Player Ratings: South Africa

OPINION: The Springboks dominated an Italian side with only 14 men after a red card to Jasper Wiese, but the South Africans remained calm and got the job done.

This is how we rated the Springboks:

15 Willie le Roux – 6.5
The centurion had a slow start, and the first time he touched the ball, he looked indecisive and dropped the ball. But he kicked a great touchfinder on the 20 m mark to send the Boks into Italy’s 22 early in the game, showcasing his incredible ability to read the game. Replaced in the 55th minute.

14 Edwill van der Merwe – 8.5
It was a Man of the Match performance by the returning wing. He had a great run that led to Williams’ try, showing real pace and awareness. He scored the second try, making sure to stay in the field brilliantly. His second try was pure magic, following up a grubber by Le Roux, kicked the ball forward and got a lucky bounce to score the third try. Very busy under the up and under. Two Test caps and two Man of the Match awards.

13 Canan Moodie 7.5
He scored a good try (the fifth), showing brute strength to bump off Italy’s winger in style. He was very busy and had a few good runs. He was replaced in the 55th minute by Ethan Hooker.

12 Andre Esterhuizen – 7.5
He almost managed a try, got over the line, but Williams’ pass didn’t land in the breadbasket. He played a dual role as flanker as well after Wiese was red-carded. He worked hard with clean-outs in the rucks. His cameo at flanker was successful. He was almost impossible to stop when he took the ball up.

11 Makazole Mapimpi – 8
His awareness to pass to Williams for the first try was brilliant. He won a turnover for the Boks and scored his 33rd Test try. He was very busy, not only helping out on the outskirts, but also popping up everywhere to tackle and clean.

10 Manie Libbok – 7.5
A solid performance for the general. He directed the play calmly. Landed a massive touch finder after the Boks’ scrum opening blunder. Lovely overhead pass to Edwill vd Merwe for the second try, but he could not convert his second attempt. His up-and-unders frustrated Italy all night long, often finding Van der Merwe on the outskirts. He also landed two great conversions from the sidelines.

9 Grant Williams – 7.5
In tandem with Libbok, he helped guide the Boks’ attack. He scored the first try and showed good options behind the scrums and rucks. He was sharp, nippy, and executed his kicks with precision.

8 Jasper Wiese – 4
He almost scored in the third minute, but unfortunately lost the ball on his charge, and put in massive tackles. Unfortunately, he was red-carded after the loose forward lashed out and headbutted his opposition.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 6.5
Welcome back to PSDT. By his own standards, he had a quieter outing in the Springbok jersey. But he did the basics well and also popped up out wide to assist the wingers to move the ball upfield at pace. Good to see one of the best in the world is almost back to his best after being out due to injury for so long.

6 Marco van Staden – 7.5
He worked hard in the loose, penalised for not releasing once or twice, and put in some massive tackles. Had a good outing, throwing himself at everything. Replaced by Roos in the 56th minute.

5 Ruan Nortje – 6.5
He took his first line-out ball, spilled the second. He worked well in tandem with Moerat in the line-outs and was also instrumental in Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ new line-out innovation in front of Italy’s poles. He was solid.

4 Salmaan Moerat (captain) – 5
Unfortunately, the captain did not have his best outing for the Boks. He was strong under the kick-offs, his communication with the referee was consistent and effective, but he also conceded a silly penalty, going off his feet, resulting in a lineout five metres from the Springboks’ tryline. Replaced in the 55th minute by Cobus Wiese.

3 Wilco Louw – 7
The big forward started slow but later in the game scrummed in tandem with the other forwards to dominate the setpiece. Received a yellow card for not going low enough into a tackle. As always, his presence in the scrums is a huge advantage for the Boks. Won two scrum penalties.

2 Malcolm Marx – 7.5
His line-out throwing was solid, he was strong in the breakdowns, and he won a few turnovers. He scored his 22nd international Test try, going over in a maul. His defence was top-notch. He was replaced by Wessels in the 61st minute.

1 Thomas du Toit – 5.5
Put in a massive scrum effort after Wiese was red-carded. He left the field after 30 minutes, replaced by Nche after a less-than-impressive performance.

Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 5.5
Went on in the 61st minute, replacing Malcolm Marx. He missed his first three line-out throws, which was not a good start at hooker. But he had one or two strong runs. He scored a try after the hooter and did well to stretch far enough to dot down on the line. His second try in a Bok jersey.
17 Ox Nche – 7
Entered the field in the 30th minute, replacing Du Toit. He had an immediate impact in the ensuing scrum, demolishing Italy, and resulting in Van der Merwe’s try. He even cleaned up behind a ruck when Williams was caught in traffic.
18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye – 5.5
Replaced Du Toit in the 61st minute. Was solid but not impressively so.
19 Cobus Wiese – 5.5
Replaced the Springbok captain in the 55th. He made metres with some strong runs.
20 Evan Roos – 6
Replaced Marco van Staden in the 56th minute. He took the ball up with some hard runs, and linked well with Wiese on defence.
21 Cobus Reinach – 6.5
Replaced Williams in the 55th minute. A bit slower behind the scrums, but always solid on attack and defence.
22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 6.5
Replaced Le Roux in the 55th minute at fullback. He made strong runs and was solid from the back, but didn’t have a lot of opportunities to showcase his special talent.
23 Ethan Hooker – 6
He replaced Canan Moodie. Put in some huge hits and was busy, looking for work. Didn’t really  put a foot wrong.