Player ratings: South Africa

PLAYER RATINGS: South Africa earned a hard-fought 29-20 win against England at twickkenham, which was an arm-wrestle until the end.

@Rugby365com reporter Angus Opperman rates the Springboks’ players performace!

1. Ox Nche – 7/10

Solid scrummaging performance and stood up defensively before being replaced after his injury.

2. Bongi Mbonambi – 8/10

Much better this week in his primary job as a scrummager and lineout throwing

3. Wilco Louw – 8/10

A monster in the scrums to get South Africa out of trouble at crucial moments, made his tackles and had a solid performance in his general play.

4. Eben Etzebeth – 7/10

Slipped the tackle that led to Sleighthome’s try, but pressurised Van Poortvliet and charged him down twice of which once led to the Pieter-Steph du Toit try, but conceded a lineout penalty.

5. RG Snyman – 6/10

Got a lineout steal under pressure, was a bit loose at times but showed good energy,  but didn’t do anything wrong in particular.

6. Siya Kolisi – 7.5/10

Led by example as usual but had a bit more of a quiet evening but didn’t shy away defensively and went the full 80 minutes.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit -7/10

Conceded a breakdown penalty which gave England the lead, but made up for it with his charge-down on Smith’s kick to score the try to get the Boks back in front and once again showed that he has an unstoppable engine.

8. Jasper Wiese – 6.5/10

Had a couple of strong carries, and worked hard on the defensive front. He got the Boks over the advantage line more often than not and didn’t hold back.

9. Grant Williams – 8.5/10

Had a solid game from the base and used his vision to score the opening try, he brought great energy and service from the base to keep the Boks on the front foot.

10. Manie Libbok – 6.5/10

Showed good general play and kicking out of hand, but made a few mistakes and missed a penalty goal, but a general solid performance from the No.10 and opened the game up with his cross-kick for Kolbe’s try.

11. Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7/10

He was good under high ball,and didn’t shy away from his defensive duties and put constant pressure on his opponents in the air in terms of high balls.

12. Damian de Allende – 6/10

A relatively quiet evening by his standards, but made a few solid runs and carries and was instrumental in his linebreak that set Kolbe up for a brace to give the Springboks some breathing space on the scoreboard.

13. Jesse Kriel – 6/10

Slipped a tackle on Steward that led to his break, and conceded the penalty for obstruction in his own 22 which England took the lead with a penalty goal by Smith but had a solid defensive outing.

14. Cheslin Kolbe – 8.5/10

Missed the tackle that led to Sleighthome try but there were prior factors involved. He was beaten by Smith’s cross-kicks at times but otherwise put pressure on the opposition in terms of kick-chases and scored two important tries that proved to be the difference.

15. Aphelele Fassi – 7.5/10

Was solid contesting the high-balls,his forward pass that would’ve led to a Arendse try is debatable and he’s shown he can take the baton from Le Roux going forward.

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Replacements: 

16. Malcom Marx – 6.5/10 (Replaced Bongi Mbonambi in the 46th min)

Missed two lineouts, but won a breakdown penalty when South Africa were under pressure in their red-zone. He got better as the match progressed but is definitely not on his best form.

17. Gerhard Steenekamp – 5/10 (replaced Ox Nche in 33rd minute)

Conceded a scrum penalty on a Springbok feed in an attacking position and got yellow-carded for repeated infringements by the team.

18. Vincent Koch – (Replaced Wilco Louw in 42nd min)

Played well in his general play and was instrumental at the breakdown winning important penalties to get his side out of jail. He also scrummed well throughout his time on the pitch.

19. Elrigh Louw – (Replaced Pieter-Steph du Toit in the 64th minute)

Not enough time to be rated

20. Kwagga Smith – 7.5/10 (Replaced Jasper Wiese in 60th minute

Had a couple of good runs and carries and made England sweat at the breakdown once or twice. He brought his usual energy and closed England’s place on a defensive front.

21. Cobus Reinach – 5.5/10 (Replaced Grant Williams in the 60th minute)

Brought some more structure to the match along with Pollard and showed good energy. He didn’t do anything wrong but didn’t do anything significantly.

22. Handré Pollard – 7/10 (Replaced Manie Libbok in the 46th minute)

Slotted a long-range penalty attempt to get the Springboks back in front, brought calmness in dictating the match, controlled the rest of the match well to put England under pressure and kicked well at goal and out of hand.

23. Lukhanyo Am – (Replaced Damian de Allende in the 69th minute)

Not enough time to be rated

@Angyboyj

@rugby365com