The FNB Stadium roared. The Springboks delivered. And Malcolm Marx reminded everyone why he remains one of world rugby’s most complete hookers with a performance that had the All Blacks seeing double.

Also read: SKRUM SKRUM SKRUM

The Springboks edged a pulsating third Test 29-24 to take a 2-1 lead in the Greatest Rivalry series, and whilst Ethan Hooker claimed the official Man of the Match honours for his brilliance, this was a performance built on collective excellence. From the scrum dominance that forced Dave Rennie to metaphorically throw a floor mat over the set-piece, to the bench impact that closed out a Test match that could have gone either way, the Boks showed why they remain the benchmark in Test rugby.

Here’s how each Springbok rated in Soweto.

The engine room fired on all cylinders

Ox Nché (7) – The prop known for raw power lived up to his bovine nickname. Nché provided the horsepower in the scrum that earned the Boks a crucial penalty try before half-time. But it was his work in the loose that caught the eye, excellent hands on attack and genuine ball-carrying threat. Modern props don’t come much more complete.

Malcolm Marx (9) – An absolute nuisance. The hooker was everywhere, stealing ball at breakdowns, delivering crunching hits, and dominating the lineouts. His 28th Test try was a thing of beauty, and his all-round performance reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the world’s best. Take a bow, Malcolm.

Wilco Louw (7) – Contributed significantly to the scrum dominance that had the All Blacks retreating faster than tourists in Hillbrow traffic. Departed in the 51st minute having done his job to perfection.

Eben Etzebeth (8) – Built on his exceptional Cape Town performance with another 80-minute shift that covered every blade of grass on the pitch. The All Blacks brought out the best in the big man, and he responded by diving into every collision with reckless abandon. A colossus.

Ruan Nortjé (7) – Full marks for lineout work and an overall performance that saw him cover ground like a proper loose forward. Playing lock in body only, Nortjé was everywhere else a flanker would be. Impressive stuff from the young man.

The loose trio brought bite and steel

Siya Kolisi (7) – The captain led from the front with intent written all over his defensive work. Good at the breakdowns, solid in the tackle, and exactly the kind of performance you want from your skipper when the series is on the line.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (7) – Another performance to file under “reliable excellence”. PSDT was a factor at every breakdown, effective on both sides of the ball, and delivered the kind of 80-minute shift that has become his trademark. When the Boks needed big moments, he provided them.

Jasper Wiese (8) – The human wrecking ball was at it again. Powerful runs, ground gained, and the kind of passion that either inspires teammates or annoys opponents, usually both. Remained an absolute headache for the All Blacks throughout. When you need someone to bend the line, Wiese is your man.

The halves kept things ticking

Cobus Reinach (6) – A slight dip from last week’s excellence. His kicking was occasionally too deep to compete for, robbing the Boks of contestable ball. But his distribution remained sharp and his defensive work solid. Not vintage Reinach, but effective enough.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (7) – Spent 10 minutes in the sin bin to contemplate life’s choices, then returned to deliver a decent shift. Not quite the Cape Town masterclass, but showed enough composure and skill to suggest the early yellow didn’t rattle him. One for the future, this lad.

The back three and centres delivered magic

Ethan Hooker (7) – The Man of the Match. That turnover that curdled the All Blacks’ momentum was worth the award alone. Competitive under the high ball, excellent on defence, and went from strength to strength as the match progressed. A performance that announced him as a Test-quality operator.

Damian de Allende (8) – Dammers was unplayable at times. His contribution to Arendse’s try showed his rugby brain, whilst his ball-carrying bent the All Blacks’ defence repeatedly. Defensively excellent and gained precious metres whenever he touched the ball. World-class.

Jesse Kriel (7) – An average first half transformed into a productive second stanza. His 59th-minute try was superbly taken, and his organisation of the backline remained a crucial component of the Boks’ structure. Missed a tackle or two, but more than made up for it elsewhere.

Kurt-Lee Arendse (7) – That 22nd-minute try was a thing of beauty. The wing looked for work, found it, and created gaps with his footwork and acceleration. Defensively hard as nails again. A complete performance from the pocket rocket.

Cheslin Kolbe (7) – Played well in his brief cameo before a knock to the head forced him off in the 10th minute. The early exit robbed us of what could have been a vintage Kolbe performance. His absence was felt, but the Boks adapted.

The bomb squad delivered again

Deon Fourie (7) – Replaced Marx and maintained the intensity. His passion for the Bok jersey bleeds through every performance. Made an immediate impact and kept the All Blacks honest.

Gerhard Steenekamp (5) – Quiet shift after coming on. Didn’t see much ball but did his job in the scrum when required.

Thomas du Toit (6) – The Tank rumbled off the bench and provided the solidity expected of him. Solid rather than spectacular.

Lood de Jager (5) – Limited opportunities after replacing Etzebeth, but a fresh body in the engine room at the death is never a bad thing.

André Esterhuizen (7) – Built like a brick outhouse and just as hard to move. Took multiple All Blacks to bring him down, and his defensive work was monstrous. Made every minute count.

Cameron Hanekom (7) – Cammy Dog had bite. Rampaging with ball in hand and aggressive on defence, the young loose forward was clearly hungry for Test rugby and devoured every opportunity. The future looks bright.

Morné van den Berg (7) – His box kicks were more accurate than Reinach’s, and the tempo lifted with him behind the scrum. Excellent on defence too. Provided exactly what was needed when it was needed.

Manie Libbok (7) – Showed why he remains in the conversation with excellent hands on attack and a sidestep that kept the All Blacks guessing. His tactical kicking was spot-on, pinning the visitors back when the Boks needed territory.

This was a complete team performance with standout individual contributions littered throughout.

Soweto witnessed something special. The series is alive, the rivalry burns brighter than ever, and the Springboks have proven once again why they remain the world’s most formidable Test team.