{"209":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","order":0,"hasData":1},"210":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","order":1,"hasData":1},"3":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","order":3,"hasData":1},"201":{"title":"Gallagher Premiership","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","order":4,"hasData":1},"204":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","order":5,"hasData":1},"203":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","order":6,"hasData":1},"217":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","order":7,"hasData":1},"211":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"119","oid":"211","order":8,"hasData":1},"208":{"title":"Bunnings NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","order":9,"hasData":1},"242":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","order":10,"hasData":1},"243":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","order":11,"hasData":1},"340":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","order":12,"hasData":1},"205":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","order":13,"hasData":1},"207":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","order":14,"hasData":1},"248":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","order":16,"hasData":1},"274":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","order":17,"hasData":1},"249":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","order":18,"hasData":1},"365":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","order":19,"hasData":1},"2000":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"2000","oid":"2000","order":20,"hasData":1},"1":{"title":"Rugby Hybrid Friendlies","uri":"rugby-hybrid-friendlies","id":"1","oid":"1","order":21,"hasData":1},"269":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","order":22,"hasData":1},"221":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","order":23,"hasData":1},"214":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","order":24,"hasData":1},"141":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby-pacific","id":"141","oid":"141","order":25,"hasData":1},"216":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","order":25,"hasData":1},"219":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","order":26,"hasData":1},"120":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","order":27,"hasData":1},"862":{"title":"WXV 1","uri":"wxv-1","id":"862","oid":"862","order":29,"hasData":1},"863":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","order":30,"hasData":1},"864":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","order":31,"hasData":1},"151":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","order":32,"hasData":1},"116":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","order":34,"hasData":1}}

Player ratings: World flops

The World XV were expected to give the Springboks a match they would remember but they failed to do so as they succumbed to a 36-point defeat.

They conceded seven tries and their lack of time together could be used as a reason for their fairly lacklustre performance.

However, despite the overall performance, the match proved a fitting farewell for Springbok legend Bakkies Botha – who played his final match on South African soil.

Tauriq Ebrahim rates the World XV!

15 Delon Armitage

Showed glimpses of what he is capable of when he got his hands on the ball but was fairly quiet for most of the match.

6/10

14 Lachlan Turner

Fairly quiet game with not much ball to play with, however, he showed his ability under the high ball under sever pressure.

5/10

13 JJ Engelbrecht

If this performance was anything to go by, he surely hurt whatever slim chance he had of heading to the World Cup.

4/10

12 Maxime Mermoz

Had his hands full Damian de Allende in midfield and was forced to do more defending than attacking.

5/10

11 David Smith

Not much ball went out wide and never had much to do on defence or attack.

5/10

10 Mike Harris

Got shown up by De Allende in the first try of the match but redeemed himself somewhat with a good kicking effort.

5/10

9 Luke Burgess

Did not have much possession to work with and did what he could under the circumstances.

6/10

8 Luke Whitelock

Steady performance at the back of the scrum and had a good defensive work-rate.

7/10

7 Steffon Armitage

Brilliant all-round performance that showed England what they will be missing at the World Cup

8/10

6 Jordan Taufua

Worked brilliantly alongside S Armitage at the breakdowns. Made a nuisance of himself and secured possession at will for the World XV.

8/10

5 Bakkies Botha

Showed his metal for one last time after returning to the field following a concussion test. A fitting send-off for the Springbok.

7/10

4 Ali Williams

Suffered an injury in the 27th minute which brought a premature end to his illustrious career.

5/10

3 Carl Hayman

Solid at scrum time and gave Jannie du Plessis a few headaches.

6/10

2 Craig Burden

Grabbed the only try of the match for the World XV in an otherwise quiet performance.

6/10

1 Gurthrö Steenkamp

Proved to be a good test for Tendai Mtawarira at scrum time.

6/10

Replacements:

16 David Roumieu (on for Burden, 41 mins)

The replacement hooker did not offer much during his time on the field.

5/10

17 Alexandre Menini (on for Steenkamp, 51 mins)

Provided a good test for Trevor Nyakane at scrum time.

5/10

18 Petrus du Plessis (on for Hayman, 51 mins)

Made no real impact at scrum time and was forced to contend with an in-form Vincent Koch.

5/10

19 Flip van der Merwe (on for Williams, 28 mins)

Showed he could still possibly be considered for Springbok selection despite being showed up by the current locks.

6/10

20 Louis-Benoit Madaule (on for Botha, 57 mins)

Has big boots to fill but failed to do so.

5/10

21 Maxime Machenaud (on for Burgess, 41 mins)

Attempted to resurrect the team's performance but it proved too much for the Frenchman.

6/10

22 Andrew Horrell (on for Harris, 69 mins)

Not enough time to be rated

23 Rudi Wulf (on for Turner, 60 mins)

Never saw the ball and hardly offered any grunt on defence.

5/10

@Tagels03

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Has Beauden Barrett Just Secured His World Cup Place? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 36

KOKO Show | 13 October 2026 | WALLABIES BROUGHT CRASHING BACK TO EARTH! All Blacks Deliver Bledisloe Reality Check!

What Rugby Fans Don't See: Ben O'Keeffe on Life Under Pressure | ARP Extra

What Did the All Blacks’ Big Win Prove? | Episode 35 | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Canada v England | WXV Global Series

MLR Weekly: New England Owner Errik Anderson re expansion/future, MLR News, College Rugby Corner

Spain v South Africa | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Chile v Hong Kong China | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Belgium v Portugal | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Write A Comment