Player Ratings: South Africa

OPINION: The Springboks outclassed England at Ellis Park by 45-21 in the Nations Championship, but it wasn’t smooth sailing throughout the 80.

Discipline issues crept up at times, especially in the red zone, and there were some defensive lapses, but overall it was a satisfying performance by Rassie Erasmus’ men.

*Angus Opperman rates the Springboks!

15 Damian Willemse – 9.5/10
Steadfast under the high ball, allowing the Boks to win the aerial battle. Nailed a 50/22 kick and made a crucial try-saving tackle to the back end of the first half. Made 12 carries and one linebreak. A player of the match worthy performance in his 50th Test.

14 Cheslin Kolbe – 7.5/10
Missed a couple of conversions but kicked solid at goal overall. Showed his trademark sidestep to evade Cadan Murley to score the Boks’ second try. Made a judgement error that almost led to England scoring but otherwise had a decent game in his 50th.

13 Jesse Kriel – 7/10
Organised the backline defence well, mostly. Saved a potential try being scored by Cadan Murley. Scored a vital try to get the Boks three scores ahead. Made eight carries, one linebreak, five tackles, but conceded one turnover.

12 Damian De Allende – 9/10
Was solid in getting the Boks over the gainline and keeping the England defence honest. Won a turnover, made 14 carries and five tackles.

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse – 6/10
Strong in his kick chases. Conceded a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Didn’t have his best game, but barring the yellow card, didn’t do much wrong either.

Manie Libbok – 9/10
Nearly flawless. Controlled the game with ease, got his backline going and gave a beautiful pass to set up Arendse’s try. His line kicking was also solid, barring one missed touch finder, and he appears to thrive in his playmaking role with the goal kicking pressure off him.

9 Grant Williams – 8.5/10
Solid in his primary duties, especially kicking from the base of the ruck. Made a stunning linebreak in the first half and scored a crucial try in the second half to give the Boks some breathing room on the scoreboard.

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8 Jasper Wiese – 8/10
Carried strong as always and won a breakdown penalty to allow the Boks a 22-metre entry leading to Kurt Lee Arendse’s try. Won another one at the start of the second half, leading to Grant Williams’ score. Kept the England defenders honest and imposed his physicality in general play.

7 Cameron Hanekom – 5/10
A quiet game by his standards, but he didn’t do anything wrong. Made eight carries and 10 tackles before making way for Ben-Jason Dixon in the 45th minute.

6 Paul de Villiers – 8.5/10
Announced himself on the Test scene with a breakdown penalty win a minute into the game that led to Thomas du Toit’s try. Carried strongly and attacked every possible ruck he could. Also showed great support running on attack.

5 Ruan Nortje – 8/10
Solid in the line-outs, but conceded a penalty for blocking off the restart following Williams’ try, but no harm done. Made six carries and the joint most tackles with Malcolm Marx (17)

4 Pieter-Steph Du Toit (captain) – 8/10
A captain’s innings. A tireless engine going the full 80 and did well shifting position despite the late withdrawal of Eben Etzebeth. Showed up defensively with 14 tackles, but conceded two turnovers.

3 Thomas Du Toit – 6.5/10
Scored the opening try but got bumped by Ellis Genge, leading to England’s first try. Couldn’t assert his usual dominance at scrum time.

2 Malcolm Marx – 8/10
Missed a couple of line-out darts but was a nuisance at a couple of breakdowns. Showed great hands to set Jesse Kriel up for a try in the second half. Overall, a decent performance. Scored a late try to ensure victory for the Boks and made the joint most tackles with Ruan Nortje (17).

1 Ox Nche – 7/10
Showed some space to make a linebreak through two England defenders, which led to Kolbe’s try. Went off injured and was replaced by Gerhard Steenkamp in the ninth minute, but that run deserves a rating.

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Replacements

16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (On for Gerhard Steenkamp in the 65th minute) – N/A
Won a couple of scrum penalties, but overall not enough time to be rated.

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (On for Ox Nche in the ninth minute) – 7/10
Won a scrum penalty in the second half on an England feed and grew stronger in the scrum as the game progressed. Made five carries and completed 10 tackles.

18 Zachary Porthen (On for Thomas du Toit in the 49th minute) – 7.5/10
Scrummed solidly and brought a proper surge of energy to the pack. Made a storming carry late in the game and four overall.

19 Marco van Staden (On for Paul de Villiers in the 45th minute) – 7/10
Disrupted England’s ball at the breakdown and was good in open play.

20 Ben-Jason Dixon (On for Cameron Hanekom in the 45th minute) – 6.5/10
Scored a late try and did well coming in as a late replacement. Made three carries and eight tackles

21 Cobus Reinach (On for Grant Williams in the 67th minute) -N/A
Not enough time to be rated

22 Andre Esterhuizen (On for Jasper Wiese in the 65th minute) – N/A
Not enough time to be rated

23 Canan Moodie (On for Kurt-Lee Arendse in the 67th minute) -N/A
Not enough time to be rated