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CLASS OF '25: The Springbok story so far

football22 July 2025 16:30
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And just like that, Phase One is in the books. The opening chapter of the Springboks’ 2025 international season delivered a statement — loud, proud, and unmistakably green and gold.

Four games. Three official tests. Four emphatic wins.
Thirty tries, 196 points scored and just 41 conceded.
A month of dominance, dynamism and depth.

From fresh faces earning their stripes to seasoned stars rewriting the script, the Boks didn’t just win — they evolved. This was a team building towards something bigger, blending legacy with renewal.

So whether you missed the action or just want to relive a golden stretch of rugby brilliance, here’s the story so far — the month that belonged to the Springboks.

THE BOMB SQUAD - the bomb or bombed out?

When Italy marched the Boks 22 metres back at Loftus for an insane rolling maul try, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said he was “frustrated” afterwards by the performance. Clearly the bomb squad had self-imploded, and not delivered what they needed to.

Erasmus even went as far as saying some first-choice players would be second-choice after that weekend. The message was clear - the bomb squad was put on notice.

It was made worse when Gonzalo Quesada, the Italian coach, referred to his charges as “The grenade squad” that had caused so much damage to Springbok egos in that second half.

It forced a minor change of plans, so much so that the Boks didn’t give a few more players a game in this first phase, and looked rather to seal momentum.

The Bomb squad returned in Mbombela though and took control of the game. Clearly under pressure, players like Handre Pollard and Faf de Klerk were sensational and reminded everyone they weren’t done yet.

But the message is clear. Perform or the Boks will find someone to perform in your place.

RASSIE KEEPS THEM TALKING

The one thing about the Bok coach is that everyone has an opinion about him. Ask anyone in the rugby world and if they love him, they are likely to be Bok supporters. The opposition and foreign media, not so much.

But that doesn’t make much of a difference to the double World Cup-winning coach. Rassie’s innovation and passion for the game is on full display and had the world talking again this month.

Whether it was from trick plays like the Paul Roos lineout move - “The Russian” as those schoolboy coaches dubbed it - to forcing the scrum from the second test kickoff against Italy with Andre Esterhuizen purposely being in front of the ball.

Add to that Rassie’s social media videos talking about skew scrum put-ins and the Bok coach achieved what he wanted. The world was talking about the Boks again, and while they are distracted, the Boks keep evolving.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

While it was a mixed bag for the senior players in the squad, there were some fringe players who made their move.

From Manie Libbok doubling down to put in the best backline performance in the second test in Gqeberha, to Grant Williams showing pace to underline the fact he is the team’s number one scrumhalf at the moment, there were some very evident shifts in momentum in terms of team selection.

Ruan Nortje’s emergence as the man of the match in Mbombela and his consistent performances, Marco van Staden’s shift in Gqeberha and Canan Moodie’s growing confidence at outside centre.  

Add to that Edwill van der Merwe’s penchant for crossing the tryline and Rassie has a lot of food for thought ahead of the Rugby Championship.

VERSATILITY A MASSIVE ASSET

Just ask Cobus Wiese, the new cap who found himself playing No 8 against Georgia. Or better yet, ask Andre Esterhuizen, who packed down at flank against the Barbarians to ignite talk of hybrid players that could be interchanged in any situation.

When Cobus’ brother Jasper was red carded for a headbutt in the second test against Italy, Esterhuizen’s switch was vital, and showed just how valuable it could be going ahead in a test match.

It even got us talking about a possible 8-0 nuclear squad bench where players like Esterhuizen and Kwagga Smith could interchange between backs and forwards, giving opposition coaches a lot more nightmares to think about.

BOK GLORY FOR YOUNG AND OLD

Willie le Roux finally got to the 100th cap match - becoming only the eighth Springbok in history to do so.

And while he won his first cap in 2013 and has had a long history of making Bok fans debate his talent, it won’t be surprising to see him hand over the baton to Aphelele Fassi or Damian Willemse this season as they fight it out for the 15 jersey.

There were a bunch of new caps - Vincent Tshituka became a Springbok in Pretoria, Cobus Wiese and Asenathi Ntlabakanye became Boks in Gqeberha and the front row of Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker and Neethling Fouche (who shed a tear in the anthems to commemorate the moment) got their chance in Mbombela.

There were also returns from injury for De Klerk and Lood de Jager, who had a massive game against the Barbarians.

And with more Boks to return the Rugby Championship depth looks very rosy for the Boks. 

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