. Len Ikitau – Australia
Back to his clinical best.
Ikitau’s defensive reads were world-class, often shutting down overlaps before they formed.
His attacking partnership with James O’Connor and Jorgensen gave Australia rare cohesion, and his 30-plus tackles without a miss through the final rounds exemplified composure.
13. Canan Moodie – South Africa
Moodie’s evolution continues at a pace.
His acceleration, finishing and positional awareness made him a nightmare for defenders.
Against Australia, he scored a try and created another with an audacious offload. His defensive spacing and aerial work were equally strong.
14. Leroy Carter – New Zealand
A revelation for the All Blacks.
Carter’s blend of work rate and attacking flair redefined New Zealand’s wing play this season.
He crossed the try line in four consecutive tests and ranked in the top 5 for defenders beaten.
His understanding with Roigard created multiple scoring chances.
15. Santiago Carreras – Argentina
Carreras was once again Argentina’s metronome.
His kicking game kept the Pumas competitive in every fixture, while his composure under the high ball set the tone for their defensive organization.
He averaged more than 300 kicking meters per match and produced try assists from deep positions in key moments.
Replacements
16. Malcolm Marx (South Africa): A force of nature off the bench. Marx’s carrying and breakdown work changed matches, particularly late against Argentina and New Zealand.
17. James Slipper (Australia): The veteran loosehead’s experience steadied Australia’s set-piece, guiding younger forwards through pressure moments.
18. Joel Sclavi (Argentina): Reliable and disciplined, his scrummaging gave the Pumas stability whenever he entered.
19. Fabian Holland (New Zealand): Continued his steady rise with composed minutes in high-pressure contests, especially against South Africa.
20. Marcos Kremer (Argentina): Relentless in defence and fearless in contact, Kremer epitomised Argentina’s fight.
21. Tate McDermott (Australia): A spark off the bench, bringing speed and invention when games hung in the balance.
22. James O’Connor (Australia): Brought calm, control and spark in the closing moments. His distribution and composure steadied the Wallaby backline.
23. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): Even in shorter bursts, Kolbe’s brilliance was undiminished. His try against New Zealand was vintage: pace, precision and audacity.
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