Player ratings: Too little, too late
The Springboks will be bitterly disappointed they were not clinical enough to finish off the opportunities they created in the last quarter of the encounter in Perth.
Angus Opperman rates the South African players!
15 Andries Coetzee:
His kick-return went straight into touch in his own half and had a kicked charged down after turnover. Also made a good half-break, but then lost ball in contact. Didn't have the best of games overall.
4/10
14 Raymond Rhule:
Missed a few tackles. Was solid under the high ball and put lots of pressure on the receiver off restarts, though good chasing. His defence was a little better in the second half.
5/10
13 Jesse Kriel:
Kicked ahead after an Uzair Cassiem turnover and gathered to score the try. However, he kicked possession away on attack in the opposition half. Lost the ball on attack with a try-scoring opportunity at the Boks' disposal. Defended well.
5/10
12 Jan Serfontein:
Very quiet in first half, not done anything noteworthy. Had a much better second half. Good follow-up work with Siya Kolisi after turnover in the 2nd half and tackled just short of the tryline where he should have looked at options around him, won crucial breakdown penalty when Australia built phases in the Springboks half.
6/10
11 Courtnall Skosan:
Lost a high ball and was generally under pressure with the high balls. Did not have lots of ball to work with and he lost ball off restart that lead to the Kurtley Beale try.
4/10
10 Elton Jantjies:
Did not have his best game, but slotted most of his kicks and had good tactical play. Slotted a brilliant conversion from wide, but missed relatively penalty. Failed to find touch after a scrum penalty – which lead to a penalty that gave wallabies lead at half time. A restart did not travel 10 metres after an Australian try.
5/10
9 Ross Cronje:
Solid for most of the match, but wasn't at his best either. Knocked on at the base of a ruck when on attack in the Wallaby half.
6/10
8 Uzair Cassiem:
Conceded a penalty for not rolling away in the fifth minute, but intercepted six meters from own line when Wallabies looked to score.
6/10
7 Jaco Kriel:
Conceded a penalty, but had many good carries and made a crucial a turnover when the Wallabies attacked inside the Bok 22. Lost the ball on his way to scoring a try when he was tackled. Was solid in the collisions and at the breakdown.
7/10
6 Siya Kolisi:
Had a quiet first half, but solid on defence. Much better second half and made a good break to put Jan Serfontein away in space – which almost resulted in a try. Became much more involved with carries and making dominant tackles.
6/10
5 Pieter-Steph du Toit:
After a mediocre Super Rugby season, by is standards, he was one of the best players on the pitch. Won a turnover in the first minute of the match that lead to Jantjies kicking the first points of the match. Won his line-outs and stole one. Great pick up and run at ruck through middle, but conceded a penalty in red zone for offside.
8/10
4 Eben Etzebeth:
Lead by example and made solid carries, competed well in the line-outs – although one resulted in a Wallaby try – as they shifted the contact point. Contested well and won all on his own throw and stole a few as well.
7/10
3 Coenie Oosthuizen:
Conceded a couple of questionable free kicks and a penalty that got Australia the lead at half-time. Held the scrum up well in the second half and worked well with Steven Kitshoff when he came on.
6/10
2 Malcolm Marx:
Was solid with his line-out throwing, but lost one due to miscommunication. Good interplay with Kolisi off a turnover ball. Scored great try from maul and solid on defence.
7/10
1 Tendai Mtawarira:
Solid scrumming in latter part of first half and did well in the second half before being replaced. Also made a few good carries.
6/10
Replacements:
23 Damian de Allende:
Not used.
22 Handré Pollard:
Not used.
21 Francois Hougaard (on for Cronje, 65th min):
Conceded a penalty that levelled the scores through a Bernard Foley penalty. The deciding factor of the match outcome.
4/10
20 Jean-Luc Du Preez (on for Cassiem, 54th min):
Made a few solid runs and carries. Was rock solid on defence when he came on.
6/10
19 Lodewyk de Jager (on for Du Toit, 65th min):
Won all his line-outs and did his primary work well, but did not make a massive impact .
4/10
18 Trevor Nyakane (on for Oosthuizen, 70th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Mtawarira, 54th min):
Made an immediate impact. Produced a good half-break, won a scrum penalty that resulted in a Springbok try off a maul. Won another penalty with his fellow front row forwards.
8/10
16 Bongi Mbonambi:
Not used.
By Angus Opperman
@Angyboyi
@rugby365com
