Springboks shift focus to Europe after historic back-to-back Rugby Championship win

Sunday, 05 October 2025
By Sport South Africa

The Springboks have their sights set firmly on Europe as they prepare for their final campaign of the year — a five-match Outgoing Tour in November — following a hard-fought 29–27 victory over Argentina that sealed back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time in history.

Saturday’s tense win at London’s Allianz Stadium was enough to edge New Zealand on points difference and crown South Africa champions once again, marking yet another golden milestone in an era defined by excellence and resilience under Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi’s leadership.

A Nail-Biting Finish in London

The Boks were made to work for every point against a spirited Argentina side who started brightly and led 13–10 at the break. But tries from Cobus Reinach and Malcolm Marx — both crossing twice — turned the momentum firmly in South Africa’s favour early in the second half.

With 26 unanswered points after halftime, the world champions appeared in full control at 29–13, before a late Argentine fightback narrowed the scoreline. Despite some nervy moments in the final minutes, South Africa’s superior game management earlier in the match proved decisive.

Rassie Erasmus acknowledged both the achievement and the lessons to be learned from the final quarter.

“We’re proud of this group. Winning the Rugby Championship back-to-back is massive, but we also know there’s work to do before Europe. The standards we set for ourselves remain very high,” said Erasmus.

Historic Achievement for the Bok Era

This marks the first time in history that South Africa have lifted the Rugby Championship trophy in consecutive seasons — an accomplishment that adds to their back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and further cements their status as the sport’s most dominant force in recent years.

Across the last two seasons, the Boks have recorded the highest win percentage in international rugby, defeating every major rival and showcasing the depth of their squad, having used more than 45 players across the campaign.

Captain Siya Kolisi praised the team’s collective spirit, saying:

“To defend the title means a lot. Every player contributed to this success. We take pride in what we’ve built, but now our focus turns to Europe — it’s another challenge, another opportunity.”

Focus Shifts to Outgoing European Tour

The Springboks now head into the final stretch of the 2025 season with a demanding five-match tour across Europe and Asia. The tour kicks off on 1 November with a clash against Japan at Wembley Stadium before four consecutive Tests against European heavyweights:

France – 8 November, Stade de France (Paris)
Italy – 15 November, Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Ireland – 22 November, Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
Wales – 29 November, Principality Stadium (Cardiff)

The opening fixture against Japan provides an important platform to fine-tune combinations, while the meeting with France promises to be one of the marquee Tests of the year. Les Bleus, unbeaten at home in over a year, have become nearly invincible in Paris, making the Stade de France encounter a potential classic.

Ireland — still eager to reclaim a claim to the “world’s best” tag — will offer another fierce challenge on home soil, while the tour’s closing matches against Italy and Wales will test South Africa’s consistency and squad rotation.

Looking to Close Out a Defining Year

As the Boks prepare to round off 2025, the goal will be to maintain the intensity that has defined their dominance. With trophies secured and the squad’s depth continually growing, this outgoing tour represents both a celebration of their achievements and a statement of intent heading into 2026.

South Africa’s modern rugby dynasty shows no signs of slowing down — and Europe, once again, will provide the stage for the champions to prove why they remain the benchmark of world rugby at this very moment.