Paul de Villiers 2026 Nations Championship Match Statistics

Paul de Villiers, who started in all three Springboks Nations Championship matches, was July’s biggest winner among the newcomers to South African Test rugby.

Paul de Villiers 2026 Nations Championship Match Statistics

De Villiers, the official Player of the Match against Wales, was SA Rugby Magazine’s Auto & General Fans MVP against Scotland.

Keo.co.za rated him the most impressive of the Boks across the three Tests.

De Villiers, who was an enforced change for the injured regular No 6 and captain Siya Kolisi in the Nations Championship, has made a case to be in the discussion to play the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. The two giants of world rugby meet in three successive Tests in South Africa and finish the four Test series in Baltimore, USA.

• • Match Context: Promoted to the starting XV on the morning of the match after captain Siya Kolisi pulled out due to injury. 
  • Defensive Output: Completed 10 tackles at an 83% efficiency rate, heavily containing England’s narrow-channel runners before being substituted in the 46th minute.
  • Breakdown Play: Secured a critical jackal turnover within the opening 60 seconds of his debut, setting up the field position for Thomas du Toit’s opening try.

• • Defensive Peak: Logged a tournament-high 16 tackles without missing a single attempt, single-handedly slowing down Scotland’s quick-tap ball.
  • Attack Contribution: Showcased elite offensive footwork with a dynamic, weaving run through the primary Scottish line to directly set up a try for Evan Roos.
  • Metrics: Carried 8 times for 63 metres (averaging an impressive 7.8 metres per carry) and beat 2 defenders.

• Work Rate: Acted as the primary battering ram in heavy, wet weather conditions, logging 10 individual carries in the first half alone.
• Breakdown Masterclass: Executed a “hat-trick” of three critical turnovers inside his own 22-metre line during the second half to keep Wales scoreless.
• The Finish: Capped off a Man of the Match performance by driving over from a powerful late rolling maul to score his maiden international Test try in the 79th minute.

*Stats source: Rugbypass and Rugby 365.