Player ratings: South Africa
OPINION: The Springboks retained the Freedom Cup with a brilliant performance and also handed the All Blacks their biggest loss ever. This is how we rated Siya Kolisi and his Springbok team as they moved back into second spot in the Rugby Championship standings.
It was the first back-to-back win in the Rugby Championship for the Springboks ever.
It was an 80-minute performance despite massive injuries and reshuffles in the backline.
Springbok ratings:
15 Aphelele Fassi – 7
Lost his first aerial battle, won by the All Blacks. Good save as he tried to intercept and an All Black onslaught. Injured in the 37th minute, replaced by Andre Esterhuizen
14 Cheslin Kolbe – 8.5
First touch losing the ball forward out of the air, crossed the whitewash, but the ball got ripped out of his hands by Jordie Barrett. Wonderful intercept from the Boks and raced through for the first try. Scored the second try, showing he is the best finisher in world rugby. Got injured following a no-arms tackle on him. Left the field in the 46th minute.
13 Canan Moodie – 8
Very solid in defence, worked hard all over the pitch, stepping in to clean out at the rucks. Great little chicken pass to Cheslin to put the Boks back on the front foot. Showed he is our best 13.
12 Damian Willemse – 9
Strong in midfield in tandem with Moodie. Stepped his way through opposition after an attacking All Black scrum. His passing at times not very accurate. Kept opposition guessing, he was exceptional. Moved to fullback in the backline shuffle after Kolbe left the field. Scored an impressive try after the Boks picked and went. He was a man on a mission, breaking through tackles. With two minutes to go, he just ran straight, resulting in Esterhuizen’s try. An absolute Man of the Match performance.
11 Ethan Hooker – 8.5
Solid start, catching the ball out of the air, getting the Boks going forward. Defensively strong, also advanced nicely with the ball in hand. Brilliant work under the high balls. Brilliant run from his own 22, resulting in Kwagga Smith’s try
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 7.5
Great cross kick in the first few seconds straight to Hooker, who was bundled out, putting the Springboks in a perfect attacking position. Opting to go for touch. Knocked over his first conversion attempt, but it was redacted due to the try being disallowed. Left the field for an HIA in the 20th minute, replaced by Manie Libbok
9 Cobus Reinach – 7.5
First attempt at a try (RG Snyman), he knocked the ball, and the try was disallowed. Then he pounced too early after the scrum, and an easy exit for the All Blacks. Second knock-on in the 22nd minute after a strong scrum by the Boks. Left the field for an HIA in the 32nd minute, after halftime, he was back, and he went on with a brilliant performance. His box kicks put the Boks on the front foot and resulted in five tries in the second half.
8 Jasper Wiese – 8
Strong takes from kick-off, taking up the ball. Put in some beautiful hits. He couldn’t be stopped, getting over the gainline time and again.His offloading and passing kept the defence guessing.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 9
Very busy in the rucks, also played out wide to take the ball up. His consistent, brilliant throughout the match. Great steal in the last stanza, disrupting the All Black lineout. One of the best in the green jersey. Found himself out wide, catching the high ball and passing it to Kwagga for the fourth try.
6 Siya Kolisi (captain) – 8
Busy in defence, but other than, fairly quiet and not flashy. Took the ball up from a strong Bok scrum, resulting in Kolbe’s try. Managed the game well as captain, communicating with the referee.
5 Ruan Nortje – 7.5
Put a lot of pressure on the kickers, and also solid in the lineouts. His tireless work at the breakdown kept the Boks going forward. Brilliant line-out steal, resulting in Willemse’s try.
4 Lood de Jager – NA
Got injured ten minutes in as he was driving forward, replaced by RG Snyman.
3 Thomas du Toit – 7
Held his own in the scrums, helping Ox to dominate the scrums. Helped the South African scrum march forward. Replaced in the 41st minute.
2 Malcolm Marx – 7
First lineout lost five metres out, not a good start for the hooker. The second one was a clean ball for Nortje after a promising build-up, but it was lost forward. Cleaned up loose balls on several occasions. He overcame those early woes as the match developed. Replaced in the 62nd minute.
1 Ox Nche – 7.5
Made life difficult for the All Black front row, also took up the ball with some strong drives. The cake lover was a powerhouse in the scrums. Replaced in the 42nd minute.
Replacements:
16 Marnus van der Merwe – 7 – On for Marx in the 62nd minute. Confusion with his first lineout throw. Making a great steal at a crucial time.
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 7 – Replaced Ox in the 42nd minute. Strong scrum resulting in Kolbe’s second try
18 Wilco Louw – 7.5 – Replaced Thomas du Toit in the 41st minute. Buckled once after a massive scrum effort by the All Blacks.
19 RG Snyman – 8.5 – Replaced injured Lood de Jager in the ninth minute. Scored the first try in the 11th minute, first Test try against the All Blacks, and immediately made his presence felt. TMO reviewed the try, disallowed as Cobus Reinach knocked it on. Silly neckroll on an All Black after the Boks had taken up the ball beautifully. Scored the fifth try as he just ran straight and hard.
20 Kwagga Smith – 8 – On in the 55th minute, and immediately had a strong run, and the movement ended up five metres out from the All Black tryline. Scored the Boks’ fourth try.
21 Grant Williams – 8 – Replaced Reinach (HIA) in the 32nd minute, eventually ended up at wing in the place of Kolbe. Had a few strong runs up the sideline. Brilliant try-saving tackle on Will Jordan. Interlinked with Willemse, passed to Esterhuizen for the sixth try.
22 Manie Libbok – 8.5 – Was on for Sacha Feinbergh-Mngomezulu (HIA) in the 20th minute. Knocked over his first conversion attempt. Overcooked an up and under meant for Kolbe in the strong wind. Converted Kolbe’s second try beautifully from the sideline. Knocked over a penalty kick among loud boo’s from the crowd. Cool, calm, and collected performance, 85% kicking success.
23 Andre Esterhuizen – 7.5 – Replaced Aphelele Fassi, moved into inside centre, in the 37th minute. His perfectly-weighted left-handed pass put Kolbe in for his second. Very strong, scoring the sixth try
