There are a handful of South Africa players who would be automatic selections in my team of the year: Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian willemse. Pieter-Steph du Toit has been World Rugby player of the year twice and, frankly, he coudl win it every year given the quality of his Test performances. But he barely plays club rugby in Japan. And so, for his year-round contribution, I am giving it to Thomas du Toit: the best tight-head prop in the world, who anchors the most destructive scrum in the world and was critical to bath winning the Gallagher Prem title.
He summed up everything about 2025. Versatility – being able to scrummage at loose-head and tight-head – and power. A treble with Bath, and many more pots with the Boks. Epic.
Du Toit scores for Bath against northampton. The prop was instrumental in the club’s title-winning campaign last season. DAVID ROGERS/GETTY
John Westerby
George Ford Sale and England
It looked as though Ford had been overtaken by younger models in the pecking order of England fly halves, but he responded admirably by rejuvenating his game and battling his way back to the front of the queue. That is the way that competition for places should work. Ford’s tactical ingenuity, his vast experience and his immense skill should now, in turn, challenge Fin Smith and Marcus Smith to raise their games further. If Steve Borthwick, the head coach, can manage the situation adeptly, he should now have a group of playmakers capable of making England a real force at the next World cup.Elgan Alderman
Louis Bielle-Biarrey Bordeaux Bègles and France
There is no more thrilling sight, and ofen no more iJohn Westerby
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu South Africa 67 Argentina 30
This was the fly-half performance that had everything. The fact that he scored 37 points in a 67-30 win doesn’t tell the half of it. Three fabulous tries, every one of them showcasing a different aspect of his skillset, ten kicks at goal out of 11, and an inch-perfect cross-kick to create another try for Cheslin Kolbe signified that Feinberg-Mngomezulu had officially served notice of his impending challenge to Antoine Dupont as the world’s best player. Whether he can sustain such levels of performance promises to be one of the most compelling storylines of 2026.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, seen scoring against Wales, has staked his claim as the best player in the world this year
MICHAEL STEELE/GETTY
Elgan Alderman
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu South Africa 67 Argentina 30
It’s hard to look beyond Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at Kings park. Thirty-seven points – three tries, eight conversions, two penalties – is a handy return for a fly half. If only he had slotted a drop-goal to make it a round 40 and a full house. At club level,a number of Northampton Saints players – alex Coles,Tommy Freeman,Henry Pollock – would be in contention for their Champions Cup semi-final level against Leinster,so too Jack Willis in the Top 14 final. I’ll nominate a cameo too: Santiago Carreras in the second half of Argentina’s win at Murrayfield.
Team performance of the year
South Africa’s recent victory over France significantly boosted the team’s confidence, sparking an remarkable streak of 11 consecutive wins. This momentum clearly carried over into their Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand.
Elgan Alderman
South Africa achieved a commanding 43-10 Rugby Championship win against New zealand in Wellington.
The All Blacks have shown a decline in form over the past few years, and this result in Wellington underscored that trend. After trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Springboks unleashed a dominant performance, scoring five unanswered tries and overwhelming the home side. the victory wasn’t just about skillful plays like Ethan Hooker’s; it also featured powerful forward play. This defeat marks New zealand’s largest ever, surpassing their previous record of 35-7 – also inflicted by the Springboks at Twickenham in 2023.Adding to the excitement, Northampton secured a notable 37-34 win against Leinster in Dublin.
Key Takeaways
- South Africa’s win over France ignited a winning streak of 11 games.
- The Springboks defeated New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington, marking a significant victory.
- This is New Zealand’s largest ever defeat, exceeding their previous loss to South Africa.
- Northampton defeated Leinster 37-34 in a thrilling match in Dublin.
Worth a look