Team of the Week - 2025 Rugby Championship Round 2

Meanwhile, South Africa bounced back against Australia in Cape Town, claiming a hard-fought 30-22 win to level their mini-series and halt the Wallabies’ momentum. After two rounds, all four nations sit on one win apiece, leaving the tournament wide open.

Round three promises more excitement, with the Springboks heading to New Zealand and Australia set to host a fired-up Argentine side. With another round settled between the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights, here is out picks for the Rugby Championship Team of the Week.

Fassi was electric at fullback, providing South Africa with a constant attacking outlet and reliable cover defense. His counterattacking runs kept Australia on their heels, while his safe handling under the high ball and tactical awareness allowed the Boks to control territory. Fassi’s support play was stellar, linking with the back three and providing options for breaks from turnover ball. His pace, vision, and composure under pressure make him the standout fullback of Round 2.

Honourable mention: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand) – steady and accurate upon his appearance from the bench, but Fassi’s direct impact on a physical Cape Town clash gives him the nod.

Jorgensen scored a vital second-half try to keep the Wallabies within striking distance at DHL Stadium. His finishing was clinical with customary nippy footwork to exploit defensive gaps. Beyond his try, Jorgensen worked tirelessly under the high ball, made intelligent carries from broken play, and supported the forwards effectively.

Kriel played a pivotal role at outside centre, combining defensive solidity with creative attacking support for the Springboks front foot. Kriel made key tackles to disrupt Australian breaks, coupled with dutiful game management to make intelligent decisions under pressure. Kriel's composure and versatility were essential in helping South Africa grind out a 30-22 win, against a Wallabies side that took Rassie Erasamus' men to their very limits in Cape Town.

A star from Argentina's crowning night, Chocobares was relentless in attack and defense. The centre orchestrated the Pumas’ second-half surge, with an undying will to succeed in and keep Argentina's Rugby Championship campaign alive. His ball-carrying consistently dented the New Zealand gain line, while his defensive work disrupted the cohesion of a frustrated All Blacks back-line.

Toole opened the scoring for the Wallabies in Cape Town with a smart finish to immediately putting Australia on the scoreboard. Beyond his try, he was a constant attacking threat, using footwork, and intelligent lines to exploit gaps in the Springbok defense. Toole supported teammates effectively, linking with forwards and backs in broken play, chasing kicks, and contesting high balls.

Pollard’s precise goal-kicking and educated clearences with the ball from hand, were decisive in South Africa’s triumphant return to winning ways. The halfbackkept the scoreboard ticking with three penalties and three conversions, with a cool head capeable of riding the waves pressure from the tee.

García finished one of Argentina’s pivotal tries after sustained forward pressure and support play, to lay the foundations towards the blue and whites' famous win. Garcia ran the Argentine back-line at a ferocious pace, with New Zealand at times caught unawares of the attacking direct of the darting halfback. Garcia was the heart-beat of Argentina's relentless attacking fray, with his efforts rewarded as he crashed over for a try.

Ox Nche led the Springbok front row with authority. The revered loose-head scrummaged with his hulking frame and imposed himself early upon the Australia pack. The prop emptied the tank with a series of carries into the the Wallabies gold wall, and wrestled within the tight exchanges to dent the structure of Joe Schmidt's defensive foundations.

The Pumas’ captain and hooker was a driving force in Argentina’s historic win. The hooker commanded the ball and carried with incredible resolve, as he battened down the hatches for short drives against the All Blacks. Montoya's set-piece marksmanship was once again on point, with a solid line-out game setting the base for Los Pumas to build upon the phase play.

Newell impressed in scrummaging and tight exchanges, contributing strong carries and solid defense. The tight-head worked his way onto the score-sheet through sheer willpower, as Newell powered through a sea of blue and white shirts to then dot the ball down from a close-range drive.

4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Etzebeth’s appearence from the bench was a masterful move from Rassie Erasmus, as South Africa's all-time most capped player brought an abundance of experience and his evergreen brute force to the latter stages of the clash in Cape Town. Etzebeth's efforts peaked with his late try, which sealed the win for the Springboks, just as the Wallabies thought they could snatch back-to-back wins of their own.

Nortjé provided lineout stability and strong ball carries, setting the platform for South Africa’s attack. The lock partnered well in the engine room alongside RG Snyman, before making way for Etzebeth's last-ditch heroics. It's rare to see a fellow forward outshine the titanic Leinster lock, Nortje's performance upon only his ninth cap, put himself on a pedestal alongside the Springbok stalwarts.

The Wild Man of the Argentina back row, Pablo Matera led by example in the loose, with a brilliant chaotic energy which opitimised the urgency of the men in blue and white. Matera chopped low on the All Blacks' sturdiest carriers, with no regard for his own saftey each time he flung himself head-first into the breakdown. Beloved by Pumas fans for his heart-on-his-sleeve mentality, Matera was the perfect loose-cannon to disrupt New Zealand's structure.

The Yin to Matera's Yang, Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso looked through the battle-field with a stoic clarity, whilst his back-row brother-in-arms spun up a whirlwind of blue, white and black. Precise carries, tip-offs and snappy miss-passes were stand-outs of the Saracen's match, with the flanker capping off his evening with a well-taken try to hand Los Pumas some well earned breathing room.

Rounding off the Team of the Week for the second round of the Rugby Championship, the hard-nosed Springboks back row was at his brilliant best in the win over Australia. Thundering free for his try some six minutes before the half-time break, Smith's score-board contribution took the wind from the Wallabies sails, when Australia looked to be set for a breakaway. Personifying the forward grit that defines the South African back row, Smith was battled-tested and prevailed against the Wallabies.